Gospel Shaped Living - Week 1: ‘Your Church a Light in Darkness!’
Reading: Matthew chapter 16 verse 18.
Reading: Matthew chapter 5 verses 14-16.
SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). The Church and Me.
• (a). The universal Church.
• (b). the local Church.
(2). The Church and Jesus.
• (a). The project is Christ's.
• (b). The Church belongs to him.
• (c). It will survive regardless.
(3). The Church and the World.
• (a). Light is personal (vs 14a)
• (b). Light is productive (vs 14b)
• (c). Light is powerful (vs 15)
SERMON BODY:
(1). The Church and Me.
Ill:
A sign on a Church notice board reads:
“When you were born, your mother brought you to church.
When you were married, your wife brought you to church.
When you die, your friends will bring you to church.
Why not try coming to church on your own sometime”
When a person decides to follow Jesus as their saviour and Lord:
• Church will or should automatically take on a new significance.
• So much so;
• That I would say it is impossible to follow Jesus and not be part of a Church.
• Because the word Church is never used for a building,
• It always means a collection of people.
• If you are a Christian, you never go to church;
• You are the church!
ill:
• The very first translation of the New Testament from Greek into English:
• Was by William Tyndale in 1526,
• But Tyndale had a translation problem over the Matthew chapter 16 verse 18:
• "Upon this rock I will build my Church".
• Because he did not want people to think that the living church of Jesus Christ:
• Was an institution, the accepted religious establishment.
• So after much thought he ended up translating the words of Jesus this way:
• "Upon this rock I will build my congregation".
• TRANSITION: The word ‘Church’ in the New Testament is always people,
• It is always a congregation, an assembly, a community of people and never a building!
Quote:
• W.E. Vine in his book of New Testament words;
• Explains the meaning of the Greek word: ‘Ekklesia':
• Translated into English as 'Church,
"The term has two applications:
(A). The whole company of the redeemed through out this present era.
(B). A company consisting of professed believers in a local setting".
• In other words:
• We can think of the church in a universal sense & in a local sense.
(a). The Universal Church:
• Is a world wide living organism:
• Made up of any person; who truly trusts Jesus Christ as their saviour.
• Regardless of denomination or label, that they choose to attach to themselves.
• It consists of every single believer:
• Whether they have been saved for 20 years or 20 minutes.
• Whether you are a Anglican from Africa,
• Or a Methodist from Malawi.
• Whether a Baptist from Bangladesh,
• Or a Pentecostal from Peru.
• If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ,
• At the moment you were converted;
• You were automatically part of his worldwide/universal Church.
Quote: It has been pointed out that in the early days of Christianity there were:
• Congregations of believers, but no "Congregationalists!"
• There were baptized believers, but no "Baptists!"
• There were presbyters in the assembly, but no "Presbyterians!"
• They had method in their meeting, but there were no "Methodists!"
• They had bishops in the church, but there were no "Anglicans!"
• They trembled at the word, but there were no "Quakers!"
• They all shared in the blessings of Pentecost, but there were no "Pentecostalists!"
• The brethren had all been united to Christ, but there were no "United Brethren!"
• They simply met as Christians, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
• And were obedient to his word the Bible.
• So if you are a true believer in Jesus Christ,
• You are automatically now part of his universal Church.
• So if you are a Christian, you never go to church, you are the church!
(b). The Local Church.
• Now when it comes to the 'church':
• One aspect is automatic and the other aspect is voluntary.
ill:
• At your birth.
• You automatically entered into the human race.
• You have no say in it, it was your parents choice or an accident!
• As a result of their actions you automatically became part of humanity.
• In the same way:
• When you were 'born again',
• You automatically entered into God's family.
• You become an automatic part of the church universal;
• You have no say in it, God did that for you!
ill:
• After a baby has been born and the time comes for mother & child to leave hospital:
• The child is taken to a local residence.
• So that it can grow & develop & mature.
Now in the spiritual realm that illustration breaks down round about there:
• A human baby has no choice in being part of a local family.
• It has no choice in who its brothers & sisters will be.
