Jesus Wants to Ruin Your Vision.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. This is your first time here. My name’s Steve. I’m one of the pastors [0:05] It is our time and pray with me father [0:10] We come before you as a church right now

[0:16] Asking [0:17] That you would take our worship that you would take the words of our lips and that they would be pleasing to you [0:25] Lord I pray this morning that you would give us the ability and the faith that we need to follow you [0:32] Speak to us through your word. May we receive it?

[0:36] And God I pray that as we continue as a church as we continue as a local [0:41] Expression of what you are doing in our lives of through reconciliation [0:46] May you empower us. May you strengthen us and [0:50] May we be used by you [0:52] To take redemption to those who need it in the name of Christ. I pray [0:58] Amen in Romans chapter 15, but don’t turn their turn 2nd Corinthians 5 and Romans chapter 15

[1:05] Paul begins to close this amazing book of what is really us his systematic theology [1:12] and he closes it and says I write to you by way of reminder and [1:17] For those of you that have been with us for a while today is going to be a bit of a reminder [1:22] For you as I cast the vision of Village Church, but if this is your first time [1:26] Then I’m not speaking to us by way of reminder. I’m introducing to you what it is to be part of Village Church

[1:33] Jesus [1:35] Comes and he brings life [1:37] He brings brand new life and over the past few weeks with a little pause button for the last two weeks as we had [1:44] Storm that didn’t happen and then last week we had some good friends of ours [1:49] Missionaries with us to cast a vision for what they’re doing in the world

[1:54] Jesus wants to ruin your life has been a series in which we’ve taken a look at the ways in which [1:59] Jesus takes what is the ruin of our sin and replaces it with his life [2:05] Replaces it with what he calls life and oftentimes what this can cause in our lives [2:10] Is that it can cause a great deal of discomfort because I don’t know about you [2:13] But the life that I’ve been building the life that I kind of made without Jesus. I made it under my own strength [2:20] I made it on my terms. It was pretty comfortable

[2:24] There were problems and and those problems still oftentimes caused me problems [2:29] But but I was pretty comfortable with that and when I begin to follow Jesus [2:32] I find very quickly that he doesn’t just want to command my eternal destination [2:37] But rather he wants to command my here and now [2:40] That Jesus has a life for me to live and he doesn’t want to just come into my life and [2:47] Repaint the walls of my living room that I’ve put together

[2:51] Jesus comes in and flips it. He completely guts the house [2:55] He completely tears it apart and [2:57] Rebuilds from the ground up nothing that I have say over is allowed to remain in faith [3:06] It’s only that which he commands as he says in Matthew 28 [3:10] He says I have all authority in heaven and on earth and sometimes that’s pretty uncomfortable [3:16] So over the past few weeks as we’ve been talking about the different areas in our life that Jesus wants to ruin

[3:23] We have to understand that it’s gonna be tough [3:26] It’s not gonna feel good sometimes and it’s going to replace what I’m currently building my life on [3:33] Because that’s what it is to have a relationship with God that I never had before [3:39] Because if he doesn’t become my God by replacing things then is he really my God? [3:48] And today I wanted to finish off by talking about vision [3:52] Vision is something that all of us have for our lives

[3:55] Whether we have really gotten it together and written it down or whether we’re just living out a vision by our actions [4:02] We all have a vision that we are headed towards [4:05] If you’ve written it down then maybe you’re more of a type a personality and everything has to just fit and it’s like man [4:12] If anything doesn’t fit my vision then man everything’s over [4:15] Let’s just quit or maybe you’re more of a lackadaisical person and you’re just really laid back and you’re like, I’m just living [4:23] Either way there is a vision one person may make it to theirs your if you’re just kind of lackadaisical about it

[4:29] You’re going somewhere. I don’t know where it is [4:32] But you’re gonna fulfill a vision with your life, but the reality is that for both camps

[4:40] Jesus wants to bring a great deal of ruin [4:44] And he wants to take your vision and he wants to put his in there [4:50] Quite often times some of our struggles with living the Christian life some of the struggles that we have with worshipping God is [4:58] That we want to fit him into the life. We’re already living [5:02] So where does God fit in my life? Let me [5:05] check

[5:06] The problem with that is that God’s not trying to fit in your life [5:11] God says come follow me [5:14] You fit into my life [5:17] And so this begins a work of really [5:21] deconstruction for us and [5:24] Sometimes we’re really good at that part

[5:26] Sometimes we can deconstruct the life that we’re living and say okay [5:30] Well, Jesus is wants me to not do this or he wants me to do this [5:33] And so I’m gonna tear apart this part of my life [5:35] And and if you were in the building on genital road that we’re renovating right now [5:39] Then if you were on the deconstruction crew that was really easy and it was a lot of fun [5:45] Only two people got hurt. I only stepped on one nail

