Category: Sermons

He Humbled Himself

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(Luke 19:28-40)

What does your to-do list look like this year? Christmas gift budget. Send a letter or cards. Schedule gatherings. Finalize travel plans. Decorate the Christmas tree. Trim the palm branches for display… 

Wait, palm branches? