L .O.V.E LIKE CHRIST . .
LEARNING AND GROWING
January 8, 2005 Jay Robison Matthew 6:31-34
Happy New Year! last wk talking about New Beginnings
If you know what your purpose is much easier trip
On front of Bulletin
TBC exists to LOVE like Christ
L=learning and growing O=with Open hearts and minds
V=being Vessels of service E=in Exalting our God
More than just slogan, what does it mean to Love like Christ
Today Learning and Growing Matthew 6:31-34
Talks about importance of learning and growing
Part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount if my follower like this One commentator referred to this as “the Greatest Treasure”
2 truths about Learning and Growing as LOVE like Christ
1. Admit YOU ARE NOT PERFECT
If you have to learn and grow Means you are not finished yet
To learn have to admit there is something for you to learn
If perfect no need to learn and grow
Bible knows you are not perfect Romans 3:10-11 NRSV
There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
There is no one who has understanding,
There is no one who seeks God.
God does not expect you to be perfect knows your life
People mistakenly assume that only perfect in church
Are you kidding, come because know not person I should be
This is place where I get a challenge to do what I should
We are all BROKEN PEOPLE
There is a broken heart in every pew
We all have been hurt Alcohol, drugs, broken family r-ships
Physical problems, we have all been betrayed we are hurt
And its not just others to have done it to us
We are a part of problem as well
We have all failed, turn to neighbor “You’ve failed”
More than half of basketball shots don’t go in UK 2/3s
Not a happy thought but it is true acknowledge that
We are works in progress, we all have a ways to go
We are broken because of sin in lives of others
There is sin in your life as well we don’t know it all
Jesus knows you are not perfect
He knows you struggle because you have been burned before
Knows everyone is untrue, or has an angle
So we wonder can we trust God? Been let down before
Listen to what Jesus said, what I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you
can respond to God’s giving. Vs 32 the Message
Jesus keeps his promises He wants to give to us, but we must
Have open hands Reaching out to him
Jesus KNOWS we are LIVING between HEAVEN & EARTH
Why he talks about what we will eat and what we will wear
If had HS psychology heard of Abraham Maslow, suggested 5 levels human need; food\shelter, safety, social acceptance, self-esteem, & finally highest self-actualization meaning
These are needs\goals for all human beings he is right
In Jesus’ day nearly everything a person earned went to
each day’s food\shelter. Survival was a day-to-day issue.
Vs 32 God knows you need these things
God knows we struggle in spiritual life
To read Bible, and believe what it says
To serve God, even when it hurts we live in 2 worlds
Spiritual vs material world want to do right but fail no perfect
Warning for us Oswald Chambers pointed out, The way we
continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our
Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God
falsely of having overlooked us.
Believing even God cannot change us, GOD CAN USE US
If we love like Christ recognize nobody’s perfect
We are a pilgrim people defined not by what we’ve been
But by where we are going, BIG DIFFERENCE
Cannot divest selves totally of anxiety but if quest is the
Kingdom of God then lower anxiety level
2. Accept THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEARNING AND GROWING
See its one thing to admit not perfect
Its another to do something about it
Cop out to say well I’m not perfect so no good
Jesus knows tension heaven vs earth so says But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Vs 33 NKJV
All the things that entangle us
Leadership lit says We must BEGIN W\THE END IN MIND
What is the purpose? what are we trying to accomplish?
LOVE like Christ, learning and growing
What is life ultimately about? Making a mark in this world? Having $$? Enjoy life? worthy goals, not ultimate purposes
Love God first and love others better
If you are the same person you today that you were a year ago, then we must apologize to God
We are works in progress, Xians should be growth oriented
We partner w\Interfaith Counseling help us grow in R-ships growing toward greater health
We are works in progress we welcome correction
Look at vs of promise highlighted we are to seek FIRST Jesus
not saying, "don’t concern self w\what you eat drink or wear" But give spirit 1st place
Would my wishes reflect what God desires for my life? Avg American would desire more $$, happy marriage, compliant, well-adjusted children, good health, alleviation of all troubles, absence of pain, long life, endless happiness. Probably most church folks would ask for same things.
Can have all this but fall apart w\out spiritual foundation Lady bought parrot to keep her company returned it next day. "This bird doesn’t talk," she told storeowner. "Does he have a mirror in his cage?" "Parrots love mirrors. See their reflection & it helps them to start a conversation." Woman bought mirror left Next day returned bird still no talk "Well, how about a ladder? Parrots love ladders. A happy parrot is a talkative parrot." Woman bought a ladder & left. Next day, she back. "Maybe parrot needs swing. Does your parrot have a swing? No? Well, once he starts swinging, he’ll talking up a storm." Woman didn’t want to keep buying stuff had little confidence swing would work, but bought it, took it home, put in cage but parrot just didn’t seem to even notice it. When she walked into store the next day, she was angry. “What’s matter now?” "Parrot you sold me died," storeowner shocked. "I’m so sorry. Tell me, did he ever say a word?" "Yes, right before he died, In a weak voice, he asked me, ’Awk! Don’t they sell any food at that pet store?"