[5:50] So it was by and large pretty successful [5:53] But then at the end of that ordeal [5:57] We kind of stood back and it’s like alright how we put this back together

[6:03] Okay [6:04] Reconstruction is hard [6:07] We’re really good at tearing apart our lives for the most part because we’re sin just causes destruction all over the place [6:13] But when Jesus comes in and he gives us the power of the Holy Spirit [6:17] He begins to reconstruct and he begins to lay out a new vision and it is tough [6:23] To let him do that because because it’s even

[6:26] foundational issues as the way I’m looking at other people or the way that I’m looking at my money or the way that I’m [6:32] Looking at my career or the way that I’m looking at my children or even down to the point of the way that I’m looking [6:36] At my spouse Jesus is like I’m gonna command everything and scripture leaves nothing [6:43] untouched [6:44] But the question isn’t does God have a vision for my life [6:49] The question is is do I have the willingness to trust his vision over and beyond?

[6:57] mine [6:59] Because that’s where faith really comes into play is in his vision over and beyond [7:07] mine [7:09] In second Corinthians chapter 5 Jesus through the Apostle Paul begins to [7:15] Unleash his vision for what we are going to do with our lives [7:20] This is not just an action plan. This is a

[7:25] foundational vision out of which your actions in following Jesus are to spring out of [7:32] He does not leave it very subjective for us [7:36] He does not say you’re allowed to have this vision and you’re allowed to have this vision and you’re allowed to have this vision [7:42] Instead he creates us all differently with different gifts and different abilities and he says okay use those gifts and abilities for this vision [7:50] This is what I have for you. It begins and he says from now on therefore [7:56] We regard no one according to the flesh

[8:00] Let me break that down for you [8:02] He’s been dealing with throughout the book of second Corinthians especially in chapters 4 [8:06] Excuse me chapters 3 4 & 5 this reality that there are two different kingdoms in

[8:14] Life one is of this world and it’s the temporary kingdom over which sin rules and reigns [8:20] Over which we’re children of darkness born in a sinful world that has pain that has sin that has evil and [8:28] Another is his kingdom the one that he will rule and reign over for eternity and the scripture from beginning to end is this great [8:35] story of how God is restoring his [8:39] Kingdom over this world and that everything that is wrong everything that does not bring him glory [8:45] Because of what Jesus did on the cross. He’s going to take it and he’s going to make it right and

[8:53] Faith in God is believing that that’s true [8:57] That in light of an evil world where pain exists [9:01] There is a good God who’s going to make it all right and if we trust in him [9:06] We trust in his plan we follow him [9:07] He’s gonna give us what is life and we’re gonna see his face someday. We’re gonna experience that [9:14] In chapter 5 begins and it’s it’s amazing go home and read all of second Corinthians 5

[9:19] But you really don’t want me to spend four hours unpacking it probably so I’m just gonna gonna give you the highlights [9:25] At the beginning he says you are not to live as people who find their fulfillment in this world [9:31] But you are to live as basically strangers in this world looking to a different world that you want to go to [9:39] People that know their citizenship is in a heaven [9:42] If you let know that this world is temporary therefore you don’t commit yourself to living and building that which is transient [9:50] But rather you are citizens of that which are eternal and you live by those values that God unfolds in Scripture

[9:57] And then in verse 14 is one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible [10:00] He looks at the church at Corinth and he says if it seems like I’m out of my mind [10:04] It’s because I know God if it seems like I’m in my right mind. It’s just so that you can comprehend what I’m doing [10:11] Then he unpacks and he says

[10:15] It changes everything [10:17] To have faith in Jesus this point is if my life

[10:24] Which seems totally crazy to you because I’m living just to further the gospel of Jesus Christ if it seems crazy to you [10:33] But maybe you haven’t met the King [10:36] And he unpacked starting in verse 16. He says I don’t even look at other people and [10:43] Just see humans. I don’t just see people according to that which is physical [10:47] I don’t look at other people and just see the flesh [10:50] He looks forward and he sees people who God loves and people who God desperately wants to redeem

[11:00] It’s beginning in verse 16 he’s on he’s unpacking this point that redemption radically changes the vision for your life

[11:10] Radically [11:11] That following Jesus is not just some mystical reality that I get up a little earlier in the morning and try to have faith [11:19] as I pray for [11:21] Redemption changes my view of everything

[11:25] Redemption even changes the way that I look at you or the way that you look at me [11:31] You don’t regard me just according to the flesh and it’s proof of that [11:35] His proof of that is how he regards Jesus [11:39] Because he points out if we keep going he says for at one time [11:43] We regarded Christ according to the flesh, but we regard him thus no longer [11:50] What is he saying there

