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Recent Sermons
The following are transcripts of Pastor Randy's sermons on May 11 and May 18, 2008, that presented some of the ideas we have been sharing on generational transfer.
Sermon Manuscript
Deuteromotto 1 - "Discipling Generations to be Outwardly Focused"
"Generational Transfer As Old As Moses" - Deuteronomy 6
May 11, 2008
Once upon a time there was a town that flourished along the banks of a great river. This town was renowned for its trade and shipping. But over time, the river began to recede more and more, and the great ships could no longer navigate the shallow channel. Naturally, this greatly affected the flow of raw materials for industry and trade, and the town itself began to erode. Many people lost jobs and began to move away. The town fathers got together to discuss this problem and determined to ascertain the source of it. They put together an expedition of young men to travel up the river and discover what was the problem. The expedition explored up river, mile after mile
following the channel of the river until it was but a small stream flowing down from a mountain. Climbing that mountain, they came at last to a spring and a pond. Though this had obviously been a very beautiful location at one time, it too had fallen into disarray. The pond was chocked with excessive vegetation, and along with the tree limbs that had fallen into the pond, there was no longer a flow of water beyond an oozing trickle. Near the pond was an old, rundown shack. The expedition opened the creaking, rusty door that fell off the hinges with this movement, and together they gasped at the sight. The skeletal remains of an old man were discovered the man who had been the keeper of the spring and the pond before his demise. The death of this man resulted ultimately in the shriveling of the city downstream.
Vision in a church is like that; it is the source through which flow the streams of the living water of God's Word. With it, we flourish. Without it, we ooze along.
Together as leaders, and as a church family, we need to understand the days in which we live; and to seek God and hear from Him as to the vision He would have for us in maximizing the flow of His Word into a dry and arid world.
On behalf of the ministry staff, and increasingly in conjunction with our discussions with the Board of Elders, we have been talking with one another about the compelling elements of our vision for ministry at TSF.
I want you to clearly understand something. Though I'm going to be talking about Moses in a few minutes, I want you to know that I am not Moses coming down from the mountain with the tablets of law upon which is written the vision of TSF. Neither is this the pronouncement of the leadership team returning from a far voyage, or a seminar, with the cargo of God's clear direction for us. What this is, is an update of the conversations we have had thus far, as we have talked and prayed and talked and prayed, and looked at who we are and where it is that God is moving already in our midst. And now we are updating you on what we have begun to conclude and of some of the plans for the future. But more than anything, we are here today (today with Tim, next week with Paul Ostoich), to invite you to enter into the conversation with us.
And I can tell you that there is an excitement and anticipation surrounding all our discussions. The staff has sensed a growing clarity of the issues upon which we need to focus. At our latest board retreat, we departed with a sense that we were identifying paths of service that could germinate into a fruitful harvest of ministry. We are excited about this summer with a variety of opportunities for the church to grow in fellowship together and to reach out
to have our interns coming home with new energy and zeal
to talk in our themes, through a host of speakers, of how biblical characters have "stepped outside" in big ways to serve the Lord.
All together, this is somewhat like putting together a sizeable puzzle. We have a lot of the pieces, but do not possess a picture on the box cover to fully guide us or to show you exactly what it will look like. In fact, we don't get to see the product until it is done. But we are seeing many of the pieces coming together, and we are liking the picture.
We see the multitudinous gifts we have in the people of this church, both on the staff and in the various ministry teams
not to mention the huge potential of many we've yet to tap into fully. We hear the passions that many have verbalized. We are watching where God is blessing, and what has been His pattern of blessing over many years. We consider the opportunities surrounding us in this community. We have sought to understand the culture of this age its growing separation from God, yet its heart for spiritual connection. And, we consider the long-term vision of this family of faith from its founding 24 years ago.
A successful church over generations will be one that has the vision of the present and future, tied logically and strategically to the vision of the past.
