Pretend Santas, imitation smells, counterfeit presents, simulated smiles, artificial trees, fake snow...how is it that we’ve turned the Christmas season into everything but something real?
It appears to me that most of what is foisted upon us during the holiday’s is anything but real.
As we prepare for the celebration of Advent – Christ’s Coming - I want us to rediscover the REAL Christmas. I want us to find something substantial while much of our society is selling illusion.
This morning I want to start our search for the Real Christmas with a man that is actually not in the Christmas story at all. In fact, Peter doesn’t even meet the Christ Child until thirty years after His birth and then it’s along a lake shore in Northern Galilee, not a stable in Southern Judea.
I want to start with Simon Peter because he is probably the best illustration we can find to explain the purpose of Jesus Christ coming in the first place. Jesus came for relationship...REALationship.
The real gift I want to present to you this Christmas season is REALationship. Our relationship with Jesus Christ, with God can be real. Another way to say that is this...
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect; He only expects you to be real, authentic and willing to take the next step with Him.
It’s not our work to be perfect, that’s God’s work. Our part is to be honest, open and real with God. His part is to complete His purpose in us. It’s God’s work to perfect us!
The real story of Christmas is that a perfect, holy God came to a messed up world filled with messed up people and offered them REALationship with Himself!
Have you ever thought of yourself as messed up? I know I’m a mess, how about you? There’s a lot of stuff in my life that needs fixing; at times it gets pretty discouraging. I blow up at my kids or my wife. I envy what others have that I can’t seem to obtain. I get tired. I over spend. My mind, my thoughts head in directions I hate. I mean, even when things are going really good and I think I’m on top of everything – sometimes I disappoint myself. Do you ever feel like that?
How is it that a perfect, powerful God wants to have REALationship with messed up people like us?
Simon Peter illustrations that REALationship better than anyone I know – other than you and me!
Simon is not what we would expect from a “Church Leader”, a major Christ follower. He messes up a lot. He’s way up and then he’s way down. One minute he’s sticking his neck out for God and the next he’s cowering under a little girl’s name calling. Peter’s about as far from perfect as they get and yet He was passionately and deeply loved, accepted and guided by Jesus Christ – even in his biggest mess-ups.
The story of Simon Peter in the Bible begins along a sea shore in the Gospel of Matthew and ends in a little letter tucked near the end of the New Testament called “Second Peter”. From beginning to end three powerful truths about REALationship keep shining through, the first is this:
LITTLE DECISIONS ADD UP TO BIG REALATIONSHIPS.
Mike Yaconelli, in his little book, Messy Spirituality writes, “Spirituality is about doing the tiny work of God, little acts, small responses to God’s presence in our lives. Every week, my church shows me heroic acts by ordinary people who never will be recognized.” (pg.109)
Simon Peter’s story begins while he and his brother are net fishing along the Sea of Galilee. It couldn’t have been all that exciting, throw it in...pull it out...throw it in...pull it out... Then, along comes a dynamic man who offers him a promotion, “Come, be my follower, and I will show you how to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19).
I don’t think it was much of a decision. Sure we make a big deal out of Peter’s stepping away from his nets to follow Jesus being the beginning of something huge, but at the time I don’t think it was a huge decision for Peter, just something, a small step.
But, fast forward ten chapters and in Matthew 14 we see Peter taking a different kind of step. This time he’s in a boat in the middle of the night in the middle of lake. Peter and his fellowship Christ followers are scared, fearing for their lives because a sudden storm is threatening the stability of their little boat. Then, in the distance that see something, someone, walking across the water toward them. They think it’s a ghost, it looks like Jesus. Then they hear His voice, “It’s all right...I am here. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)
That’s when Simon Peter that’s a huge step. He cries out to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.” Jesus responds, “Sure, come on over.” Peter doesn’t even hesitate. He leaps over the side of the boat and steps away from the boat walking on water! Sure, his focus falters for a moment and Jesus has to save him from sinking, but Peter walked on water with Jesus!
From walking away from some fishing nets to walking on water with Jesus – that’s a long way to walk, but it all began with a little decision. Lots of little decisions add up to big REALationship.
Several months ago I read Jim Collins’ book, Good to Great , in it he describes what he calls the flywheel principle (pg.165). I’ve modified his illustration a little and I call mine “the merry-go-round effect”. Here’s the point.