[11:53] He’s saying there was a time when I did not know Jesus and I did not follow him [12:00] But that’s changed why because he rose from the dead

[12:06] Regular people don’t just do that [12:10] when [12:10] People die they stay dead [12:13] But Jesus didn’t so there’s no earthly way [12:17] I can possibly just look at Jesus and see someone who’s just a human being a great leader a great teacher [12:24] Whatever. I have to look at Jesus and I have to see God

[12:29] Because under his own power he was dead and then he came back and if he did that then I can’t just say [12:36] He’s a good guy [12:38] If he did that then he has to command my destiny [12:41] And if he commands my destiny then everything that he said I have to believe [12:48] Every promise that he made I have to trust [12:51] And in Matthew chapter 28, he says go make disciples in Acts chapter 1. He says be my witnesses here there everywhere

[12:59] And so he said people are not just tools through which to further [13:06] My kingdom my legacy Steve’s desires Steve’s wants my wife does not [13:14] exist to satisfy me

[13:19] My wife exists as a child of God [13:23] My wife is a child of the king and because of that I look to what Jesus says about my relationship with my life [13:29] And I live as her husband who’s seeking to renew her for Jesus [13:36] The person sitting next to you does not just exist as a person [13:41] Who’s gonna further your kingdom give you a good or a bad day look at you at as a wrong way or a right way [13:47] Make you feel good about yourself

[13:49] We’re not good about yourself when you see the person next to you [13:52] You see a person who is a recipient of the love of God and desperately in need of redemption by Jesus’s hand

[14:01] It changes everything [14:03] No longer do I look at you as just a person who’s going to live for maybe 70 or 80 years give or take [14:09] Then you’re gonna be dead. No, I look at you and you’re a person that’s going to live forever

[14:16] You see how you just it changes everything

[14:20] He continues and he furthers the point even further down and he says therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation

[14:30] The old has passed away behold the new has come [14:34] This is one of those verses that if you were like in youth group [14:38] This is like, you know, you called your youth group new creation or something and it was second Corinthians 517 [14:43] And you like memorized it and every week you would yell it out during a song or something [14:48] Or maybe it’s on a coffee cup at home or you’ve got it on a t-shirt. You’re like the oldest passed away the newest come [14:53] You know, it’s like this verse that just like you say it you spout it you’ve memorized it

[14:58] But have you ever really thought about this verse I really considered what this text means [15:04] When I was in seminary [15:07] We had a Greek teacher and he was a very very old old man. He was about four feet tall [15:13] And he waddled drove a Volkswagen Beetle. I remember and it had his name on the license plate. Dr. Fink [15:19] I’ll never forget that guy. He’s probably 160 years old now, and I think he’s still teaching Greek [15:26] And he would be get up in front of class and you would like

[15:30] Look at us. He would say guys [15:33] Do you know what the root for all is in Greek? [15:38] It’s all all means all and that’s all all means

[15:44] This is one of those texts where I’m looking at it and I try to reason with it [15:49] I’m like, okay if anyone’s in crisis new creation the oldest passed away and it’s one of those moments where I’m like, okay [15:55] Well that the old is just talking about my sin and I begin to qualify and I’m like [16:00] What does it mean this needs to change about me? It doesn’t mean my personality needs to change. Come on [16:05] How can you change your personality? [16:06] It doesn’t mean I need to be nice to people because people aren’t nice to me, you know

[16:11] You know [16:11] So I begin to just reason and negotiate with the text and I begin to negotiate [16:16] Well, maybe it means this and not this and I qualify it [16:18] But let me fill you in guys, even if I take it down to the Greek [16:22] It’s like what dr. Fink used to do with the word all when it says the old there are no qualifiers

[16:30] It means everything that was old in my life is now to be made new [16:37] That means that everything that I had going for me without Jesus everything that I can do apart from him [16:45] Now must at least be suspect and be negotiable

[16:53] Down to everything down to my relationships down to my job down to my personality I [17:01] Have to look at it and say how does the new life in Christ?

