(This series was used during a capital funds campaign to raise money for repairs and renewal of the facilities.)
Jeff Armbrester
Renewal for Growth
There are two possible directions that renewal may take. Renewal can go in the direction of preservation, which is restoration. It is an attempt to restore to the original and maintain the past. We restore old cars, furniture, houses, and many other items. Or, renewal may go in the direction of growth, which involves adapting and updating. In a word, this renewal means change.
Seeing the Need for Renewal
Matthew 3: 1-10
(Part 1 of 4)
Before renewal can take place, we must see the need for renewal. We must closely examine the cracks and worn places in our lives.
We see the need for renewal of our church facilities. The heating air conditioning systems were worn out and they have been replaced. The ceiling tiles in the narthex and hall were falling down and they have been replaced. The paint is stained with age. The carpet is worn. The roof over the education wing leaks. The shrubbery needs attention.
We look around and see that we need to renew our building. But we’ve decided not just to restore it. We want to improve the building. We have grown beyond the capacity of the building for Sunday School. There are no more rooms available. We need an elevator to assist many who can no longer safely negotiate the stairs. We are almost filled to capacity on Wednesday evenings. We are renewing the building with future growth in mind. These facilities will continue to be a place that conveys beauty, warmth, excitement, and most of all the love of God.
While we’re renewing the building, let’s take a close look at our lives. I’m sure if we look close enough; we’ll see a need for renewal there as well. Let’s take an honest look at ourselves. Many of us may have to stare long into a mirror before we begin to see the real person standing there. Look deep into the eyes. What do you see? Listen carefully to the voice. What do you hear? Look deep within the heart. What do you feel? If we only glance into the mirror, we will not see a need for renewal.
Many times we don’t see the sin within ourselves. After all, we hate sin, don’t we? Or do we?
Several residents in a neighborhood were extremely upset at the reckless and fast driving in their quiet subdivision.
They organized a petition drive and demanded that the police patrol the area with greater frequency and penalize drivers who ignored the speed limits.
The police obliged and immediately ticketed five drivers who ignored the speed limits. All of them were fuming at the fines they received.
It seems, however, that all five who were ticketed had signed the petition calling for enforcement.
We hate sin, don’t we?
At least other people’s sin!
Dr. David Jeremiah
Those five people needed someone else to show the sin in their lives. We are no different. Often we need someone else to point out the ways our lives don’t match our profession. In the scripture reading today we have someone whose message causes us to see our need for renewal.
1In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, 2"Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." 3Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
"He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
’Prepare a pathway for the Lord’s coming!
Make a straight road for him!’"
4John’s clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God’s coming judgment? 8Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. 9Don’t just say, ’We’re safe--we’re the descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. 10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
(New Living Translation)
John the Baptist played a two-part role. He not only announced the coming of the Messiah, he reminded the people of their need for a Savior. John’s message was clear and simple, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." (3:2) There had been no prophet in Israel for about 400 years. The people had not forgotten about sin, but the hope of a Messiah was getting thin. In fact, the prominent thought of a Messiah was one who would be a military king like David. Most people didn’t see a need for a spiritual Savior. They didn’t see the need for renewal. John helped them to see that their lives weren’t matching their profession.
John emphasized a life that proves one’s relationship with God: Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God (3:8).
The way we live will prove whether or not we need renewal.
If we have truly repented of our sins, then our lives will show it. Paul tells us what a life committed to God looks like in Galatians 5:22-23:
22But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control.
These character traits are referred to as the fruit of the Spirit. They are fruit of the Spirit because you and I cannot produce these in our own strength. Every Christian is to produce these character traits. These are not Spiritual gifts that are given to different individuals. These are produced in every Christian.
Notice that they are not given but produced. A plant produces fruit. It nourishes the bloom until it grows into fruit and then into mature fruit. The Holy Spirit nurtures these traits within us until they reach maturity. Then the Spirit will maintain these traits within us.
If all these traits are not yet mature, then we continue to be in need of renewal. The Holy Spirit works to renew us, not to preserve us in some pure state, but for us to work with Jesus in reaching a world filled with lost people who do not know him. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit renews us, we are changed. Our way of life changes. We become more loving, joyful, filled with peace, patient, kind, good, faithful to God, his Church and one another, gentle, and persons with self-control.
I haven’t seen any Christians who are ripe and ready to pick? Have you? All of us continue to be in need of renewal. We desperately want to be renewed. We want the Holy Spirit to produce this fruit within us. There is one thing that prevents the Spirit from producing this fruit in us.
Christians tend to have a difficult time with repentance.
John preached a message of the need for people to repent of their sin. This was a message that the Jewish leaders reluctantly heard. They didn’t see themselves as sinners in need of repentance. After all, they were the holy ones of Israel.
They certainly did not see a need to be baptized. Baptism was a ritual for Gentiles who were converting to Judaism. A Jew had no need to be baptized. As long as he/she was a child of Abraham, his/her salvation was secure. But John refuted this: Don’t just say, ’We’re safe--we’re the descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham (vs.9).
Some people do not understand repentance or the confession of sin.
Unabomber Ted Kaczynski justified all of his murderous acts as a just response to a corrupt system. He explained his feelings by saying,
"Guilty feelings? Yes, a little. Occasionally I have bad dreams in which the police are after me. Or in which I am threatened with punishment from some supernatural source, such as the devil. But these don’t occur often ... I am definitely glad to have done what I have."
Obviously, he has no guilt.
As we show no sorrow for what we have done, there is no realization of the forgiveness for which Christ has died on the cross.
Confession means that we agree with God when we behave in a manner displeasing to Him.
Thank God for His grace.
Great Stories, July-Sept. 1998, p. 12
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he addressed several sins that they were guilty of: self-centeredness, incest, disrespect for the Lord’s Supper, division within the church, and others. His words to them were piercing and straightforward. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul talks about the good that came from his convicting letter.
2 Corinthians 7:8-11
8I am no longer sorry that I sent that letter to you, though I was sorry for a time, for I know that it was painful to you for a little while. 9Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.
11Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right.
(New Living Translation)
Repentance is more than just apologizing for something you’ve done wrong. Repentance is turning around. When you’re driving to someone’s house and you miss a turn, what do you do? You repent of your wrong way. You stop, turn around, and get back on the right road.
Just feeling sorry won’t cut it. Paul told the Corinthians that it was godly sorrow that brought about the needed change in their lives.
Closing
As you embark on a journey to renew the facilities of this church, will you begin by renewing your relationship with Jesus? That’s where it all begins.
How’s the renovation work of your heart coming along? Are you still being renewed?
Invitation
Is there un-confessed sin in your heart?
Are you harboring a grudge against someone? God can’t bless you until you seek reconciliation and forgiveness.
Is Jesus your Savior? Have you asked him to forgive you for your sin? Have you asked him to save you and give you eternal life? Jesus wants to be your Savior. Allow him to renew your heart and life today.