The founding generation of this Fellowship stepped out 24 years ago in an audacious way, as they put it, "to plant a new expression of church community in the tri-state area." AND THEY DID! It was founded upon values of corporate leadership and service. Small groups would be emphasized for their value as the best agents of life change. This new church would not only tolerate, but embrace innovation and creativity and change. They were reading and learning from the best Christian thinkers of their time who sought to understand the times, and change what needed to be changed to maximize ministry opportunity.
The result was a church unlike any that had ever been seen in this valley. Though others had bits and pieces, TSF put together a new mosaic for ministry that God blessed and used, and continues to use down to this day. LOOK AT THIS PLACE LOOK AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE!
And since that time, over the past two decades, many dozens of new churches have been planted locally with very similar goals, and many dozens of established churches have followed the lead of TSF in terms of ministry strategy. What was totally unique, and done locally only at this fellowship when I came here just 14 years ago, is now the most common and accepted paradigm for local church ministry strategy. Even liberal churches attempt to do the same things!!!!
thinking the vital life principle is to be found only in the technique, rather than the truth being communicated through the technique!
Along the way, the founding generation established a theme: "To know Jesus Christ, and to make Jesus Christ known." It is on our sign, our web page, our literature. Though there are many churches in many places that share this motto with us, it is a good and comprehensive statement as to what a church should concentrate upon. It expresses as I have often put it both sides of the great commission: of discipleship and evangelism of the Gospel change inside a person, with results through that person extending in outreach to the world.
This statement, this motto, will continue on with us. Yet I, today, want to challenge us with a new expression of that motto for a new generation of the family of faith at TSF. Though it uses different words, I want to demonstrate, at the end, that we are saying much the same thing
thereby tying the vision of the past to the vision of today and the vision for the future.
As we have bantered about the words we think are descriptive of those concepts the Lord has repetitively laid upon our hearts and in our minds, here is the phrase that we are increasingly using to describe how we are going about doing church these days
Discipling generations to be outwardly focused
Motto statements rely on every word for significance
Discipling This is the core of what we do in the communication of truth the Scriptures apart from which we would be just going through religious motions.
Generations This key word has jumped out to us, over and over. And I'll claim it, I guess, as being especially pushed by me to be talked about and talked about. The seed of this was planted the first time I stepped foot on this property, when, in the prayer of one of the founding people of this Fellowship, she said: "May this be a place where generations of followers worship you."
To Be This speaks of change, of process. Honestly, we are always in the midst of change as individuals, so we should not fear it. Sanctification is change; it is changing from how we are right now, to becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. As Peter said, we should "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Outwardly The natural gravitational tendency of the self, or of the church, is to be inward
to be a country club. But God has never locked in with such a view; and praise God for that! He was always reaching and looking to expand
growing the band of the faithful toward a day when there will be a multitude of worshippers from every people around the Throne.
Focused This speaks of intentionality of looking beyond the walls in specific ways; of being like Jesus, who not only longed to bring the nation of Israel under his wings like a hen would her chicks, but also saw the fields as white unto harvest
who said to go not only to Jerusalem, and a lil' bit down the road to Judea, but to go to Samaria (yuk! those people most different from me) and even to the uttermost part of the earth!! (We're not just going to Kazakhstan because it is cool, but because such is a mandate!)
The title of my theme today is "Deuteromotto." That is a word that I have made up. I'm taking off on the word "Deuteronomy." This title for the fifth book of the Old Testament is a combination of two words: "deuteros" = second, and "nomos" = law. This last book of Moses was the second giving of the law given to a new generation about to truly enter the Promised Land. So I am giving a second rendering of our motto for a new generation.
And today, I am going to concentrate on the first two words: discipling generations.
This concept of discipling generations is nothing new; it is at least as old as Moses. Additionally, the Word of God is full of admonitions to the nation of Israel to actively think about how to turn over generations by reminding and teaching younger generations about the goodness and faithfulness of God. Though man was not faithful, though Adam and Eve sinned, God was gracious. Though over and over, ancestors made many mistakes, God was faithful to bless obedience and offer LIFE to those who would honor and trust HIM.