[17:06] change this [17:08] Now don’t lose hope some of you are despairing probably you’re like I’m in serious trouble [17:14] The hope is the reality that faith in Jesus is this thing that takes place and we begin to repent and we begin to see [17:22] and and when I see my life in light of what scripture is I [17:27] Have this great ability because of the Holy Spirit, you know what that ability is. It’s called change

[17:34] It’s called change see I’m in Jesus I [17:40] Can’t lose that I [17:42] Haven’t forever [17:43] And that’s what second Corinthians is about. It’s about this reality that I’m headed towards this destination. It’s been made sure [17:50] But what becomes uncomfortable is that as I’m heading at him I [17:56] See more of him and it’s like he’s got a spotlight and I also see more of Steve

[18:04] And sometimes what I see in myself is not what I see in him

[18:10] And in that moment I have a choice to make

[18:15] And that is because of the power of the Holy Spirit in me I can stay and hold on to myself

[18:24] and [18:25] Not show any evidence that I actually have faith in Jesus at all [18:31] or I [18:33] Can say you’re better God [18:36] Change me take it take it

[18:42] And oftentimes the root problem [18:45] That we have with following Jesus [18:48] Is we do not want it to impede on our personal vision of ourselves or of our lives

[18:57] We’re great with volunteering we’re great well some of us we’re great at doing some things over others [19:05] We’re great at showing up to a Bible study [19:07] We’re great at showing up on a Sunday morning to a service, but when it comes to the rest of our week

[19:15] Some of us I’m putting myself in this category [19:19] We’re not great at allowing God to change our lives [19:24] Because that would require change and I don’t like that

[19:29] Proverbs 29 18 [19:32] Says this [19:34] Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint [19:38] And that’s the only part I really have time to focus on what you’re like what in the world [19:42] How does that have anything to do with this what casting off restraint?

[19:47] In the Old Testament Solomon wrote this to his son in the Old Testament

[19:52] Had this thing called [19:54] Prophetic vision and what God would do is he would use people to speak his vision [20:02] To people [20:04] And then there are times where sin overcomes those people and God doesn’t speak [20:11] Because they’re not following him [20:14] When that happens and read the book of Judges it continuously says it’s a great sinful time in Israel

[20:20] Continuously says and everyone did that which was right in his own eyes

[20:26] When it says they cast off restraint what that means in Hebrew is that they were left to their own [20:34] Devices they were left to human wisdom [20:39] They were left to doing just what they thought was best for their lives

[20:48] And the Old Testament unfolds and in the New Testament read the book of Acts it says it unfolds this to when it says [20:53] When we are left to nothing but human wisdom human understanding what we think is best [21:00] We head in the opposite direction of where God is going the message says it says it this way [21:07] It says that when people can’t see what God is doing they stumble all over themselves

[21:15] The King James says this way where there is no vision the people perish [21:21] It is not a pretty picture of what my vision is without redemption in Jesus

[21:30] The reality that we come to in this text is that our vision must be filled with faith in Jesus

[21:40] Like okay well that makes sense

[21:44] I want to do a little exercise with you and you don’t have to do this out loud [21:47] It would actually probably be better if you didn’t know get confusing if you did

[21:52] But we’re talking about vision it can be a little bit confusing what does vision mean

[22:00] Vision is best understood by the beginning of a sentence that says I see a day when I

[22:09] See a day when? [22:11] Okay, in other words I look at my life [22:13] I look at what I want to do with my life, and I say I see a day when I’m here [22:19] It’s a future. It’s a prediction I [22:23] See a day when this is going on in my life [22:26] All right yesterday was the Richmond Marathon there were a bunch of people that ran a really long way

[22:31] And there was a time a couple years ago a couple months ago where they said I see a day when I run [22:38] 26.2 miles [22:40] All right, they set a standard they set a goal and they went after it [22:46] What about in your life? [22:47] Do you see a day when anything is going to take place in your life some type of success some type of marriage? [22:54] Maybe you see a day when you have children. Maybe you see a day when your kids finally move out

[22:58] Maybe you see a day when they finally get a job [23:00] I don’t know maybe you see a day when you move into this type of house or that type of house [23:04] I just I see a day when this is going to take place. That’s a vision. That’s a vision [23:10] And we’re overcome with them in our lives be at our bank account be at our relational status on Facebook [23:16] I don’t know what it is, but we all have a vision where we’re going in life [23:21] Whether we’ve stated it or not

[23:24] Here’s the question and all of your vision earring [23:29] As Walt Disney used to say [23:32] And all the visions that you’re casting for your life

[23:36] How does Jesus and following him [23:40] change them [23:42] Here’s the key if you are a follower of Jesus [23:46] The predominant vision in your life if you truly have faith in him as [23:53] God as the one who has all authority it must be overcome with faith in him

[24:01] But oftentimes our Christian life is found wanting and we’re very unsatisfied [24:06] With what’s going on in our lives because we have a vision for everything except for our walk with Jesus

[24:14] We do I have a vision for a bank account I have a vision for my backyard I

[24:20] Mean we have visions for everything like we’re having cookout conversations [24:24] And it’s like man you see where that tree is all right. I want I want a fake pond there [24:28] I want a babbling brook. I don’t know why we do that though. It’s like there’s no water back there [24:33] Put water back there. It’s like it’s just gonna run up your bill, but it’s recycling whatever [24:40] We have visions man. It’s like you know I had a vision last week [24:43] I was gonna paint a wall in my house