As a kid I used to love to go to the playground with my friends. Everyone would load up on the merry-go-round and one of us would be picked to be the official “pusher”. Maybe you remember what would happen. You would start pulling on one of the bars, nothing would seem to happen at first, but then that first little give could be felt. Pretty soon the merry-go-round was starting to turn, ever so slowly, but it was moving! The more you pulled the more it would move and soon it was moving pretty steady. You’d continue to grab at the bars and pull or push and eventually the merry-go-round was flying and spinning almost faster than you could turn it. But it all began with that first pull. And the truth is, every pull or push after that first one wasn’t much different – it was the accumulation of each pull or push that got the merry-go-round spinning.
Our REALationship with Jesus Christ is a lot like the merry-go-round effect. God asks us to take one step, make one pull at a time. We don’t need to worry or stress over what happens later – God is interested in our now.
In the Gospel of Mark we see Peter again making a step. Jesus asks His followers who they believe that He is and Peter steps forward and shouts, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29)
But then...just a few moments later Jesus is rebuking Peter for stepping backwards. Jesus began telling His followers about his coming crucifixion and resurrection. Peter didn’t like that kind of talk, especially about rejection and death. Jesus sternly rebukes Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from Gods.” (Mark 8:33).
That was quite a blow to Peter, a step backwards.
Sometimes our small steps turn into stumbles. Sometimes we say the wrong things, do the wrong things. But Peter’s failure didn’t stop him from taking the next steps and just five days later Jesus takes Peter along with two other Christ followers to the top of a mountain where He (Jesus) shows them a glimpse of heaven and they hear from God the Father. Again Peter doesn’t fully comprehend the situation, says the wrong thing, but Jesus lovingly leads them forward – toward the next.
Jesus didn’t expect Simon Peter to be perfect; he just expected Peter to be real. And Peter’s small decisions, small steps lead to BIG REALationship and powerful progress in his life.
Let me ask you a question, what are some little decisions you need to make this Christmas season?
Could it be that you need make a decision to spend a little focused time with God everyday? That time could lead you to some very big moments this month.
Could it be that you need to make a decision to reach out a little to someone you’ve been overlooking or disconnected from, someone that needs God’s touch through you?
Our little decisions can lead to BIG REALationship.
In Messy Spirituality, the author goes on to say, “I made hundreds of decisions to become a Christian...[or] to rededicate my rededication, to go into full-time Christian service, to treat my parents better, top give God my hormones. I meant every one of those decisions, yet I successfully acted on most of them for only about two or three days. Still, those two or three days lead the groundwork for the next decision. I couldn’t make the next decision if I had not made the previous one. I was growing one decision at a time.” (pg.99)
One decision at a time, we grow one decision at a time!
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect; He only expects you to be real, authentic and willing to make the next little decision that will lead you into deeper relationship with Him.
There’s another truth that fits in with that thought and with what we know about Simon Peter.
REALATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST LOOKS DIFFERENTLY ON EACH OF US
Remember the story at the end of the Gospel of John that we’ve looked at a few times recently? It’s the one where Jesus and Peter are again by the sea shore. Jesus is talking to Simon Peter and giving Peter a small glimpse into what his life will be like. Peter turns around and sees John, another Christ follower. “What about him, Lord?” (John 21:21) Jesus’ reply was swift and too the point, “...what is that to you? You follow me...” (John 21:22)
Jesus didn’t want Peter comparing himself to John, He wanted Peter focused on God.
Even though Peter and John came from similar backgrounds: both grew up in Galilee, both were tough fishermen of competing businesses – even though they had a lot of things in common, they were totally different.
• Peter was rash and out-there. John was more like a simmering teapot, ready to explode.
• Peter was up and down. John was close and consistent.
• Peter denied Jesus at first and then made an incredible comeback through Jesus’ grace. John was willing to stay close to Jesus through the trials and crucifixion.
Jesus loved both of those rough men and used both of them in powerful ways.
• Peter preached the first sermon at the first church service, ever, and thousands accepted Christ.
• John lived his final days in exile because of his faith and God used him to pen the final book in the Bible, Revelation.
Their REALationship to Jesus was different. There was no way to compare either to the other.
God never intended for us to be cookie-cutter, look-alike believers. We’re all different. God shaped us differently.
