Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 7
Theme Christian Clothes
Verses Col 3:12,17
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Christian Clothes
Previously we have been talking about our old nature and our new nature. In Christ we have been given a new nature that allows us to respond differently than being controlled by our old and sinful nature. We have options now we have not had before. Before we were sinners before Christ came into our lives. Now we are saints who struggle with sinful habits. Sinfulness is our old nature, but now we have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within and new things begin to take over.
The over riding theme of Paul’s message is his summary statement in verse 17. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
There was an ad on TV that wants to convince us that clothes make that man (or woman). People see us from the outside. How we dress reflects who we are.
Jesus also says we should not judge others based on their outward appearance. The clothing industry seeks to combine comfortable clothes that are attractive for different aspects of our lives. This Christmas many will receive clothing for warmth, for fashion, and for comfort.
The figure of putting on new clothes captures Paul's thought when we have "put on Jesus Christ." It isn't something that we take off. It isn't something we use to impress others when we have had no inside heart change.
The fact that we are bearing the name of Jesus Christ as people who seek to follow Him by faith also means that we want to live in honor of the name we possess, “Christian”. What we believe affects what we do. We by grace have been given a new nature, now we are to wear new clothing in keeping with our position in Jesus. Notice three things mentioned that came from God. We are chosen, we are made holy and we are dearly loved.
First, we have been chosen by God. We are hand picked as one of his favorites. God didn't wait for us to take the first step toward him. He took the first step toward us.
We had no time for God he chose us. God took the initative. He is for us. He loves, cares, listens, and accepts us. But He cares more about us to wants us to stay that way we are. To develop a walk with the Lord may require some changes.
And secondly He not only chose us He made us holy. We are made whole by the blood of Jesus Christ, not because of our good works. We are different people because our sins are gone. God looks upon us as he looked upon his sinless son. We are made right because of his actions.
From the Old Testament God chose a people to demonstrate his glory. The Jewish nation became a special nation to show us God. Why did he choose them? Was it because of obedience? No we see that clearly in the Old Testament, they were often rebellious and hard headed. Did he chose them because they were better than there neighbors? Hardly! Sometimes the neighbors acted with more compassion.
God chose them because He loved them. Of all the nations of the people in the world He chose them and called them to be his own.
Those same words are used to describe the church. You and I were chosen by God. God's spirit spoke to your heart and convinced you of your sin your need for Himself. Most of you responded by repentance and inviting the Lord to come into your lives. He sent certain people your way, or by his grace allowed you to be born into a Christian family or church going family.
Did you ever wonder where you would be if you did not know the Lord today? Some of you haven't made that decision yet. God has been knocking on the door of your heart. Will you give it to Him?
Some of you have accepted Jesus at camp, or in Sunday school or VBS or kids club, or with a pastor, or Christian friend, or at an evangelistic rally, or TV program. Whatever your experience is the Lord is the one who directed you to that appointment with Himself.
None of us can say God picked me because I am so lovable. But we can say with humility God picked me even when I was not lovable, but because He is good.
So now he wants us to act differently when we bear the name of Jesus. The attitude that we are to demonstrate is described- compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
This is the nature of God. We see Him in Christ how he responds to us in compassion. We see Him live out his life on earth with kindness. Jesus humbled himself to be a servant of Father in Heaven and one another. He characterized gentleness and patience.
The world we live in needs to see Jesus in us. We need to wear the new clothes we have been given. We need today to let Jesus shine in the words we use and in the actions and activities before us.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 8
Verse Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Put on the Fabric of Forgiveness
Let God's Forgiveness toward you affect your forgiveness toward others. The Lord forgave us all our sins. That is hard to understand. Having put on Christ is putting on forgiveness for our sin and the willingness to forgive others their sins against us.
It is common that families hurt one another, sometimes intentionally. It is common that while at work or school or community people will offend you and do something wrong toward you. But it is also true that some of the deepest hurts come from within the church body. People still lie, gossip, provide power plays to get their way in prideful and hurtful manners. It is hard to not hold resentments when those you expect to act different in fact do not. They should know better. We expect better.