[24:45] And then I did and I immediately came overcome with a vision of a different color you ever done that [24:50] It’s like man. I had a vision and it wasn’t that let’s change it another $30

[24:59] I [24:59] We have all these visions [25:01] Have you ever sat down? [25:03] Spent time with God spent time in his word and say I see a day [25:10] When I’m following Jesus in this way or that way I see a day when I have victory over this sin or that sin I [25:18] See a day when I’m leading people to Christ

[25:21] I see a day when I’m living the mission of Jesus in my office [25:25] I see a day when I actually go over to my neighbor and say hey, I pray [25:30] What can I pray for you about this week?

[25:35] Do you have a vision for your relationship with God or do you have a lot of vision for your? [25:43] Relationship with things of this world that are not going to outlive you

[25:49] Most of our visions will die when we die I [25:54] Want a vision that is going to go into eternity I? [25:59] Want a vision that takes my neighbors to heaven I? [26:04] Want a vision where we’re gathered together [26:07] Worshipping God in Revelation chapter 7 where we as Village Church are saying [26:12] Salvation belongs to our Lord and we’ve brought as many people with us

[26:17] As possible in our lifetimes [26:21] But right now most of our visions at least the ones that we’re actually living out is just watching as much football as possible on a Saturday

[26:31] Sleeping in as long as we can

[26:35] Well the people in our neighborhoods are going to hell

[26:42] We’ve got so many ridiculous non-negotiables in our life that have nothing to do with heaven or hell [26:49] That they’re just going to die and their eternity is not up to us [26:53] But we have been called to not see them according to the flesh [26:59] But see them as people that need Jesus [27:04] What is your vision?

[27:08] What is your living vision? [27:08] What is your vision?

[27:11] And is it filled with faith in Jesus?

[27:17] He continues in verse 18

[27:23] And he says all this is from God [27:27] Did you catch that? In other words Paul’s not saying I’m just giving you my opinion

[27:35] I’m just telling you what I think [27:38] Paul’s saying no everything changes and that’s from God all of it

[27:48] And he says who through Christ [27:50] I love every time he gives an implication of what the gospel is to do in my life [27:56] He follows it by a declaration of what Jesus did. I love that [28:01] Because it’s on Jesus [28:04] He says who through Christ reconciled us to himself [28:09] Praise be to God for that

[28:11] But then look at what he says [28:14] And gave us the ministry of reconciliation

[28:21] When I was growing up we had these thing called preacher boys [28:24] All right, and you’re like what in the world that sounds cultic. It probably was but

[28:30] But it’s like the 80s and crazy things happen in the 80s [28:33] All right, maybe you were there. I was like three [28:37] Um, so wasn’t that crazy for me? [28:40] But here’s the reality [28:41] Is that we looked at people and we said there are certain people who are called to the ministry [28:47] Maybe at least can connect with me there and certain people that are called to just regular everyday life

[28:54] All right, just you know, some people are called some people aren’t

[28:58] I want you to understand that doesn’t exist

[29:02] You feel me that doesn’t exist there’s no hierarchy of priesthood [29:08] All right, the fact that I work and and preach and pastor [29:14] i’m not [29:15] called [29:16] To this i’m gifted for this there’s a difference [29:22] You’re gifted to something that’s probably different than what I am gifted towards and praise god for that because I can barely hammer a nail

[29:28] All right, if you’ve been up to the church and watched me bad things happen [29:33] I almost died one day [29:35] Electrocution, I mean it was ugly [29:37] But here’s the reality we are gifted to different [29:42] positions different offices different abilities [29:46] But we are all each and every one of us called to exactly the same thing

[29:52] We are called to the ministry of reconciliation [29:56] And here’s what reconciliation is [30:00] It says in verse 19 that is in christ [30:03] God was reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us [30:10] the ministry of [30:12] Reconciliation there was a time in aphesians chapter 2 talks about this when we were dead in our sins

[30:19] We were dead in our trespasses. There was a time when I did not have faith in jesus [30:24] And so god and I were not in a good relationship. I was headed towards his wrath for my sin [30:32] But in jesus when I trusted in him [30:35] I understood the reality that jesus took my sin to the cross and he [30:40] Reconciled my relationship with god the father. He took me from a place of god’s wrath to a place of god’s favor [30:48] Not earned by me earned by jesus

[30:51] And so our relationship is now reconciled [30:55] Reconciled I don’t know what happened [30:56] We are reconciled to god

[31:00] Okay, but here’s what he’s saying when you are reconciled to god [31:05] He takes your sin and he puts in his righteousness [31:08] And in that you are called to live your life taking reconciliation [31:13] to other people and that is to be the overcoming predominant vision of your life and everything that will prevent [31:20] That is to fall by the wayside of that vision