• Those choices are made for it by others;
• It parents or its appointed guardians.
But note the difference - a spiritual baby (a new Christian):
• They have to make that choice for themselves,
• It's a voluntary decision to have to attach yourself to a local congregation.
• And you need to make that decision for your own good,
• And for the good of the other Christians in that fellowship.
• In the Bible there is no such thing as a lone ranger!
• (Remember even he had Tonto!)
Now here at Duncan Road Church:
• We are a local Church of Christians,
• Although we do not have an official membership list,
• Many of you have asked to be ‘in fellowship’ (similar)
• That expression ‘in fellowship’ means you have talked with the leaders;
• And you have chosen and committed yourself to this body of local Christians.
• Of course anyone is welcome to attend the various services etc.
• But to be involved at a deeper level requires that public commitment,
• And to be ‘in fellowship’ will require certain things:
• First: That you have to have been converted,
• That is become a follower of Jesus Christ.
• Second: That you have been, or will soon be baptised by immersion in water.
• Baptism for the Christian is not an optional extra, it is a act of obedience!.
• Third: That you are willing to be committed to the fellowship,
• That is to play an active and supportive part in what happens at Duncan Road Church.
• If you want to know more then please take one of these booklets in the foyer;
• Or speak to a Church leader afterwards.
(2). The Church and Jesus.
Reading: Matthew chapter 16 verse 18:
"I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it".
Ill:
• It took two years to build (1887–1889:
• And was built to be the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair.
• The structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city,
• Who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over.
• Yet from the moment its architect first conceived it,
• He took pride in it and loyally defended it from those who wished to destroy it.
• He knew it was destined for greatness.
• Today it has become a global cultural icon of France,
• And one of the most recognisable structures in the world.
• It is the most-visited paid monument in the world;
• (6.91 million people ascended it in 2015).
• The architect, of course, was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel.
• His famous tower was built in 1889.
• TRANSITION: In the same way we should be impressed by the loyalty of Jesus;
• To another structure (if you will forgive me for calling it that!),
• The Church;
• Which he entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples,
• To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incompetent blunderers.
• But Jesus, the architect of the church,
• Knows this structure is purposeful and effective!
Quote: Matthew chapter 16 verse 18:
"I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it".
• Notice:
• That simple verse breaks nicely into three parts:
FIRST: The project is Christ's.
• Underline in your mind the words "I will build".
• It is easy to fall into the trap that we are the key to the churches continuation:
• But we are not the key, it is his building project.
• He originated it,
• He has the blueprints for it.
• He is the architect of it.
• He is the sustainer of it.
• Jesus alone is the master architect,
• He directs the work according to his specifications - not ours.
Ill:
• In case you are wondering,
• We do not make decisions at DRC lightly.
• The leadership team meet regularly to discuss, pray and seek the mind of God;
• On the decisions we take!
• The easy option is simply to play safe and make popular decisions,
• But we are called to be leaders and not caretakers,
• So we will continue to move forward as we believe God is leading us.
SECOND: The Church belongs to him.
• Note the words: "MY church".
• As its owner He focuses his full attention on maintaining it and defending it.
• We need to be careful when we criticise the Church,
• Because indirectly we are criticising him!
Ill:
• Criticise my wife – watch out!
• She belongs to me and I belong to her.
• You criticise and find fault in her and you will upset me and answer to me!
• TRANSITION: I think there is a spiritual parallel,
• When we criticise the Church;
• Be careful because the head of the Church is Jesus Christ.
• One day we will answer to him for the way we spoke about ‘his Church’
THIRD: It will survive regardless.
• And not even the "Gates of hell will overcome it":
• The church universal will not die,
• The church will survive regardless,
• Individual local congregations will close;
• One local fellowship has recently closed its doors that was just down the road from us
• It was a witness in the village of Tichfield for 140 years;
• But it has ceased to be since the end of December 2018.
But according to the words of Jesus;
• As long as there is planet earth, there will be a church!
• Because the church is Christ's prised possession:
• He gave his life in order to establish it, build it & protect it.