Here are some examples:
1. Regarding the Passover
EX 12:12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
EX 12:14 "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD — a lasting ordinance. 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat — that is all you may do.
2. Regarding the experience of being given Manna in the wilderness
EX 16:31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: `Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' "
EX 16:33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come."
3. Regarding the keeping of the Sabbath
EX 31:14 " `Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.' "
4. In the words of the Psalmist (Psalm 71:14-18)
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
Clearly, in all these passages, and a host of others we could turn to, God was interested in generations knowing of His goodness and faithfulness.
But as a main passage for our consideration today, turn with me to Deuteronomy 6.
The background for this passage is the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt for several hundred years. Moses is called by God to deliver them, and through a series of miracles, they come as a new nation to the very threshold of the Promised Land at a place called Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 14). The spies return with a majority report of giants in the land, whom the people fear in distrust of the very God who had miraculously delivered them; and they are sent by God to wander for 40 years in the wilderness until that entire unbelieving generation would die off. Now, in Deuteronomy, we see a new generation, and here, Moses is giving the Law to them for a second time encouraging them that they would find blessing in direct proportion to their obedience to God.
DT 6:1 "These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you."
DT 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
Verse 4 was called the great "shema" for the first word in the sentence to hear. This is, for the Jewish person, essentially the key verse of the Old Testament. It describes the unique nature of their faith. Unlike the other nations who worshipped a pantheon of Gods, the Israelites had the ONE true God. He was not arbitrary and vindictive and unpredictable like many of the "gods" of the people around them. He was real; he was faithful; he was good.
Their love for God was to be pervasive in their lives with their whole beings. Their relationship to their God was to define them fully encompassing every action and attitude of every day.
And then, here is the generational stuff: They were to not just believe it, but to intentionally transfer this faith to rising generations. Yes, in certain realities of classroom settings, but even more significantly in the every day ebb and flow of life. God was to be seen and trusted and honored in it all.
God cares about discipling generations; we need to be about discipling generations. I have often said, "I don't want TSF to be a one generation wonder." But many churches are just that. I recently went to a seminar and wrote down some incredible quotes that just gripped my heart
Here is one (about churches that are formed, live, and slowly die around one single generation and their tastes and preferences): "The generational niche church is a modern thing it fits well with Western post-industrial and capitalistic culture, which makes everything into sales and objects. The fact is that we live in a day with great inter-generational hunger."
Here is another quote from one of the speakers: "Tens of thousands of churches will go to their deaths choosing their preferences over their children and grandchildren."
And another, about what to do about resistance to necessary change: "People will never change until the pain of staying the same grows greater than the pain of changing. The role of the leader is to bring them to this change
to make them have a heart to break for the right things, and not just their preferences." Man, I want our hearts to break for the right things like the generations coming behind us!
And finally, this is a bit off subject, but is sort of humorous (to pastors): "If you don't have 10-15% of the people of your church mad at you at any given time, you're not doing a good job." Well, it is good to know that I've often done a better job than I imagined!
But here is the big misunderstanding that happens when people like me begin to talk about focusing on rising generations. (And let me hasten to say that I have observed this in every church I have ever been in; I am not particularly or especially thinking of TSF in these remarks). People hear the talk about changes and ministry philosophies that target ministry to the youth, young adults, young families, children's ministries, etc., and they conclude that this means the day has come for their retirement to "old horse pasture" (Ever been to the famous horse farms in Lexington, KY
where they have famous horses like Secretariat just retired in a lush pasture?). But Nooooo, this is not what we mean.
Sometimes people essentially retire themselves with an attitude of: "I've done my time."