[31:25] That you are to take everything captive to reconciliation [31:29] The fact that I know god and the fact that he’s called me to know other people. Here’s the way the apostle paul says it [31:36] In acts chapter 24 in act excuse me in acts chapter 20 in acts chapter 20 verse 24 [31:40] He says but I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself [31:45] If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I receive from the lord jesus to testify to the gospel [31:52] of grace of god

[31:55] You catch that [31:57] You catch that [31:59] Paul’s saying my life’s value is found in furthering the good news of jesus christ [32:07] The fact that we were under god’s wrath, but in jesus he’s giving us god’s favor [32:14] And that’s available and my life’s value is found in furthering that

[32:21] So the question we have to deal with this morning is how does that affect us as village church this morning?

[32:30] Number one [32:32] The mission of jesus which is to seek and to save the loss which is to reconcile people to god the mission of jesus [32:39] forms a reconciled community of

[32:44] Disciples [32:45] It forms a reconciled community of disciples [32:49] Here’s what I mean by that [32:51] All right in christ. He’s reconciling me to god [32:55] Okay, I have a relationship with god. So what’s very tempting for us to say is okay. Just me and jesus [33:02] That’s all I need

[33:03] Just me and jesus, but that’s not the vision he’s given [33:07] The vision that he’s given is you and I taking that reconciliation and taking it to other people [33:15] Therefore what is naturally going to be formed by that if I go and I and I take [33:20] Reconciliation to another person and they know god and I know god and you know god and I know god well friends [33:25] That’s going to form a church

[33:29] The long and the short of it [33:32] In the book of acts for a very long time they just called christians people of the way

[33:39] Because people would be in culture and they would see these people that trusted in jesus and they were always gathering together [33:45] They were always studying their scriptures. They were always praying and they just lived differently than everybody else [33:50] This is group of people that’s the people of the way

[33:55] It was an identity that they had it was a life that they lived in which they were just filling the streets [34:03] With the message of god’s reconciliation

[34:07] Later in x chapter 17, they were actually accused [34:11] They were going from town to town and people were repenting in effesus a riot broke out because they changed the community [34:17] And in baria and thesilon eike they came in and they went to the authorities of that town and they were like these [34:22] Christians have come in and they’re turning the world upside down

[34:28] Because they were drastically changing the culture because they understood that their calling on life was to redeem people [34:35] Through the message of jesus christ [34:39] And so in x chapter 20 verse 24 when paul says that my life is only of value if I further the gospel of jesus [34:46] He was literally doing that and experiencing seeing that happen in other people [34:51] And churches were being formed [34:53] Because first john chapter 318 says that we are not just to follow him in word but also in deed as well as in truth

[35:02] So it’s going to affect the way that we live our lives [35:06] So if i’m reconciled to god i’ve been given a relationship with him. I’ve been given his love. What am I gonna do? [35:13] I’m also going to be reconciled with other people [35:17] Because I see that sin does not hinder anyone’s relationship with god therefore sin does not hinder my relationship with you

[35:27] Aren’t you glad I know I am [35:30] Down to my relationships are to experience the reconciliation with god and jesus christ

[35:37] And so my relationships exist to further the gospel [35:40] Therefore the love that I show you and the love that you show me is to be reminiscent of what jesus did on the cross

[35:49] There’s two things that we have to understand here number one the ministry of reconciliation is learned in community [35:56] What is your vision for the relationships in your life?

[36:03] Is jesus in that vision [36:05] To build the vision that god has for us we must be willing to sacrifice for building community

[36:13] We must be willing to sacrifice for that [36:15] Because the world is not going to believe reconciliation exists so long as we are not reconciled to one another

[36:25] And that goes past just saying okay, I forgive you [36:29] All right, because most of you have never done anything that I need to forgive [36:32] At least not that I know of oh [36:35] But here’s the reality i’m to connect with you in a way that screams the gospel [36:43] That takes real commitment that takes real time [36:47] That’s why we have community groups here

[36:50] Our community groups are not bible studies. It’s not like sunday school [36:54] It’s it’s not like that. We’re going to study the bible in there, but it’s about more than just learning the bible [37:01] It’s about [37:02] experiencing relationships with people who know jesus so that we can go out into the culture go into our workplace and know [37:11] What it is to relate to people on a gospel level?

[37:18] That’s what they exist for [37:21] And so when all you do is join community when it’s convenient for you or when I don’t have this or that going on [37:28] Or you know and there are some reasons for for you know missing but here’s what i’m basically saying [37:34] If you’re not committed to building relationships that lead to redemption in your life [37:40] Then is reconciliation having any effect on you?