• Remember that the church of Jesus Christ is a MOVEMENT;
• So we must be careful not to stop MOVING.
• Because if we do, then we will be left behind and we too will risk closing!
(3). The Church and the World.
Reading: Matthew chapter 5 verses 14-16.
“‘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.”“
Our theme in the handbook is: ‘Your Church a Light in Darkness!’
• (We are currently doing a 7 week series of talks called: ‘Gospel shaped living’.
• Produced by The Gospel Coalition - http://gsc.thegospelcoalition.org/living)
Quote
• It was the American poet and educator Henry Longfellow who said;
• "In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer".
• Meaning of course that we will either be a moulder of society,
• Or society will mould, it will change, it will influence us.
Ill:
• We live in a world, a society:
• That has been influenced, moulded by a variety of philosophies,
• A variety of different influences.
• Greece said, "be wise, know yourself !"
• Rome said, "be strong, discipline yourself!"
• Religion said, "be good, conform yourself!"
• Epicureanism says, "be sensuous, enjoy yourself!"
• Education says, "be resourceful, expand yourself!"
• Psychology says, "be confident, assert yourself!"
• Materialism says, "be satisfied, please yourself!"
• Pride says, "be superior, promote yourself!"
• Asceticism says, "be lowly, suppress yourself!"
• Humanism says, "be capable, believe in yourself!"
• Legalism says, "be pious, limit yourself!"
• Philanthropy says, "be generous, release yourself!"
Now there is probably a measure of truth in all of those philosophies:
• But on their own they can be very extreme and very excessive.
• And also dangerous!
• And if you will forgive the pun:
“The trouble with being moulded by these influences,
Is that society has gone mouldy, gone wrong, gone away from this book!”
IN MATTHEW CHAPTERS 5-7:
• What is commonly called; 'The Sermon on the Mount'.
• What a boring title we have given to these dynamic words!
• It could easily be called; 'The sermon of transformation'.
• Or 'The sermon of revolution'.
Ill:
• Mahatma Gandhi was not a Christian,
• But he came into contact with the Sermon on the Mount while in London.
• He drew great inspiration from Jesus' teachings in this Sermon;
• And later the Sermon became an important source;
• For developing his philosophy of non-violence and non-resistance.
• TRANSITION: Gandhi realised the revolutionary power of this teaching.
• When applied it is dynamic!
• And if it were applied by more Christians and more people, it would turn…
• Our world, society, city, town, community, street,
• Our work place, family, our individual lives upside down
• Or perhaps rather inside out!
• And bring about a positive change for the good;
• (‘a righteousness to lift up a nation’).
• In this sermon Jesus talks about what it means to make a difference?
• How to be salt and light in the world.
• Notice what he says regarding light.
(a). Light is Personal (vs 14a).
• When talking about our influence on our society, on our world:
• Verses 13&14: He says, "You"
• "You are the salt..." (vs 13). "You are the light..." (vs14).
• It's personal.
Ill:
• During World War II, Britons placed large signs;
• At the entrance to their munitions factories.
• The signs carried only five letters: "IADOM."
• Any stranger in England during that time;
• Probably didn't understand what the signs meant.
• But the British people knew that the letters were an abbreviation for the words,
• "IADOM." - "It all depends on me."
• It was a slogan to remind them that they were fighting for their land and lives,
• That victory depended on them, just as much as the armed forces.
• They played a key role!
So when talking about our influence on our society, on our country, our world:
• Jesus made it personal;
• "You are the salt..." (vs 13). "You are the light..." (vs14).
• He doesn't say:
• "You are like salt!” “You are like light."
• Salt and light are things we are!
• Not things we represent, symbolize or depict.
The most important thing about any of us is not what we do, but what we are.
• What we do is of course important,
• But it never speaks as loudly as what we are.
Quote Francis Bacon.
“It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong;
not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich;
not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned;
not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians”.
Quote William Barclay:
"This may well be the greatest compliment that was ever paid to an individual Christian,
For in it Jesus commands the Christian to be what he himself claimed to be,
"The light of the world"".
(b). Light is Productive (vs 14b).
‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 1
Question: What is the function of light?
Answer:
• The function of light is to dispel darkness;
• Darkness cannot remain when light is turned on.
• When light is introduced into darkness;
• It produces a beneficial effect.
Let me remind you of 4 things about light:
FIRST: LIGHT IS SILENT.
• No noise, no banners, it simply shines.
• Light does not make a noise, it is silent!
• But notice that there is an over rider, a condition,
• It must not be hid, i.e. "City on a hill".
Quote: It was this analogy that caused one writer to say;
"I sometimes think how splendid it would be if non-Christians,
Curious to discover the secret and source of our light,
Were to come up to us and enquire;
"Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are"”.
• Silent / yet so loud,
• It draws attention by its contrast to the darkness.
SECOND: IT GIVES DIRECTION.
• No words, no sermons, Jesus said: "See" and not hear!
• We are to be ‘doers, not just hearers’.
ill:
The great preacher Dr Lyman Beecher used to say;
"That the reason why he was so blessed to the conversion of men was,
that he had so many pulpit reflectors,
Who lived out and diffused everywhere the gospel".
THIRD: LIGHT ATTRACTS ATTENTION.
Ill:
• Moths and other insects are drawn towards the light,
• Makes you wonder why they don’t come out in the day time (plenty of the stuff)
ill:
• On aeroplanes you see people wearing blindfold masks so the can sleep,
• Without that mask they cannot sleep because the light demands their attention.
ill:
• The gleam of a lighthouse on the horizon,
• Gives a direction, it attracts attention to ships and to boats on the water.
• TRANSITION:
• The Christian life ought to attract people to it,
• People should be envious of us, fearing they are missing out on something!
Quote:
“We who are married do not have to pretend we are living as Barbie Dolls on a wedding cake. We have struggles, and dashed expectations too. But if we offer the world a model of a reasonably good marriage, a reasonably good family lifestyle, a reasonably good Church, a reasonably amount of good works, it will have radicalising effects on the world”.
FOURTH: LIGHT CAN BE HIDDEN.
• Light is only effective as long as: "It is not hid."
• The light must be switched on (uncovered) to be any good!
ill:
• In my house no-one seems to turn the lights out!
• Anyone would think we were Blackpool illuminations!
• Now at the time of Jesus people did not turn the lights out!
• With no electricity lights did not go on and off at the click of a switch.
• Si if people went out rather than extinguishing an oil lamp;
• And then have all the hassle of lighting it again,
• So what they did was to take the lamp from its stand,
• And put it under an earthen bushel measure, bowl
• So that it would continue to burn,
• Yet it was without risk of catching fire to things.
• TRANSITION: But remember that the main duty of that lamp was to give light,
• For that to happen it must be visible, it must be seen and not to be hidden.
(c). Light is Powerful (vs 15).
“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.”
• One small lamp giving light to “everyone in the house.”
• That little lamp is having a powerful effect!
• Now in order to help us keep being salty, or shinning as lights:
• In order to make a difference in a dark world.
• Let me suggest 3 key principles that will help us fulfil this:
FIRST: REMEMBER ‘I AM DIFFERENT.’
• No false humility here,
• We are different to the society/neighbours around us.
• If we are not, then why not?
• Following Jesus brings change otherwise we are not following him!
Ill:
• Jesus said in this sermon (Matthew 7:15-23)
• It will be by our ‘fruit’ we will be known.
• A ‘good’ tree produces ‘good fruit’.
• As Christians we should be producing ‘The fruit of the Holy Spirit’,
• “Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
• Galatians chapter 5 verse 22
• Quote:
• “God wants fruity Christians and not religious nuts”
Notice:
• In Matthew chapter 5, 6 & 7. The teaching of Jesus is so different:
• It really is all change and the effect of change.
ill:
• If you scan the Sermon on the Mount:
• Jesus (Matthew chapter 5) speaks of a new way to live:
• i.e. verses 21-26: On the subject of murder:
• "You have heard........ but I say unto you."
• i.e. verses 27-30: On the subject of Adultery:
• "You have heard........ but I say unto you."