Or, they hear that the only thing they have to look forward to at church is teaching a children's Sunday School class. NO! This is not what we are saying. Y'all who are older in the faith and veterans around the church can have all the groups for each other and with each other that you want to put together, but, like never before, as you get older in Christ, you are needed; you are wanted!! Needed and desired for relationship by younger families and people who want to know how you did it, where you had your victories, where you failed, how God showed up!
This also has the great benefit of opening up a ministry in the opposite direction, as those who are younger or newer in the faith, become aware of your particular needs, and in a body life sort of way, each supplies for the other.
Today (now) is the day of greatest opportunity for those of you who are our veterans. I have, in every church, seen people get unplugged somehow
maybe because their kids grew up (and they got disengaged from the regular ebb and flow of church life)
maybe because they took a break from frontline, long-term service
but somehow, they fall out of the inner loop of what is happening. Soon, a younger/newer crowd shows up, and they feel disenfranchised.
All you have to do is plug back in! Do it! We need it. They need it! AND, the greatest days and blessing you will ever have are just waiting for you. There is a timeless principle that the greatest blessings come from giving rather than receiving. Those of you who have gone to Louisiana did you not go thinking you were going to BE the blessing, but came home feeling you RECEIVED the blessing?
In my own life, hey, I love preaching and doing what I'm doing. But I'll tell you this right now, I get far greater pleasure and satisfaction in sitting there with you and listening to Peter Frey or Chris Wiles or Jed Ostoich share their incredible communicative skills
and think that somewhere along the line, I might have had some part in it, and knowing that certainly my church has had a big part in it!
I know I drive you crazy with my coaching/running illustrations
sorry, but that's the way I roll! Anyhow, there was a day (when I could still run) that I loved it and was actually pretty good at it. But, nothing in this sports realm has been more fun and personally rewarding than coaching others to do it better than I ever dreamed I could.
Do you not rejoice deeply when your child achieves something at a higher level than you did?
Or, do you think that Barnabas, the great discipler of the Apostle Paul, resented the fact that his student became more popular and widely used of God? No, surely he rejoiced in that.
Tim Lester, our pastor of small groups and discipleship ministries is going to come now for a few minutes to talk about what this sort of ministry might look like. [Note that Tim spoke for about 8 minutes.]
So, all of this is to say that we really, really need you a lot, and, we promise you'll be blessed in the biggest way of your life! We need everyone to be looking behind them to serve others by reaching back and bringing others along.
I did not personally know this local man H. Linn Hendershot, the local city councilman who died recently, having been disabled from polio for many decades. But I loved this quote he made about his life and his disabilities and his attitude in the midst of it all: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!'" Hey, that is great stuff! That is how I want to finish! How about you?
So, we truly want to welcome you into the discussion on all of this. We desire to hear from you. Next week, Paul Ostoich and I will share some details of an additional way of doing children's ministry in the Fall. As well, in coming weeks, there will be a survey / response tool of some fashion to reflect on the service changes we have made in the past year. But, more than anything, this will happen in the simple ways we choose to communicate and involve ourselves in life with one another, seeking to be disciplers of generations.
You know that board game Checkers a game that I personally hate and think would be improved with either full body contact or a 3-second rule between moves. This was my dad's favorite game, and he was good at it! He would start with only two rows, and still beat me! But every so often, I'd get a checker to the other side of the board, and I'd look up and say, "Crown me / King me." That piece was then able to move with great power and authority all over the board. Hey, that is what we want to do with rising generations. We desire to walk life with them and help them make it to the other side of the board, where they will have the life skills and faith abilities to move freely with great power and effectiveness for God.
We are really excited about this! So come along with us!
This new motto statement can actually be combined with the old statement to read, "Discipling generations to know Jesus Christ in order to be outwardly focused in making Jesus Christ known." There you have it! The tying together of the past, the present, and the future!