[37:45] We’ve already seen if the gospel doesn’t affect the way that you view other people

[37:52] That is it affecting you at all?

[37:57] Following jesus just by default [38:01] forms [38:02] Redemptive community it forms relationships that are going to be uncomfortable and awkward at first [38:10] But imagine how jesus feels when he redeems us and he’s like that’s what I get

[38:17] You get that on the way out

[38:21] The reality is [38:24] That isolation does not come from godliness [38:30] When I isolate myself from other people that is a byproduct of sin [38:36] When I put my needs in front of the needs of others, that is a byproduct of sin

[38:44] In the garden of eden when adam and eve fall away, what’s the first thing that breaks down?

[38:52] Relationship relationship [38:54] They isolate themselves from god and each other [38:58] So when you are living a life just to isolate yourself [39:03] That you are not living a life that is overcome by the vision of jesus

[39:10] Secondly mission must drive our community mission must drive our community [39:15] So you ever been [39:19] In a community or in a relationship with a group of christians and maybe it’s happened here. I don’t know and it just seems stagnant [39:27] It just seems boring [39:28] Just seems completely irrelevant to anything that’s going on in your life [39:32] There’s one of two reasons one you’re not following jesus. They are

[39:38] And the reason it’s irrelevant to your life is because jesus is irrelevant to your life [39:42] That’s a possibility [39:43] But number two another possibility is is that community has become the end rather than the means [39:53] Community is not an end in and of itself community [39:58] Is a means by which? [40:01] God creates disciples and makes disciples

[40:05] Therefore when we’re experiencing reconciliation in community [40:09] We’re experiencing equipping to live the mission of jesus therefore mission drives community [40:18] Mission drives where it’s going community serves as the catalyst that propels me [40:25] Into the culture my job my work my family it propels me into that [40:31] More equipped as a disciple of jesus than I was before [40:37] So when we get together and all we want to do is go deeper with each other and it’s just about our relationships with each other and there’s not a governing factor where god says go make disciples that make disciples make disciples that make disciples

[40:53] Then it’s going to get stagnant. Have you ever drank water out of a stagnant pond? [41:00] All right, it doesn’t taste good and you’re probably got bacteria. You should go to the hospital [41:05] But there’s a huge difference between that and drinking water from a flowing river [41:10] There’s a possibility that that’s clean [41:12] Because it’s flowing it’s moving it’s current

[41:17] If all we are is a stagnant pond then we are missing what is happening here in second current theans chapter five [41:25] We must be a flowing community that is running on a cycle of redemption [41:31] And finally this morning I just want to give you a little vision village church is about [41:36] Changed people seeing lives changed through the mission of jesus

[41:43] Notice how he finishes it off. He says in verse 20 [41:47] He says therefore in other words because this is true [41:53] Because we’ve been given the ministry of reconciliation [41:56] Reconciliation [41:57] We are ambassadors for christ. In other words, we are his earthly representatives. That’s what an ambassador is you represent

[42:08] God making his appeal through us. You see that god speaking through us [42:15] We implore you on behalf of christ be reconciled to god [42:20] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of god

[42:29] So what does that all mean [42:33] All that adds up [42:35] To the reality that we’re moving into a different [42:39] phase [42:40] Of ministry as followers of jesus christ and what I mean by that is is pretty soon [42:45] We’re going to move into to a permanent facility

[42:48] All right moving in there what’s going to be really tempting for us is to become very stagnant

[42:55] It’s going to be stagnant because you know now we’re you know, we’re established we have roots

[43:02] All right [43:03] I want you to understand this the building that we’re moving into is not a church. It’s a building

[43:09] It’s a building and I understand you can say you’re going to church [43:13] I’m not going to get into a semantic argument with you. I’ll probably say that too [43:17] But it’s just mortar brick wood and a bunch of other stuff that I don’t know what it is

[43:23] All right, here’s the reality we’re the church we’re the church [43:29] And we’re changed people and that is to be our identity we’re changed

[43:36] We’re citizens of heaven [43:39] We’re ministers of reconciliation. We’re ambassadors for christ [43:44] And the vision for village church from the beginning [43:48] Has been to connect people to god through the hope that’s found in jesus and it teach them to [43:55] Reach the culture [43:57] That’s the vision

[43:59] That’s our mission because I see a day [44:03] When we have people in our church in all walks of life in all types of careers [44:10] In all types of places in culture who are there using their gifts and abilities to connect people to god [44:18] I see a day when that is happening [44:21] I see a day when we are reaching the greater richmond area in bigger and better ways [44:28] When we are serving the community when we are strategizing with one another in our community groups as to how we can meet the needs