Have to be honest Learning and Growing involves PAIN Fact of life, growing feet push on shoes To learn involves study, study includes discipline and pain changes in life often involve pain
Eagles seen as most regal bird soaring above earth
Interesting to learn how it learns to soar
Starts in huge eagles nest high in tree or cliff
Read that Eaglets hatched in nest cared for by loving mom
Nest made from wool, feathers, and fur from animals she has killed, making it soft and comfortable for the eggs.
By time growing birds reach flying age, comfort of the nest & luxury of free meals make them quite reluctant to leave.
That’s when the mother eagle begins “stirring up the nest.”
W\strong talons begins pulling up carpet of fur\ feathers, underneath at base of nest sharp rocks, thorns, and branches.
As more of bedding gets plucked up, the nest becomes more uncomfortable for young eagles. Eventually, this & other urgings prompt the growing eagles to leave comfortable nest
And Soar in World (Today in the Word, June 11, 1989.)
Biblical characters grew OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONE Biblical characters had wilderness experiences Joseph before ever great ruler in dungeon
Moses, years in wilderness before ever lead to promised land
Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den
Mary had to watch her son suffer
Paul, was blinded and dealt with memories
A part of how we grow is through pain
When we are that far down learn what is most important
Accept the pain that you may experience is helping you grow
Difference comes in when people give up
Like Lewis Smedes says in “Keeping Promises”
Yes, somewhere people still make and keep promises.
They choose not to quit when going gets rough because promised once to see it through
They stick to lost causes.
They hold on to a love grown cold.
They stay with people who have become pains in the neck.
They still dare to make promises & care enough to keep the promises they make.
I want to say to you that if you have a ship you will not desert, if you have people you will not forsake, if you have causes you will not abandon, then you are like God.
What a marvelous thing a promise is!
When a person makes a promise, she reaches out into an unpredictable future & makes
One thing predictable: she will be there even when being there costs her more than she wants to pay.
When person makes a promise, stretches self out into circum- stances that no one can control & controls at least 1 thing: he will be there no matter what circumstances turn out to be. W\1 simple word of promise, person creates an island of certainty in sea of uncertainty. When a person makes a promise, she stakes a claim on her personal freedom & power.
Learning & Growing embraces DOUBT AS A DOORWAY TO FAITH
Sometimes hard to believe God We live bet heaven & earth ll
You may be saying I can’t do it, don’t believe enough
Doubt does not mean forsaken, everyone doubts
When we are that far down learn what is most important
D.L. Moody illustrated how grow spiritually had a glass
“Tell me, how can I get air out of glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.”
Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter it.”
after many suggestions, picked up a pitcher and quietly filled glass w\water. “There, “all the air is now removed.” He explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing Christ to fill us. -Contributed by: Rich Grimes
But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him. Psalms 4:3 NRSV
Are you faithful to God even in your doubts
Almost 15 yrs ago Don Calhoun made $5.00/hr at an office
supply store. Only had been to 2 Chicago bulls b-ball games
in his life on way to 3rd. Came in Chicago Stadium, a woman
who worked for Bulls walked up & told him he was selected
to take part in event during game called the Million $$ Shot.
The shot came after a time-out in the third quarter.
If Calhoun could shoot a basket standing 79 ft away
That is behind the free-throw line on opposite side of court
he would win one million dollars.
Calhoun had played basketball at the YMCA but he had never
tried a shot like this before. As soon as ball left his hand,
then Bulls coach Phil Jackson said, “It’s good.”
Sure enough, ball swished through net stadium went wild.
Calhoun went home w\few bucks in his pocket but would
receive $50K/year for the next 20 years. Sometimes 1 action
one moment can change everything.
Only person you can change is yourself
How are you learning and growing in Christ?
L .O.V.E LIKE CHRIST . .
LEARNING AND GROWING
January 8, 2005 Jay Robison Matthew 6:31-34
3. Admit
There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
There is no one who has understanding,
There is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10-11 NRSV
We are all
Jesus said, what I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. Vs 32 the Message
Jesus we are between
The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an
insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to
accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Oswald Chambers
4. Accept
But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Vs 33 NKJV
We must
If you are the same person you today that you were a year ago, then we must apologize to God
Learning and Growing involves
Biblical characters grew
Learning and Growing embraces
But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him. Psalms 4:3 NRSV
How are you learning and growing in Christ?