Lord, today I pray that no person will be wounded personally beyond any way that your spirit may choose to work in them. I ask that not a one be wrongly offended, but rather that every one will be challenged to give first, out of a love for You, and in that giving to find the greatest fulfillment in serving they have ever known. May it be that we all model with one another the admonition of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said He came not to be served, but to serve and give his life; who said "I am among you as one who serves." May we seek out those feet that need to be washed, and may we have the spirit of Paul who said repeatedly of himself that he was a bondservant of Jesus Christ. And may it be that we finish well the good work You have begun in this community and in this region through this wonderful church and family called TSF
by your grace and for your glory
. Amen.
Sermon Manuscript
Deuteromotto 2 - "Discipling Generations to be Outwardly Focused"
"Generational Transfer - As Old As Asaph" Psalm 78:1-10
May 18, 2008
This is the 2nd of two weeks talking about a new phrase we are increasing using in the leadership circles of the church to describe our primary focus and direction: discipling generations to be outwardly focused.
I'll be reviewing some points from last week, as well as presenting some additional information. Again, this presentation is the not the vision of a single individual nor the result of a special seminar. Rather, it represents the thinking the staff and elders have been sharing in conversation for quite some time, and we now present it to you and invite you into the conversation. Tim Lester shared some thoughts regarding this information as it relates to his spiritual formation / discipleship areas of ministry. Today, Paul Ostoich will also share some of the time presenting a new opportunity for generations to work together in growing in faith, relationship, character and skills, and service and outreach.
In these messages, I have used a made-up word "Deutermotto" to talk about a second generation of a motto / vision statement for TSF
in the same way the book of Deuteronomy presents a second giving of the law of Moses to a new generation headed for the Promised Land.
Last week, we talked a lot about the first generation of TSF, and all that God prospered through their vision of a church in this area.
of how those values, first espoused in this community by that group, have become the most accepted paradigm of doing ministry by local evangelical churches new and old.
The motto that arose was: "To know Jesus Christ and to make Jesus Christ known." That still defines us
and though we are using some different words, we are saying the same thing (and I'll put the two statements together at the end).
Repeating from last week, motto statements rely on every word for significance
Discipling This is the core of what we do in the communication of truth the Scriptures apart from which we would be just going through religious motions
Generations This key word has jumped out to us over and over
and I'll claim it
as from me to be talked about and talked about. The seed of this was planted the first time I stepped foot on this property
"May this be a place where generations of followers worship you."
To Be Speaks of change
of process
we are always in it
sanctification is change
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Outwardly The natural gravitational tendency is to be inward
to be a country club
to be like God who is always positioned as one seeking to save the lost
Focused This speaks of intentionality
of looking beyond the walls in specific ways
of being like Jesus
There is nothing new about all of this; it is at least as old as Moses (whom we discussed last week 1500 B.C.) and Asaph (this week 1000 B.C.), and the Word of God is full of admonitions to the nation of Israel to actively think about how to turn over generations by reminding and teaching younger generations about the goodness and faithfulness of God. Though man was not faithful, though Adam and Eve sinned
God was gracious. Though over and over the Hebrew ancestors made many mistakes, God was faithful to bless obedience and offer LIFE to those who would honor and trust HIM.
So, in talking about this, we are inviting you to join us in this discussion and consideration, and, beyond that, to partner with us in this endeavor. After all, it is not something entirely new, but is in keeping with the founding generation of this church and great churches of all generations who have had long-term impact (such churches being a minority for sure).
For our text today, let's look at Psalm 78 of Asaph a court musician in the time of David (though some, like liberal scholarship, say it was a line of musicians and the actual date of this Psalm is after David).
PS 78:1-3 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old — what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.
PS 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
He says, "Listen, I'm going to tell you a story in a parable (proverb), a story with a lesson a deeper meaning than is simply visible on the surface. This story is going to include a lot of history, of what happened of what has been told by generations who have gone before. But it is not just a story to simply hear; it is something those telling it have experienced and "known" to be the truth.
This is a story not to be "hidden" in essence, forgotten or overlooked (thereby hidden from the knowledge and experience of the next generation). This happens easily, doesn't it? Most people are unable to tell any stories about even their own flesh and blood back further than about 3 or 4 generations.
