The Message for Jan 28, 2018

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The Message for Jan 28, 2018

Mark 1:21-28

Growing

Rob Miller, Pastor

Read Text Mark 1:21-28

In Jesus’ day rabbis (religious teachers – what we might call seminary professors today) rabbis did not speak with their own authority. They would begin their comments with something like “There is a saying that...” or “Rabbi Such-and-Such said...”

Even the prophets would begin their pronouncements with the words, “Thus says the Lord...” But Jesus was different. He said, “I say to you...” Sometime he would say, “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”

Jesus spoke with authority – his own authority for life – even the unclean spirits submitted and obeyed Jesus’ authority. At some point in our faith journey we too submit and obey Jesus’ authority in our lives. That becomes a turning point for us.

We are in week three of a five-week worship series on (picture) “Following Jesus One Step At A Time.”

In this series we are considering five steps in our journey of faith:

• Inviting
• Connecting
• Growing
• Sending
• Transforming

This week we consider the third step – Growing.

In every area of our lives, there should be signs of growth. That’s the way God created life to be in this world. Living things grow. If we aren’t growing then we are dying. We should experience growth in our marriage, in our families, in our work, in our churches, in regards to our income, and especially in our relationship with Christ Jesus.

When it comes to growing in the faith the writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity… (Hebrews 6:1)

That is great advice. Once we have the basics of the faith –

• God is God and we are not…
• Jesus is God’s Son who came into the world to bring God’s grace – saving us from our sins…
• God wants a life-changing relationship with us in this world and the next…
• We are God’s children called to live in a special relationship as servants to one another…

Once we have the basic teachings of the faith -- we are to continue growing towards maturity -- to become more and more like Jesus in thought, word, and deed. This spiritual growth continues until the day we die.

During my God time this past week reading through the book of James - I was reminded that I am responsible for my faith development. Just as I am responsible for my physical health, I’m also responsible for my spiritual health.

I haven’t been exercising much at all lately. I keep saying, “Tomorrow I’ll start riding my bike.” I’ve been saying that for months. I can come up with all kinds of excuses. Every time I go to the doctor for a check-up he reminds me – “Rob, you really need to start exercising more.” “I know… I will… Tomorrow…”

Here’s what I realized during my chair time with God this past week - nobody is going to exercise for me. I can’t pay someone to exercise for me either. I got to do it. Likewise I can’t pay someone to grow in the faith for me. I got to do it. The same goes for you too.

So I want to offer you five spiritual habits that we can exercise to help us grow in the faith towards spiritual maturity – to become more like Jesus. WARNING - you don’t have to do these things but if you do they will change your life for good… The first habit…

1. The Big, Better, Best Habit - being faithful with the small stuff

We may or may not be very good at this first habit. That’s because when we have the small things in life, we want the Big stuff. When we have the Big stuff, we want the Better stuff. When we finally get the Better stuff, we can’t stand it if we don’t have the Best stuff.

There is nothing wrong with wanting better or the best -- the challenge comes when we despise the small things because they’re small.

For example: Bill began attending worship in a church. The pastor would often talk about investing in the congregation beyond worship, which helps people grow in the faith. So one Sunday after worship Bill said to the pastor, “I’m ready to invest myself in a ministry.”

The pastor said, “Bill, that’s great. I invite you to cut the grass or clean the church especial the restrooms.”

Bill was offended. They were menial jobs. He wanted to do something important. He replied – “I don’t want to do those things. They are not important…”

The pastor explained that every ministry is important. “Cutting the grass is an important ministry -- maybe even more important than preaching.”

The pastor continued, “And cleaning the church building is an important ministry too -- maybe even more important than leading a Bible Study. If the property is unkempt, people are going to remember that - more so than remembering anything in the sermon. And if the restrooms are filthy, people will remember that too - more so than what is shared in a Bible Study.”

Bill thought for a moment then said, “Where do we keep the mower and the toilet brush?”

This first habit comes from Matthew 25 where Jesus tells the story about the bags of gold... (Paraphrase it)

To those who are practice this first habit Jesus says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

The second habit for growing spiritually is…

2. The Love Me Tender Habit - love your neighbor as yourself

This habit is based on the Golden Rule which is based on what Jesus taught. The Golden Rule is not in the Bible but it does capture the essence of Jesus and his teachings. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Actually Jesus said something a bit more challenging. He said -- first love God with everything you have -- your heart, your soul, and your mind and then love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-39)

If every one of us would spend chair time with God on a regular basis as we talked about last week. If we would spend time with God daily -- who is gracious and merciful and forgiving then we are more likely to treat people like God treats us. We would find the strength to love our neighbors as ourselves. We would be more gracious and merciful and forgiving towards others.

Oh… if we could practice this second habit - the world would be a better place. Our lives would take on a whole need meaning and purpose.

The key to this habit is love. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

The word “love” appears 686 times in the Bible. That’s a lot of love.

We are to be loving people – loving anyone and everyone – even our enemies. We have an opportunity to practice this habit every day with the people in our lives. God loves you – now what are you going to do…

The third habit for spiritual growth is…

3. The Don’t Worry, Be Happy Habit – being content without complaining

This is one of the hardest faith habits to practice because it is so easy and so natural for us to complain about anything and anyone. We prefer comfort and we don’t really like it when things don’t go our way. So we complain… we complain when things or people don’t meet our expectations…

Did you know that most conflicts are the result of our expectations not being met? Often in a conflict the problem isn’t the other person the problem is us. The next time you find yourself in a conflict with someone – check your expectations and what you expect from the other person… Broken expectations…

Paul has some great advice for us in his letter to the Philippians about contentment… He writes,

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

That is really good advice. So too is this advice from 1 Timothy…

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

Point of clarification – it’s ok to be rich. Having money is not a bad thing. Remember the first habit. The one who is faithful receives even more… “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

It’s the love of money that becomes the root of all kinds of evil. And that reminds us of the second habit we are to love God and others more than our money.

There comes a point in our faith journey when we stop worrying about what we don’t have and we are happy with what we do have – we learn to count our blessings.

That brings us to the fourth habit…

4. The Garden Habit – sowing and reaping

A farmer’s son wanted to plant an apple tree. He could not find any apple seeds so he grabbed some others seeds and planted them. Weeks went by and finally one little plant started to grow -- to his amazement he had a tomato plant. He asked his father what the problem was, and his father said, “You get what you planted.”

This is an important habit for us to consider. We read in 2 Corinthians…

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

In other words we get what we give. God blesses us to be a blessing to others. What seeds are you planting? How are you investing your life?

If you don’t remember anything else I say here this morning I hope you remember this… When we invest in Christ and his church the rewards are from out of this world.

That brings us to the fifth habit…

5. The Give and Give Again Habit – when much is given much is expected

There are two kinds of people in the world – there are givers and there are takers. When people are growing in the faith they give. We give not to get -- we give because God has given to us.

Chris (not his real name). Chris was the most giving person I ever met. He had his own business and he applied the faith to his work. He told me one day that the more he gives way the more God gives to him. “It’s weird…” He said. One day he decided he was going to live everyday trying to out give God. “But God just keeps on giving and giving and giving again…” He said.

Chris was someone who practiced the faith and it showed:

• He took action when necessary.
• He didn’t overreact.
• He didn’t brag.

So starting today, not tomorrow, but today -- Let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and grow in the faith towards maturity… (Hebrews 6:1)

Amen.