Peter had a hard time grasping that. He asked the Lord, "How many times should I forgive someone- 7 times?" "No 7 X 70", was Jesus’ response. But that question was asked before the cross. Peter thought back to the time, when he denied the Lord. Three times he said he didn't know Jesus. But the joy of having another chance, the release of guilt, shame and pride, made him realize that he is always a debtor to God and therefore he should forgive others.
We are able to bear others up and put up with others who do us wrong even if they say thing about us that are unkind, even if they seek to do us harm because God forgave you and for the sake of the unity in the body of Christ forgiveness is the step of the spiritual one who realized his debt to God. I am so glad God's doesn't treat me the way I sometimes treat others.
It is hard understanding people that hold grudges toward others in the church, sometimes for years and years. Some family members hold bitterness against other family members that only affects them and hardens their own spirit. Some people may walk about with an invisible sign around their neck that says, "Fragile Feelings Handle with Care."
Matt 18:15-35 is our instruction that if you are or have been offended you who are spiritual go to the brother or sister and talk to them about it. It will never get resolved any other way. If it does not get resolved then bring a witness if not then, bring it to the church because unity is important in God's Kingdom. It is not unity when you talk to everyone else about the problem except the person you should be talking to. Many problems we face are the result of good old fashion misunderstandings. Feelings get in the way and some make mountains out of molehills.
We all make mistakes, mistakes cause divorce, heartache, wars, but it is more than mistakes when we wear the garment of grudges and resentment toward another. Forgiveness is the decision to take off that garment and put on the fabric of forgiveness given to us by our Lord.
Some psychologist will tell us that there is a direct proportion to being forgiven and forgiving. The biggest reason many people are unwilling to forgive is that they are harboring things in their lives that God has not forgiven them. They are unwilling to face Him with asking for forgiveness for their faults. We all need to ask that important question. "Is there something in me that needs the Lord's forgiveness? Are there others that I need to forgive that down deep is causing me to feel crummy this Christmas?
Humility is focusing on the works of God which puts us and others in proper perspective. All of us are created of God. We are not to have low esteem, but a servant like attitude. Romans 12:3 "For by the grace giving me I say to everyone of you, Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Your attitude toward others is to be with humility. That is a quality that is essential for forgiveness. We give ourselves to the Lord to do the healing He wants to do in our relationship to others.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Dec 9
Verse- Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Put on the Clothes of Compassion
The qualities in verse 12 begin with compassion and expanded upon in verse 14. Compassion reminds me of helping the needy and the less fortunate. Love is expanded beyond to desire not just kindness, but unity. There is a greater commitment to unity than just helping another. Unity comes with a commitment to a relationship when we know that there is still disagreements and outlooks that are not always the same. It is identifying the more important things for which we agree and decided there are lesser things that we can overlook, or endure. We do so because of love.
Love is the essential ingredient that allows forgiveness. Does that describe your response to others? Tender and compassionate?
In that ancient time the people did not have kind hearts. There was abuse of the world toward Christian. People did not treat animals very well. They abused slaves and tortured women. They would willing, personally involve themselves in stoning, hangings and murder of people. They would do whatever it took for personal profit. They made no provision for aged or handicapped or the ill if they did not have family to take care of them.
In the Roman world life was cheep. Entertainment wasn't going to the movies or watching tv. They would gather at the coliseums and watch people kill each other. Not actors with laser guns that are playing make believe, they would cheer when a hungry lion viciously attacked men women and children. They would laugh when someone running from a spear was cut in two. The simple minded were considered inhuman.
Christianity has changed our world whether the critics like it or not. Kindness motivated by believers has started hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, food lines, treatment for the insane, and clothing for those without. Christians made prisons more humane, and stopped slavery. The attitude that God has for us needs to be passed on to others.
There are attitudes that we as Christian need to work on, why? Because God chose us, loved us and set us apart to be holy people in an unholy world. He gave us clothes of compassion to put on so people can see how attractive that is and want it for their lives as well. Most clothes that are attractive draw attention to the person wearing them, but that is not the case with these clothes. The attention is on God and others. They are recipients of godly love.
The Greek word is “agape,” one-way love. In other words, you love me, even if I don’t love you back. You love me, even though there is nothing good about me. It’s a strange kind of love, the kind of love that God has shown to the world. Even though the world didn’t love God, God loved the world, and sent his son. We celebrate that on Christmas. Even though you didn’t ask for it, Jesus loved you and died for your sins on the cross. God loves us, even though there isn’t anything good about us to love.