• i.e. verses 31-32: On the subject of Divorce:
• "You have heard........ but I say unto you."
• i.e. verses 33-37: On the subject of Oaths:
• "You have heard........ but I say unto you."
• i.e. verses 38-42: On the subject of Retaliation:
• "You have heard........ but I say unto you."
• i.e. verses 43-47: On the subject of love:
• "You have heard........ but I say unto you."
Ill:
• Just compare the beatitudes of our society/the world in which we live;
• To those of Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 verse 3-11:
• Quote: J.B. Phillips:
"Happy are the 'pushers': for they get on in the world.
Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never get hurt.
Happy are they that complain: for they get there own way in the end.
Happy are the blase': for they never worry over there sins.
Happy are the slave drivers: for they get results.
Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way round
Happy are the trouble makers: for they make people take notice of them.
• The lifestyle of Jesus is unmistakably different.
• Both in attitude and behaviour!
ill:
• At one Christian event held at one of the Butlin’s Holiday Camps,
• The management of the Camp said to the Christian leaders,
• “You Christians are very careless, we have never had so much lost property!”
• The Christian leader said;
• “It’s not that Christian’s lose more items than other people,
• It’s just they hand it in, they don’t keep it for themselves!”
SECOND: REMEMBER. ‘I AM RESPONSIBLE.’
• I am responsible for my salt not losing its bite,
• And for my light not becoming obscure or hidden.
ill:
• In a couple of weeks time I am attending a conference hosted by Roger Carswell;
• Roger is an evangelist and holds mission events around the country.
• A few years ago he had a mission at a Baptist Church in Hampshire.
• He was amazed at how many non-Christians were coming along to each event,
• The believers seemed to have an endless list of people to invite..
• He asked one of the leaders how this was happening;
• And he got this reply:
“When someone asks to become a member, we don’t insist, but strongly recommend they also join another club e.g. painting or bowling etc.
Then whenever we have anything evangelistic at our Church we all have lots of friends that we can invite along!”
ill:
• When working with Churches in mission:
• Often the feedback I get is: "I have no none-Christian friends to invite".
• Remember Jesus did not say:
• "You are the light of the church". But: "You are the light of the world".
• We are responsible for being out there shining in the world,
• Making friendships and contacts with the world,
• So that they can see us glow!
THIRD: REMEMBER ‘I AM INFLUENTIAL.’
Ill:
• A mother took her young son shopping.
• After a day in the stores, a clerk handed the little boy a lollipop.
• "What do you say?" the mother said to the boy,
• To which he replied, "Do you take contactless credit card!"
• TRANSITION: That boy had listened to his mother shopping;
• He was learning as he watched and simply copied her language,
• Even if he did not understand what he was saying!
We have an effect on people:
ill:
• I bump into people round the shopping area;
• When they see you they hide their cigarettes behind their back,
• Or apologise for swearing etc.
• TRANSITION: I don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable;
• I am not offended by either,
• But my presence at least makes the conversation a little more acceptable.
ill:
• Headmaster of a local school,
• Started to say, "Oh my God".
• But then realised I was there and changes it to "Oh my God ...ness".
• I hope my presence there helped to positively make it easier for others to be good.
• Even if it is only in the way they speak!
Quote:
My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;
Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way.
Ill:
• Penny forever telling me in supermarkets;
• As I stand in a que at the cashiers till, she says, “Smile!”
• I reply, “I am being polite”
• She says; “No! They need more than that, smile at them as well!”
• Just being nice to someone can make a difference!
Ill:
• Dr. John Geddie was a Presbyterian clergyman and missionary;
• Born in Scotland but served God in Australia and the New Hebrides.
• He went to Aneityum (Aneityum is Vanuatu's southernmost inhabited island )
• And in 1848 and worked there for God for 24 years.
• When he died the locals erected a tablet to his memory these words are inscribed:
• “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians.
• When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen”.
• TRANSITION: There was a man who brought light into darkness,
• A man who made a difference!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=IHdf9lc0WdqPKXtxCo75P2bB5InpGnIh