[44:35] Of our neighbors and those that we know are in need [44:38] Where we see a day when we are not just [44:43] People who gather to talk about the bible, but we are people who are on mission [44:49] Together and the way that we’re going to do that is going to be by truly living out and committing as a group [44:57] Of reconciled followers of jesus christ to our core values [45:01] Believe that our core values represent more than just a couple of token words when we put pen to paper on this

[45:08] We were really saying how does someone go from point a someone who just met jesus to point b [45:15] A fully devoted follower of jesus if you want to know how we came up with this. That’s how we did it [45:21] It was this is the path and it’s not a straight path. It’s a cycle [45:26] Because it never ends [45:29] Redemption is where it starts. It’s where we meet jesus [45:33] And it transforms us to a life of vision excuse me of mission

[45:39] It transforms us where we understand that we exist for the gospel [45:45] We exist to be changed by the gospel and we exist to further the gospel constantly every day [45:51] But that mission is not something that we do or naturally know how to do by ourselves because [45:57] Reconciliation by its very nature is never a solo event [46:01] Mission drives you into community where you learn discipleship [46:05] Where you become a disciple and you’re like, well, how do you know when you’re done when you’re dead?

[46:11] That’s when you’re done becoming a disciple [46:13] All right. I’m not finished god’s not done [46:17] I’m 32 years old. I pray to god that over the next 20 years this gets better [46:23] Because i’m not a great disciple yet [46:26] So i’m becoming what god wants me to be and I want us to be on that path together [46:32] Because I need you because i’m not called to live by myself. I’m called to live in a community of disciples

[46:40] And as we’re becoming [46:42] Being followers of jesus becoming better followers of jesus that community where we come to be equipped [46:48] It will push us out into the culture [46:51] I praise god that we have people from all walks of life in here [46:56] Because we need christians in all walks of life [46:59] We need followers of jesus everywhere in the culture being there as people who are striving to know

[47:07] How to be messengers of reconciliation and you’re like, I don’t know how to do it. That’s no excuse learn on the job

[47:15] It’s the best training you’re ever gonna get [47:18] Jesus led an adulterous fornicator at a well one day from a culture of what was looked at at that point as half-breeds [47:26] To the lord [47:28] And she immediately just went into her community. I’m talking about the woman at the well in samaria [47:32] She just immediately went to a community. You know what her apologetic what her great theology was [47:36] I want to introduce you guys to a man who told me all the wrong I had ever done

[47:41] I think you may know a little more than that. So we’re good

[47:46] Just be and become and you know what happens [47:49] When we are out in culture being and becoming not trusting ourselves but trusting in jesus [47:56] We connect someone to redemption [47:58] Not by our power but by the power of god and guess what the cycle begins all over again [48:03] In my life and in someone else’s life and that’s how the kingdom of god is furthered and the centerpiece of it all folks [48:10] The centerpiece is worship

[48:13] Because god has told us how he wants to be worshiped

[48:20] And we’re called to do that [48:23] by being [48:24] becoming and making [48:26] disciples who make disciples [48:30] I see a day guys [48:32] I see a day

[48:36] I pray you see it as well [48:39] Right now as the band comes up, we’re going to move into a time of communion [48:45] The bread represents the broken body of jesus the cup represents his shed blood

[48:51] And communion is this great thing [48:53] Because in the old testament what happened was is that those who knew god and those who did not know god did not share [48:59] meals together [49:02] Because if you did not know the god of israel you were seen as unclean

[49:08] But the great thing about communion is that what it represents is the fact that god through his son [49:14] Has made us clean [49:17] And the table’s so important because it is god saying come share a meal with me

[49:24] The barriers are gone your sin doesn’t stop you [49:28] If you know jesus if you trusted in his redemption, I want to share a meal with you god says

[49:35] And that’s what this is [49:38] So as you sit there and as you contemplate just for a moment [49:42] What we’ve talked about with with mission and redemption and reconciliation [49:47] Once you understand that what it boils down to is is that in this [49:51] Bread and in this cup what it represents is the life of jesus entering into my life

[49:57] And god says come [50:00] And be reminded over and over [50:04] Of the fact that your life is not your own but rather it is the life of jesus christ

[50:14] If you’re not a follower of him today today’s the day of salvation [50:21] Don’t wait know him today. I’ll be over here. There’ll be those in the back to talk to you [50:27] And today you can share a meal with the creator of the universe for the very first time [50:33] You can know him for those of you that do know god [50:38] Through jesus, there’s nothing holding you back from this table this morning [50:43] When you’re ready come

[50:46] But when you come understand that what you’re proclaiming is that you believe the gospel of jesus christ [50:53] Not just in word, but as you exit here today, you will also do it indeed [50:59] That’s what we are committing to as a community this morning let’s do it