Love and Unity go “hand-in-hand” without Love there will be no Unity. Unity points to more extending love than just one person. Let’s face it. We need others to show us love too. We need to have others forgive us also. That inter-relational experience makes each one stronger. But that love also comes from God not ourselves. It is focusing on Him and not on our desires and wants. It is not so inclusive as to give up truth, but inclusive to take in those who do not have their act together. It is not accepting sin, but the sinner, as Jesus did.
I John 3:18-19 “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. This, then, is how we will know that we belong to the truth; this is how we will be confident in God’s presence.”
Frequently in the wedding service we have the ceremony of lighting the unity candle by the bride and groom. Symbolically the two candles represent them as individuals, until they take their candle together and light the center one, symbolizing unity. Most often they take their own candles after that and blow out the flame. On some occasions the couple leaves their candles lit. They want to say that while unified they each have their individuality that is not lost in marriage.
At a recent wedding, the bride and groom put the individual candles back into their holders with the flames burning. Then the bride, with an impish gleam in her eye, bent over and blew out her husband’s candle. The congregation burst into laughter. Later, one fellow commented: “During the marriage ceremony two become one --- on the honeymoon they discover which one.”
I wonder how many seek unity by blowing out the candle of the other and protecting their own?
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 10
Verse- Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Put on the Apparel of Peace
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Peace doesn't really happen unless love is displayed. George Marshall the military genius said, "If man does find the solution for world peace it will be the most revolutionary reversal of this record we have ever known."
Billy Graham illustrates it by the storm raging sea beating against the rocks in high, dashing waves. Lightening flashing, and thunder roaring, the wind blowing but the little bird was sound asleep in the crevice of the rock. It's head tucked serenely under its wing. That is peace- to be able to sleep in the storm.
In Christ we can be relaxed and at peace even in the midst of the confusion around us. The storm rages, but our hearts are rested. We have found peace at last."
The word "rule" is like an umpire. He rules and makes the final decisions in a game. When we are tempted to say things which create turmoil in our inner being, the peace of Christ allows us to focus on His power and His wisdom with the realization we are in His hands. We are secure. Nothing can befall us outside of His will. His desire is to make peace with one another in Christ. Because he was willing to submit his will to the Father so we are to submit our wills to Him.
The problem is that many have not experienced the peace of God by realizing that He is in full control.
Someone described the church as a bunch of porcupines in winter. They get close enough to each other to keep warm, but when they get too close there’s a problem. We need to keep getting close to one another to experience the body of Christ but then there are quills that each of us have that soon begin to prick and poke and make it uncomfortable.
Lloyd Ogilvie asks us some important question to achieve this kind of peace. 1) What does the Lord want us to do? 2) If we did it, would it be in keeping with His life message and guidance? 3) Would the anticipated actions or program glorify Christ? Would he do it if he were in charge, for we often forget he really is? 4) Is it in keeping with Scripture and doctrine? 5) Will it bring us closer to one another?
Part of this peace is shown in thankfulness to God and to one another. When you realize your need for each other there is no longer competition and comparison and seeking to out do each other or compete. But a working together for His glory with a thankful and loving attitude, so often the worldly nature makes us unthankful for what we have. We became envious of the good fortunes of others or their gifts and talents and we are depressed with ourselves and jealous of others and lose the joy of the peace of Christ. Our churches would be more effective without the individual desires for recognition, reputation, or popularity. Putting on the apparel of peace is putting on Christ’s attitude of glorifying the Father.
What a difference in attitude and joy with those who were thankful for things and those who were ungrateful. To those who are complaining continually. Ingratitude too often leads to selfishness. People start to think they are deserving of special treatment above everyone else. Yet they are never inwardly satisfied. The thankful people see everything coming out of God's goodness. They are aware of the work of God even in difficult circumstances.
I remember one lady in the nursing home with such a spirit of peace. "How my heart would be blessed as I experience people who know God is so good. I'm so lucky and thankful to him. Why they change my room every 3 months so I get to look out different windows and see the change of seasons. The food is warm and light is good. People bathe me and take care of me. Isn't that good?"
She knows the peace of God instead of grumbling, "Why did this happen to me? I will curse God because I am in here instead of my own home."
