Saturday, November 28, 2015

Advent Series - "Love Revealed" Week 1 "Love Revealed Justice"


The following materal was was written by Jeremy Summers. Jeremy is the director of Adult Spiritual Formation in the Division of Church Multiplication and Discipleship at the Wesleyan Church Headquarters. The material in its entirety along with more information on the Wesleyan Church can be found at https://www.wesleyan.org/3524/advent-2015-love-revealed#_=_

LOVE Revealed: To Bring Justice

Purpose:
To see how our desire for justice can take a Christ-centered shape.
Scripture Focus:
Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon Introduction:
If you have ever seen flashing lights in your rearview mirror though you were a model driver; if you have ever been asked about a rumor that was spread behind your back; if you have ever been found guilty—in a court or a simple conversation—when you were innocent; if you have ever been terminated without cause, then you have a glimpse of the experience that many of this passage’s first hearers felt. Isaiah 42 is part of a section that captured the words of God to a group of people suffering injustice. The Jewish people had been in exile in Babylon for almost fifty years. Injustice can roil up within as rage, anger, bitterness, helplessness, frustration. All of those things can lead for our desire for vengeance, revenge.

And revenge, we are told, is a dish best served cold. In other words, we are to wait to exact revenge. It feels best when done in the proper time—after an appropriate amount of waiting. Advent is different kind of waiting. We are not waiting on revenge, but we are waiting for justice. Paul encouraged the believers in Rome not to seek revenge, but to turn it over to God. Does this mean we ought not to work for justice? No. As the passage teaches us, God promised to send One who will bring justice. The prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus and while in Advent we wait for His second coming—a coming that will bring final justice—we know that His first coming was a coming for justice, as well. It is not whether we work for justice, but how we do so—in a way that points to His final justice and does not to slip into revenge.

Here are five pointers from Isaiah 42:1-9.

Sermon Outline:

1.      Loving justice is GENTLE (vv. 1-3).

The servant promised in Isaiah 42 offers a strange combination of power and vulnerability. The servant will bring justice to the nations, but He does not do so by screaming and shouting. Old Testament professor Julia Claassens points out the contrast this servant of justice shows to the nations. One of the benefits of being gentle in the pursuit of justice is that it can de-escalate a situation. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Learn to work for justice while being gentle.

Who are your examples of justice? When thinking about justice, recall the gentility of Jesus in dealing with the broken—even when dealing with the unjust.

2.      Loving justice is GLOBAL (v. 4).

Notice the extent of justice that the servant of God will bring. He will bring justice on the earth—even to the islands. Justice that is loving does not draw boundaries around where we will work for justice. John Wesley exemplified this desire and openness to bring justice in his attitude that the world was his parish. Wesley considered it his duty to proclaim the Gospel wherever he was. Likewise for us: Wherever we have been placed by the servant, we are responsible to work for justice there.

3.      Loving justice is GROUNDED IN GOD (v. 5,9)

            In case we can become overwhelmed by the notion that loving justice is global, look to verses 5. Loving justice is the work of God! OT scholar Terrence Fretheim says, “What God will do on behalf of an abused and oppressed people is made a matter of divine promise.” What we are called to do is not in our own strength. None of us is called to be the servant. Jesus occupies this role. While we work for justice wherever we are planted, we remember that we do so because Jesus is already at work there.

4.      Loving justice is about GATHERING TOGETHER (vv. 6-7)

It can be easy to think that justice is something we do Monday through Saturday; that justice is something we do “out there” and not “in here.” But our gathering in worship is already the beginning of justice. Every Sunday is a gathering meant to embody justice—where sins are condemned but sinners are forgiven. Where people from different backgrounds are brought together in unity.

But our gathering is not meant to be exclusive. The servant brings a justice that is a light to the nations. How we treat each other is meant to be a witness, a sign that this community is focused on justice both for itself and as a community.

5.      Loving justice is GOD’S GLORY (v. 8)

Finally, it is God who is glorified through loving justice. God’s display of justice through the servant is what sets Him apart from other gods. But He has brought us into the secret. He has told us about justice before He has brought it into reality. We can begin manifesting justice, then, by affirming His lordship in our lives, by making sure there are no idols in our lives.

Theologian Andy Crouch says that the connection between idolatry and injustice is very close. Idolatry always leads to injustice. When God’s glory is the focus of our lives, we cease perpetuating injustice and we become agents of loving justice.



Reflection Questions:
1.      Where do you see injustice in your life, community, or world?
2.      Is there any idol in your life that keeps you from being an agent of justice?
3.      What do you think about loving justice being gentle?

