Mountain Top Experience – Promise Keepers – Share your story with a neigbhor
How did you respond after this experience? I wanted to stay. Can’t stay though.
Problem with staying on the mountain top
- No blasted good to anyone else
1. We are up so high that can’t connect with anyone else – we are bridges between God and others – we can’t reach anyone
2. We shine too brightly – spotlight in church today but at night with lights out it would be overpowering
3. We have to come down and experience the difficulties in life in order to connect with others – Pastor Rick Warren has said that out of our misery comes our ministry
- Can’t keep up the spiritual high forever – get addicting – any good thing can become a bad thing if done in excess – even church
We have to come down from the Mountain - we have to live in the here and now, experience life
But there is a problem here too – we can get lulled to sleep, can get lost in the ordinary
Parable of the sower – seeds fell on path, rocky places, among thorns and on good soil – “worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word of God and make it unfruitful”
Have you notice how much different our country is since Sept 11th?
- Economy, stock market
- Not that important anymore
- More people talk about God and pray publicly since terrorist attacks
- As the old saying goes, “there are no atheist in a foxhole” – turn back to God
Success and easy times have a way of putting us to sleep – get lost in the humdrum
That is why God comes to us in the plain and ordinary – to save us from that wicked disease of boredom – that’s why so many times the kid that gets into trouble in the classroom is the brilliant one ‘cause they are bored – Okay kids, now is the time to admit to your parents that you get into trouble at school
Unbreakable – true super hero didn’t use miraculous powers – or did he? Death/Resurrection
God comes to us as a humble servant – the son of a poor carpenter – ate, slept, bathed, parents changed his diaper – He was one of us
God comes to us in the simple and ordinary water that we drink everyday – but now mixed with His word to wash away our sins
God comes to us in the plain bread and wine that along with Jesus’ body and blood take away our sins and strengthen our faith
God comes to us through ordinary language – telling us His story
Jesus always said after He did a miracle not to tell anyone – don’t know enough - resurrection
We also come down the mountain to tell others about His mountain top experiences – death/resurrection
Matteo Ricci – separate Christianity from his culture – give basics of Christianity to Chinese so they can allow Xnty to be a part of their culture – sticking out vs. blending in