When some unsettled things happen in your day, remember who is in charge and draw upon that comfort and peace He makes available. Extend that attitude toward others.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 11
Verses Col 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Put on the Wardrobe of the Word
Christ's Word makes us want to teach and admonish with spirit wisdom and sing praises together to God. Not only do we have the Bible as the word of God, but Jesus is the logos, the Word. He is the word incarnate. And as we understand Scriptures and follow Jesus, His spirit brings truth to our hearts, to our responsibilities, and is seen by others.
Paul is addressing a worship service that flows from knowing and having an intimate relationship with Him and with each other. We praise and sing teach and give. That is what we do in worship. When the Word of God dwells in us, it changes our character. We together want to praise and honor the Lord with fellow believers.
I went to the Guthrie Theater a number of years ago to see a one an show called entitled "the Gospel according to St. Mark." Erick Booth was the actor. The only script was the gospel of Mark. I read an article about his changed life. He was raised in a Dutch Reformed church. As he was memorizing this drama, he became aware of the fact that he was integrating the word of God into his personal belief system and it took on a new power for him. He was feeling personally inadequate and on the wrong track. He felt his personality and ego were inappropriate to the word he was to speak. He wrote, "I began a process of trying to eliminate my own ego." His wife noticed a change in him. She found him kinder and more understanding. "Much as I would like to I can escape what the text says. There are hard facts and truths that are inescapably direct and confronting me. Repeating it 3 times a week was sifting down into my bones."
God wants us to get together to worship him. He wants us to learn the word together, to encourage one another in good works and truth. He calls us into a fellowship called the church and wants the local congregation to lift its voice and heart in joyful response to the grace of our Almighty God.
The two weeks have been a challenge to put off our old nature and put on our new. IT reminds me of a story from Youth Specialties illustrations called the Beggars rags-
A beggar lived near the king’s palace. One day he saw a proclamation posted outside the palace gate. The king was giving a great dinner. Anyone dressed in royal garments was invited to the party. He looked at the rags he was wearing and sighed. Surely only kings and their families wore royal robes, he thought.
Slowly an idea crept into his mind. The audacity of it made him tremble. Would he dare? He approached the guard at the gate of the palace. “Please, sire, I would like to speak to the king.”
“Wait here,” the guard replied. In a few minutes he returned. “His majesty will see you,” he said, and led the beggar in.
“You wished to see me?” asked the king.
“Yes, your majesty. I want so much to attend the banquet, but I have no royal robes to wear. Please, sir, if I may be so bold, may I have one of your old garments so that I, too, may come to the banquet?”
The beggar shook so hard that he could not see the faint smile that was on the king’s face. “You have been wise in coming to me,” the king said. He called to his son, the young prince. “Take this man to your room and array him in some of your clothes.”
The prince did as he was told and soon the beggar was standing before a mirror, clothed in garments that he had never dared hope for.
“You are now eligible to attend the king’s banquet tomorrow night,” said the prince. “But even more important, you will never need any other clothes. These garments will last forever.”
The beggar dropped to his knees. “Oh, thank you,” he cried. But as he started to leave, he looked back at his pile of dirty rags on the floor. He hesitated. What if the prince was wrong? What if he would need his old clothes again? Quickly he gathered them up.
The banquet was far greater than he had ever imagined, but he could not enjoy himself as he should. He had made a small bundle of his old rags and it kept falling off his lap. The food was passed quickly and the beggar missed some of the greatest delicacies.
Time proved that the prince was right. The clothes lasted forever. Still the poor beggar grew fonder and fonder of his old rags. As time passed people seemed to forget the royal robes he was wearing. They saw only the little bundle of filthy rags that he clung to wherever he went. They even spoke of him as the old man with the rags.
One day as he lay dying, the king visited him. The beggar saw the sad look on the king’s face when he looked at the small bundle of rags by the bed. Suddenly the beggar remembered the prince’s words and he realized that his bundle of rags had cost him a lifetime of true royalty. He wept bitterly at his folly.
And the king wept with him.”
That’s the picture here, these things are what we used to be, but now we have so much more, don’t settle for rags when the wealth of God’s kingdom is in your hands. Put on your Christian clothes and leave the rags for Him to dispose.
Pastor Dale
