Explore God's unchanging truth as revealed in the Bible, and how it challenges, includes, and calls us to live according to it.
Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to dive into truth. Not just any truth, but God's truth.
As Flannery O'Connor once said, "The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it emotionally." So today, brace yourselves as we explore God's unchanging truth, and how it challenges us, includes us, and calls us to live.
Let's read from Matthew 22:15-22,
"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?' But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.' They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, 'Whose image is this? And whose inscription?' 'Caesar’s,' they replied. Then he said to them, 'So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.' When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."
Let's open with a word of prayer.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your Word. As we delve into this Scripture today, we pray for open hearts and minds to embrace Your truth. Help us not only to understand but to live according to Your truth. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Get comfortable, my friends. Let's embark on this journey of truth together.
God's truth is inclusive. This is a profound concept that is often overlooked in our human understanding of truth. We tend to think of truth as something that is exclusive, something that separates the right from the wrong, the good from the bad. But God's truth is different. It is not a dividing line, but a gathering place. It is not a wall, but a bridge. It is not a door that shuts people out, but a door that welcomes everyone in.
Evident in the very nature of God Himself: In the Bible, we see a God who is not distant and exclusive, but close and inclusive. He is a God who created all people in His image, who loves all people with an everlasting love, and who desires all people to come to the knowledge of the truth. He is a God who sent His Son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. He is a God who, through His Spirit, is drawing all people to Himself.
Evident in the life and ministry of Jesus: In our Scripture reading today, we see Jesus being questioned by the Pharisees and the Herodians about the imperial tax. These two groups were very different and even opposed to each other in many ways. The Pharisees were religious leaders who were zealous for the law and the traditions of the Jews, while the Herodians were political leaders who were supportive of the Roman rule and the tax system.
Jesus did not exclude either group from His teaching: He spoke the truth to both groups, challenging their motives and their understanding, but also inviting them to a higher truth, a truth that transcends human divisions and unites all people in the love and lordship of God.
Evident in the mission and message of the Church: The Church is called to be a community of truth, a community that proclaims and practices the truth of God in a world of falsehood and confusion. But this truth is not a weapon to attack or exclude others, but a light to guide and include others. It is a truth that is not confined to a particular culture or class, but a truth that is relevant and accessible to all cultures and classes. It is a truth that is not limited to a particular time or place, but a truth that is timeless and universal.
Several implications for us: First, it means that we should not use the truth as a tool of exclusion, but as a tool of inclusion. We should not use the truth to judge or reject others, but to love and accept others. We should not use the truth to create barriers or boundaries, but to build bridges and connections. Second, it means that we should not view the truth as a private possession, but as a public proclamation. We should not keep the truth to ourselves, but share the truth with others. We should not hide the truth under a bushel, but let the truth shine for all to see. Third, it means that we should not approach the truth with a spirit of pride or superiority, but with a spirit of humility and servanthood. We should not claim to have a monopoly on the truth, but acknowledge that we are all learners and seekers of the truth.
Teaching God's truth is a challenge, not because the truth itself is complex, but because it often goes against the grain of our human nature and societal norms ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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