This story will feature God
what He has done
the powerful things
the wonders (extraordinary things beyond natural circumstances).
PS 78:5-6 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
God has given his statutes and laws. For Israel, this was contained in the law of Moses. For us, we have His law and truth in the completed Scriptures.
The command written here is to teach them to the children, and then beyond that to children yet to come, etc. Though we do not have this explicit command in the New Testament, it is implicit in 2 Timothy 2:2. Honestly, we really should not have to be told to teach our own families what is good and correct!! Such responsibility is the mere spiritual equivalent of making sure to feed and nourish our children with good food.
PS 78:7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
Here is a really fine summary statement of what a life of faith is about
the life we are to receive, live, and pass on. It has 3 facets:
a. put trust in God ... Everybody trusts in something often self
b. not forget what God has done ... To not forget facts, one must first know about them. It is easy to forget or ignore this in the busyness of life.
c. obey his commands ... This involves application. It is not simply a matter of knowing it intellectually, but of also making it a part of everyday life
not just Sunday life, or religious life.
PS 78:8 They would not be like their forefathers — a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.
Here begins an extended negative example of what is the outcome of those who fail to remember God. It seems incredible to us that such things would be forgotten, but it does help us to understand the anger and justice of God in not blessing those who became complacent about the grand blessings of God
experiencing His rejection and curse for not passing on the truth to rising generations.
PS 78:9 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; PS 78:10 they did not keep God's covenant and refused to live by his law.
Who is Ephraim? Well, he was the oldest son of Joseph. His tribe / family was the largest in Israel. Ephraim was the one you would expect to be most blessed, given his history and favoritism through Jacob and Joseph. However, he was the one who most failed (along with his family and tribe), and most represented rebellion against God. Ephraim, in generations following the time of Asaph, would be the name of the northern kingdom that represented rejection of / by God.
It says: "though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle." There is no specific historical situation where this is recorded, though it may have happened; but it is likely a metaphorical inference to the concept of not believing at a time when belief and trust was needed and anticipated.
What are the situations where they disbelieved? Well, it is quite a list!! But most specifically and especially it involves the entire situation of a lack of faith when God delivered them from Egypt. This pattern of disbelief seems to have a special category of Divine Irritation!! God mentions His annoyance with this, over and over!
PS 78:12 He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
God did so much more than at any other time (expect the cross, which was still future, though foreshadowed by the Exodus / Passover) How could they disbelieve with the sight of such miracles? But they did, over and over. Here are some examples:
1 The Red Sea
PS 78:13 He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall.
2 His presence with Divine guidance, day and night.
PS 78:14 He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.
3 His provision of water from a rock
that followed them.
PS 78:15 He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
4 His provision of food manna
PS 78:23-25 Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.
5 His provision of meat quail
PS 78:26-27 He let loose the east wind from the heavens and led forth the south wind by his power. He rained meat down on them like dust, flying birds like sand on the seashore.
In all of this, the children of Israel complained and fretted; but God was gracious to forgive them over and over.
PS 78:38 Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.
6 The miracles that had delivered them from the bondage of the Egyptians. (7 of the 10 are listed.)
PS 78:42-42 They did not remember his power — the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan.
7 The settlement of the nation in the Promised Land
PS 78:55-56 He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.
With this entire blessing, in spite of the warning material we covered last week in Deuteronomy, they proved unfaithful, especially with turning to idolatry.
PS 78:57 Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
The latter portion of this psalm is essentially a summary statement of the period of Israel's history from Egypt to the contemporary day of Asaph and David. We see here God's better choice and plan working through David.
PS 78:67-69 Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.
PS 78:7-71 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
PS 78:72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
So what is the lesson? It is that God is to be the center of one's life
that only those who have heard what God has done, remembered it in their life, obeyed it, and passed it on
only those will be those who are blessed.
