The Challenge of Change
Intro – Change is very difficult.
–Whether it’s changing a habit or attitude or job or city — change is always a challenge.
–And change is even more difficult when it’s imposed on us suddenly or without our approval.
IE. – Change in health, or change in relationship because of death or divorce.
–There is always an element of pain in change —— even when the change is for good.
IE. – A new and better job in a new city means leaving friends and familiar places behind, and this is painful.
–It’s for this reason people naturally avoid or put off change, because they want to avoid the pain that usually accompanies change.
–Of course we know that not all change is good.
–There are many changes in life that are both painful and sad because the change that takes place is for the worse, not better.
–And then there are changes that change nothing.
IE. – People change careers only to find out that their new jobs don’ t make them any happier than their old ones.
–Or couples divorce thinking that this change will solve their problems and they find out that the divorce only brings them new problems to solve.
–But my lesson today is not about these kinds of changes.
My brief sermon is about the challenges that positive changes create and how we can meet and overcome them.
I. Biblical Examples of Change.
- Now the Bible is filled with stories of people who had to experience the pain associated with change in order to receive the blessings that positive change brought into their lives.
Ex. # 1. Abraham – Gen.12: 1-3 (Read)
- Note the change that Abraham had to make.
–Leave his country and go live in a foreign land that he didn’t know.
- Look at the pain involved in this change.
–The fear of living in a different culture, language, traditions.
–The pain of leaving his relatives, his home, his friends behind for good.
–The risk of leaving the security of his home for the unknown place God was sending him to.
- Look at the blessings associated with this change.
–His name and family would be great.
–God would give him many descendants (like eternal life at the time).
–The world would be blessed through him.
- Abraham considered the change and examined the pain and decided that the blessings were worth it.
Today, Abraham is called the father of all those who have faith, as Paul says in Gal.3:7; “Therefore be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”
What a blessing to be remembered in such a way.
Example # 2 – Mary – Luke 1 : 26 – 38 (Read)
- Look at the change that God put before her.
–She had to change her concept of what God could do.
.. miraculously enable her to conceive a child, something that had never been done before.
- Of course, there would be pain involved if she accepted this change in her state.
.. not just the suffering associated with normal child birth but also..
–The possible loss of her reputation and future husband.
–Also the fact that she would always be “different”; she would always live with a knowledge and experience that no one else could fully understand.
–After all, how do you share your feelings after the miraculous conception of a divine being —— who could relate?
–She faced the pain of loneliness (solitude) in her future life because of her special experience.
- But Mary also saw the blessings attached to this change.
–She would have favor with God, a special favor not given to another.
–She would be the mother of a king, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Mary changed her mind about what God could and couldn’t do and God blessed her in a way no woman has or will be blessed again.
Example # 3 – The Rich Young Ruler – Mt. 19: 16 – 22 (Read)
- Note the change facing this wealthy man.
–He had to change his value system.
–He valued the Law and one’s ability to obey it.
–He valued money and the security and prestige that it gave him.
- Jesus meets this man and challenges him to change his core values.
–From the self-righteousness derived for obeying the Law to righteousness that will come from believing in Him.
–From the comfort and assurance that wealth provides to trusting that Jesus will provide for His followers.
- There would be pain here:
–The pain that comes from swallowing his pride and allowing his relationship with Jesus be the thing that makes him perfect, not his ability to know and obey the Law.
–And also the pain one experiences when you have to rely on someone else for all of your needs instead of yourself.
- Of course these were not things that cause physical pain but the psychological and spiritual discomfort of these changes were very great.
- And yet, there was a great reward to be had for making these changes.
–Jesus personally asked this rich young ruler to come, and follow Him.
–Just as He had personally asked James and John, and Peter and Matthew — who all changed their lives, their beliefs, their jobs in order to follow Jesus as His Apostles.
–I believe this man could have been an Apostle if he would have made the changes and followed Jesus.
We could be reading one of his gospels, or epistles today. We could be talking about the miracles he performed or churches he planted …
–but instead he will always be remembered as the one who went away from Jesus
–how sad, because he wouldn’t change
II. The Challenge For This Congregation
- Well, all of this discussion about change brings us to the change facing this congregation. What is this change? …
→ We have to change our attitude about our religion.
–We have to decide if our religion is going to be “a part” of our lives or if our religion will become our lives.
- Let me explain the difference:
–When religion is part of our lives, we control it.
–When religion is our life, it controls us.
IE. When religion is part of our lives, we do just enough not to feel guilty or to keep our membership active in the church.
- But when religion is our life, we can’t do enough for God.
- As in every change there is pain connected with this kind of transformation.
–The pain that comes with removing self as the focus of every decision and making Christ the one you live for.
–The inconvenience of making Jesus and His Church a priority over career, recreation, even family at times.
–The uneasiness we feel when we unplug ourselves from this world and it’s cares and riches in order to pursue the kingdom of God as our first priority in everything.
.. And of course ..
–The embarrassment we feel when others begin to mock and even persecute us as “freaks” because our religion has become our lives.
People don’t mind if religion is just part of our lives (like a hobby) but they get upset when it becomes our lives — Why? Because it threatens them.
- Oh, but there are blessings that come to us when this change is made:
1.“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.”
–Only those whose religion is their lives are hungry and thirsty for righteousness and they will be satisfied.
When your religion is your life, you are at peace with God, satisfied in the deepest regions of your soul.
2. “ I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness..” II Tim.4: 7-8
–Paul’s life was his religion and when be faced death he was absolutely assured of his place in heaven.
When your Christian religion is your life you are actually able to see and taste heaven here on earth so you have no fear of death, or leaving this world.
3. “But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of men came to be 5,000.” Acts 4:4
–When an entire church is filled with people whose religion is their life — the impact on the community is tremendous.
One of the reasons that this congregation only has _ members after _ years is because we only expect the ministers to live for their religion but not the members.
SUMMARY
- I could use the remainder of my time speaking to you today talking about the many projects that we are working on for the future.
IE.
–Marriage Prep. Seminar open to the public
–New program to reach out to immigrants in our community
–Christian day-care
–Etc
- But I realized that none of these programs would do much good if this change wasn’t made first, because without more members making their religion their lives — these things won’t be possible.
- So, how will I know that some are changing?
–There will be more people in Bible study and worship with guests.
–The offering will start going up.
–More members will be active and involved.
–Those who have responsibilities will do their jobs and do them well.
–There will be more love among the brothers, more joy on your faces, more willingness to serve, sacrifice, and forgive.
–God will add more souls to our number because He will once again be the focus of our lives.
God is not interested in adding souls to a group not fully devoted to Him.
- You may not like it brothers and sisters, but that’s the change we need to make if we’re to grow and become a true and living N.T. church.
What change needs to take place in your life in order to begin making God your life and not just part of your life?
–Restore / Repentance
–Baptized
–Prayer.