There is no formula to being a Christ follower. We all make the same commitment to give our lives to Jesus Christ. We often serve together and enjoy life together as a church family – but we are all different. God intended it to be that way.
He doesn’t want us looking and comparing ourselves with each other. He wants us focused on Him!
REALationship with Jesus fits differently on each of us.
God doesn’t expect you, He doesn’t expect us to be perfect; He only expects us to be uniquely real, authentic and willing to make the next step with Him. For each of us that step will be different.
But that next step can be tough to take.
Years ago I worked for the Navy at a shipyard. We had the huge dry-docks where submarines would be floated into for repair. The dry-docks were really deep. Often we would have to walk to the bottom of the docks to work under the huge ships. What I remember most about those times where the steps we would have to go down. They weren’t normal steps – they were like two-feet high and really tough going up. Day after day I would hoist myself up the thirty or so two-foot steps to the top of the dock. But I remember one day when a more experienced mechanic went with me. As I started down the side of the dock, he stopped me. Then he walked me around the other side of the dock and there someone had built wooden steps in-between the bigger concrete steps. Instead of one two-foot tread, there were three smaller steps on each level. Man, life got a lot easier that day!
Sometimes as believers we keep looking at the big steps and getting discouraged that we’re not up to the next step. That’s when Jesus comes along and shows us that the steps don’t have to be so large, just take the next small one and then the one after than.
Which brings me to the last truth I want to share with you from Peter’s life...
GIVE GOD WHAT YOU CAN, NOW, AND YOU WILL GIVE MORE, LATER.
Often we assume we can’t give God anything because we don’t think we have enough to give or we don’t have enough faith to give it all.
I’ve thought most of my life that if I didn’t give God everything right now, He wouldn’t accept what I could give Him now. Isn’t it all or nothing with Jesus?
The reality is God wants what you will give Him now! Our ability to give to God fluctuates if we are honest with ourselves. Sometimes, what appears to be 70% is 100% of what we can give right then.
Peter couldn’t walk on water, but he could call out and reach out to Jesus and Jesus could!
Jesus didn’t tell Peter to head out on his own and forge a new path to righteousness. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him and then told Peter to follow Him.
No matter how unspiritual we may feel we are – how unspiritual we may actually be – “as long as we want to grow more, Jesus will show up in the life of even the messiest of disciples.”
In Matthew 17:20 Jesus assures His disciples, “even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Lots of people like to say that faith is so powerful that just a tiny amount is enough to move mountains. That’s not a bad thought; however, I have a little different take on what Jesus said. I think the point He’s trying to make is that if we give him what we can – even as little as it is, God will us it in an awesome way!
It’s not that we have this faith that can move mountains. It’s that we give what faith we have to God and He can and will do incredible things!
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect; He only expects you to be real, authentic and willing to take the next step with Him. He expects you to be different from everyone else. And He’s willing to take what you will give right how because He knows that if you give what you have, what you can of yourself now...you will gain the faith to give more later.
Discovering the REAL Christmas begins by discovering REALationship with Jesus Christ.
What’s the next step for you?
Let me suggest something this week...take a small step.
(1) Take a small step in your time with God. If you’re not in the habit of spending time with God – reading the Bible and talking your day over with Him – start there. Just a little step.
(2) Take a small step with someone else. Who could you reach out to in a small way? Someone who could use your touch.
(3) Take a small step and put God on your Christmas list. Plan on giving God something this year for Christmas.
(4) Take a small step by handing out a couple of invite cards. It doesn’t take much to hand someone a card.
What’s the next step for you?
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect; He only expects you to be real, authentic and willing to take the next step with Him.
Would you pray this prayer with me?
Lord Jesus, thank You for being REAL with me. Thank You for allowing me to have REALationship with You. Lord, I’m willing to take the next step with You. If you show me what it is...I will take it. AMEN
If you prayed that prayer, if you prayed that prayer and genuinely meant it, then get ready for the next step – because when you give Him that next step you will be blessed!
Notes:
Yaconelli, Mike, Messy Spirituality, Zondervan, 2002
Collins, Jim, Good to Great, HarperCollins, 2001
Yaconelli, ibid, pg. 103
For more information or powerpoint for this sermon please contact Paul at paul@familyfellowshipchurch.com or visit our website at http://churchforfamily.com