4.      Where are you waiting for God to bring justice in your own life?

Saturday, November 21, 2015

The One to Follow

In Jesus’ day it was common to follow the teachings of a specific Rabbi. Each Rabbi had a set of teachings called a “yoke”. These teachings were their interpretations of the Scriptures and traditions. When a person started following a Rabbi they committed themselves fully by becoming a disciple with the goal of continue his "yoke". 

So as we read John's telling of the narrative of the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus we discover that many started leaving John the Baptist and began following Jesus. This would likely raise many questions such as the we recorded in John 3:22-35.

The question most likely surrounded the legitimacy of each one's baptism. We may see the question in light why people abandon a a particular belief for another. We can ask it this way, "why abandon a way of thinking and begin following the teachings of Jesus?" In our culture today asking someone to abandon a way of thinking that they have been raised to believe is considered politically incorrect and extremely offensive. Yet Jesus has commissioned us to do just that. He has commissioned us to make disciples. With this in mind let us look at the idea that who Jesus is makes Him the One to follow. 

As we observe this passage section by section we first notice the question, who's teaching is to be observed in order to be made pure? As you read verses 22-26 please consider the following:

1. To follow a teacher (Rabbi) one would be totally committed to his interpretation of the
    Scripture (yoke) and their goal would be to someday be like their Rabbi.
2. The discussion in this passage would have been concerning the teachings of each John and  
    Jesus and thus the legitimacy of their baptism for purification.

We can apply this today in by asking ourselves a question. Do you want people to follow your way of thinking or the thinking of Jesus? We have to understand that we don’t know all there is to know and give people freedom and responsibility to seek and study what Jesus said about Himself and how He has revealed God. 

The second section, verses 27-30 displays John's joy being made complete by knowing that people are following Jesus. In this section we must understand the following two points. 

1. John understood his role in relation to Jesus and those to whom he was ministering. His whole point was to get them to Jesus.
2. John’s disciples did not quit understand what John and Jesus were about. They were most likely very committed to John and though that those who were leaving him were failing to show the same commitment.

If we understand this section, we learn that ffollowing Jesus does not mean following a man. Historically Christians have and still do label themselves by who's theological system is followed. This has led to division which has caused many to abandon the church.

In the final section of this passage John glorifies Jesus and provides four truths about Jesus that put Him in the position of the one we are to follow.  In verses 31-35, John the Baptist speaks of Jesus as the one we are to follow because He is...
…is above all. V. 31
…bears witness to what he has seen and heard. V. 32-33
…utters the words of God. V.34
…is loved by the Father and has been given all things.

Being that these things are only true about Jesus we may say that the more we get to know Jesus, the more we will want people we love to follow Him. The question that remains for us to answer is if we will put political correctness in the place of God. If you believe that Jesus is the One to follow, then like John the Baptist your joy will be made complete when those you love choose to do so.  

Saturday, November 7, 2015

God Please Show Me


I have come to accept that believing in Jesus has challenges and some work hard to overcome them but find it difficult to so. There is also the reality that by nature God is beyond our total comprehension.  By accepting this reality, I no longer make the futile attempt figure everything out or explain why God does or does act like I expect. I have seen enough in life to believe that He exists, has set up the world to operate in certain and uncertain ways, and that He unconditionally loves us. I have also come to the conclusion through a study on the available evidence that Jesus in fact did raise from the dead. And because He did so, I believe that He is exactly who and what He claimed to be. 

I don’t know why you have chosen to believe, but I would think that it has at least a little bit to do with what you have observed in life. If you have chosen to not believe in God I would make the same assumption. Our beliefs are largely shaped by what we have observed to be true by personal experience. This is why I can with a fair amount of certainty say that God will show you enough for it to be reasonable to believe. 

With this in mind may I draw your attention to the second chapter of the Gospel of John. Here John describes three different narratives that have a common thread. The common thread is that of signs that produce belief. Please pause for a moment and follow the link to read these accounts in John chapter two ( http://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/john/2.html ).

Now that you have read these accounts you can see that what Jesus did gave those around Him reasons to believe in three of Christianities major beliefs. 

1. The belief that Jesus can meet needs. 2:1-11
           
2. The belief in the Scriptures and the words of Jesus.  2:12-22
           
3. The belief in the character and authority of Jesus. 2:23-25

           
As you reflect upon these three narratives please understand that our life is telling a story. Where are you in your own story? What experiences are you having that are shaping your beliefs? Have you seen enough to believe, or are you in the middle where the disciples were living as they walked with Jesus? They were in the position of having the words of Jesus that were yet to be fulfilled. They were not fully convinced until they saw the resurrected Christ. That means for three years they experienced Him and were not fully convinced. May we look into what hinders our belief and ask God to help us see reasons to believe. I pray that God gives you an encounter with the resurrected Christ.