21, December 2003
Dakota Community Church
True North
Setting the course for 2004
Tonight I want to talk about the direction we are all heading and the life we want to be living, as opposed to the reality of our day-to-day existence.
- Do you know where you are going?
- Do you spend your time doing things that line up with that desired direction?
- Is the Church a relevant part of your life?
- When the body comes together do you know what your function is?
We are the consumer society. We have bumper stickers that say “born to shop” and shopping malls have become our cultural centers. The government has even got into the act: we are no longer called citizens we are now consumers. We are no longer patients in a hospital; we are now “health care consumers.” This attitude has long crept into the church: we have become consumers of religion, and we even speak of “church shopping.” We come to church to have our spiritual needs met, and if they are not met here, then we will try the next church, consume their religious goods and see if they satisfy.
But the reality is, the church is not a “God store” dispensing spiritual nourishment for the masses. If you have come hoping that this church will meet your spiritual needs, you are mistaken. The church cannot meet your spiritual needs. We are not a religious institution. What we are is a community of faith who come together to meet God – and he and only he can meet our spiritual needs.
The church is not a religious institution, it is not a service provider, and it is not a retail outlet: it is a community of faith. The word for church in the Bible is “ecclesia” from which we get the word “ecclesiastical.” It comes from to other Greek words “eke” for out, and “kleisis” for a calling. When the Bible calls us the ecclesia, it is calling us “The called-out community. That is why verse 9 says “he has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. The “Ecclesia” is not an organization or an institution; it literally means a gathering of the people – a gathering of God’s people! Church is not a place – it is a people.
1Peter 2:9-10
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1. Eternity Matters Most.
Matthew 25: 19-21
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21"His master replied, ’well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
- We will have to settle the account.
- He is not looking for faithful attendees.
- You have a talent that needs to be used and multiplied.
Illustration:
Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the emperor of China although he could not play a note. Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play but not making a sound. He received a modest salary an enjoyed a comfortable living. Then one day the emperor requested a solo from each musician. The flutist got nervous. There wasn’t enough time to learn the instrument. He pretended to be sick, but the royal physician wasn’t fooled. On the day of his solo performance, the impostor took poison and killed himself. The explanation of his suicide led to a phrase that found its way into the English language: “He refused to face the music.” (Just Like Jesus; Max Lucado)
Today you can pretend to be a part of God’s orchestra by just blending in with the crowd and going through the motions. No one notices here, because you say the right things, go to the right places, and hang out with the right people. And you can enjoy the comfort of being accepted by the crowd of your choice. But there will come a day when you must face the music, one day you will be separated from everything. On that day you will stand alone before God and give an account for your life, your decisions, and whether or not you were taped into the living water.
Romans 14: 11-12
11It is written:
" ’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
’every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.’ " 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
2Corinthians 5: 9-10
9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
- Think about the way you spend your time.
- What is due you?
- Are you ready to give an account?
- Are you a participant or a spectator in the Body of Christ?
The difference between lazy and slothful one is physical and mental can be cured by diet and exercise the other is spiritual and is a slowing down while moving in the same direction.
- Have you slowed down on your dream?
- Have you slipped into neutrality?
Why do we lose our eternal focus and slip into lukewarm ness, apathy, and neutrality?
a.) Time passes and we lose heart.
b.) Satan.
c.) Friends.
d.) Family.
Many Christians think they need to hear more in order to grow when really they need to obey the teaching they have already received! They need to do the Word!!
2. Christianity is about doing, not hearing and watching.
Early in my Christian walk I did something that changed the way I view Church. I got involved! First in prayer, corporate and out loud, then in drama, next came home group involvement and then home group leadership, and finally full time youth pastoring and then pastoring this church. I rarely think about what I am going to get out of a Sunday service, I focus on bringing what God wants me to give.
What about you?
1Corinthians 14: 26
26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
- These must be done or the Church will not be strengthened.
That explains the weak state of affairs in the North American Church.
Matthew 25: 31-40
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37"Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40"The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
An older sister was sitting next to her younger brother in Church one Sunday morning unsuccessfully trying to keep him still and quiet. Finally she said, “I wish you would calm down.” “I can’t”, he said, “it’s just so boring.” With that his sister turned and said, “It’s supposed to be boring.”
James 1: 22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
A German soldier was wounded. He was ordered to go to the military hospital for treatment. When he arrived at the large and imposing building, he saw two doors, one marked, "For the slightly wounded," and the other, "For the seriously wounded."
He entered through the first door and found himself going down a long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, "For officer" and the other, "For non-officers." He entered through the latter and found himself going down another long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked, "For party members" and the other, "For non-party members." He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out on the street.
When the soldier returned home, his mother asked him, "How did you get along at the hospital?"
"Well, Mother," he replied, "to tell the truth, the people there didn’t do anything for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!"
The soldier’s comment describes many churches in our day: really organized, but accomplishing little.
3. Jesus is our “True North” guide.
2Timothy 2:8
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel
a.) Remember Jesus.
When we get discouraged and feel like quitting as Timothy does at this time it is because we have lost sight of something. We have become focused on ourselves instead of Jesus.
Remember the incredible victory He won over sin and death and the struggle to quit.
b.) Remember His humanity.
Remember that He did not win as God but as a man like you and me.
c.) Remember His resurrection.
Remember how He made a show of the forces of the enemy openly. Like a Roman Caesar returning in victory He ascended to the thrown and announced, “I am still King!”
d.) Remember the gospel message.
If you don’t remain true for any other reason then remain true for the sake of those who are watching and judging the Gospel message based on your witness.