The lesson of the passage is to be centered on God by taking God into all of life
to remember God's Word and works
- by teaching it formally and informally
- by living it this takes it to every day, and takes it beyond a religious compartmentalization.
All of this takes intentional effort:
- to make God the center of life in trust and faith
- to work at not forgetting God and obeying Him
- to plan purposefully to pass it on to other generations
not to just enjoy it for self in the style and way you received it and like it
but to call to others who are near (in the family and church) and to those who are far off (the community) that there is but one way to successfully live.
I know that I have several times in the past spoken about my church experience as a teenager. It was a very positive experience of being encouraged and facilitated by older generations toward regular involvement in the frontline experiences of ministry. They didn't really work hard at planning this; it sort of just happened though a lot of grace went into making ministries and opportunities available, and lots of people from all generations worked hard at being encouraging. I always felt like I had a lot of old people for friends and mentors, especially in music. Without exaggeration, there was never a Sunday in my teenage years that I was not being encouraged by my parent's and grandparent's generations.
That was a different generation completely, and much of it could not be replicated at this point, but the principles of it can be (not that there have not been many, many fine examples of this over the years at TSF there have been and that reality contributes also to seeing what we are suggesting as already a part of the DNA of this place).
We are going to continue to teach the works and power of God
always have and always will. Our emphasis and framework for education is called "God's big story." This covers the Scriptural record from Genesis (with creation and the entrance of sin), to the cross, and to the glorious future for God's people. There is awesome stuff going on with this. Ask some of the young families what their children are learning. You may have noticed earlier when the children were singing, that many of them were wearing the same shirt a shirt they earned by being able to tell their parents the six sections of God's big story.
We are also going to teach the children how to take God with them into every aspect of life
of the good things that God has made in the areas of the arts and trades and hand skills and productive hobbies good things that we may enjoy in this world
to do those things with a mind for God, and a heart to use those skills to serve others to be outwardly focused.
Along the way, we will be bringing generations together, and looking to entirely new categories of people to be involved with gifts and talents that you possess and can share with our children and youth.
We are making foundational plans to do something I've never heard done before in a church
to teach skills in the practical and beautiful things of life to share how that fits with God and a biblical worldview, and how it can be used to serve other people and reach out to people who don't know Him. All of this will be a program called "Kid's Bridge" that will begin in the Fall during the 11:00 session. Paul is going to come and speak to us about this ...
(At this point Paul Ostoich shared for about 10 minutes)
I am so thankful for Paul and his perspectives on education and ministry. This would not be possible without him and his endorsement and energy for it.
When I first began to speak of this idea to the staff, knowing Paul, I was pretty sure he would find it interesting and worthy. We have both been extremely thankful for the way a task force of current educators within the church have jumped all over this with great enthusiasm.
The big fear of misinterpretation and misunderstanding would be that a conclusion could be drawn that we are stepping away from biblical instruction as an emphasis. Not at all! Yes, some parents may choose to only have their children in this and not also in the early session of detailed Bible instruction. To that objection, I would say the following:
It is the role of parents to teach their children.
We are a supplement a big supplement but not the fix-all supplement.
We give people additional opportunities and resources to make their family great for God's glory.
The cross-generation opportunities this presents, and the outreach potential is practically unlimited. This is extremely creative, and though surely some churches somewhere must be doing it, I don't know who they are. We did not want you to hear about this around September 1st
like I've said at the front of both of the last two weeks
"Here are some directions we are headed as we have listened to the Lord enter the conversation with us on these matters."
As with the checkers illustration I gave at the end last week, our goal is to disciple others, especially rising generations, to move successfully "to the other end of the board and get crowned"
so that they can move with great power and effectiveness.
We are really excited about this! Come along.
Combined Motto Statements:
Discipling generations to know Jesus Christ in order to be outwardly focused in making Jesus Christ known.
We can do this!
September 2 — Sermon Guest Speaker, John Marion;
"Reaching out to Muslims" (Video)
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