Think Like A Body

Think Like a Body

Romans 8:3-8

July 28, 2024

The other day Debbie and I were at Payless in Anderson. We were walking back to the car and we saw some guy yelling at someone in another car. And he was NOT using the nicest of language. Of course we were a bit intrigued. So, we walked and watched and listened.

It turns out, the guy stopped his car, literally parked his car at the end of a parking aisle. Got out of the car and went into the store. I didn’t think you could park in the middle of the parking aisle. The car behind him was beeping at the driverless car.

So, the driver walks back to his vehicle, mind you, we’re also parked in this same row. He’s yelling at the guy who’s beeping and we could hear him say, “Some lady left a purse in her cart, I tried to give it to her, but couldn’t get to her, so I brought her purse into the store.”

He did an amazingly good deed. But did he have to leave his car blocking the exit?

Have you ever been inconvenienced? Pull into the gas station and your card doesn’t work. They’re out of your favorite coffee. You need air in your tire, but someone’s already there. All inconveniences.

The same happens when we use those self checkout lanes. They get backed up and everyone has a problem, and now you have a problem.

Why are we inconvenienced? Because our expectation is to be served. I get it! We want to get in and get out. We’re not thinking about how we can serve others, but how you can serve me. I don’t want to socialize, I don’t want to talk to anyone, other than grunt ‘hello.’ Let me get in and get out, with the least amount of resistance. After all, I’m paying for your services. I want convenience.

As we’ve been talking about the church, AND yup, another sermon on the church. And of course, in my mind, this is important.

As I consider these inconveniences and desire to be served, I wonder if we sometimes look at church like this? You’re here to serve me, not me serving you.

Our world seems to be more and more disconnected. We value our individualism, often times as opposed to family.

And yet, the church is supposed to be family. We ARE the family of God. Maybe that was an issue in ancient days, and that’s why Paul referred to the church using the body as a metaphor.

Lots of people in the church believe all they need to do is check off certain boxes and they’ve fulfilled their Christian duty. But that’s really not going to get us where we want to be. You know what I mean?

Go to church check

Pray check

Read the Bible check

Be nice check

Give money check

And that’s about it. I’m a good person, I do my best, and that’s about all you’re gonna get from me. But there’s more to it.

And here’s the crazy thing - - - - when we miss out, we miss out in serving others and when we serve others, we receive abundantly. That’s the cool aspect. And if we miss out, we’re missing out on a lot. And that’s next weeks message.

We’re a proud Christian. But, we think individually, not like a family. We think like a consumer, not a contributor.

A couple of things are missing. This came to me - - - -

You’re part of the church, BUT you’re apart from the church.

You’re connected, but still not connected. So, what to do? Paul tells us in Romans 12. A few weeks ago, we looked at the second half of this chapter. A section often called the Marks or Characteristics of a Christian.

Let’s look at verse 3-8 in chapter 12, and learn from Paul ----

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

When you think about it, the message of the gospel should humble us. More times than not, it’s when we have a high view of ourselves that we get into trouble. That’s why Paul tells us not to think too highly of ourselves. The deeper message is this - - - - have a realistic outlook at who you are.

He said ‘don’t think too highly of yourself,’ instead think of yourself with sober judgment. That means have a realistic view of who you are and what God has gifted you with.

For example, I like pickleball, and I’m not bad for a 65 year old. But if I were to play Joshua in a singles match, and think I could beat him, you’d look at me and tell me I’m thinking too highly of my skill-set and not high enough of his skill. If we played, he’d beat me 11-1, and that would be because he miss hits a shot, or feels sorry for me.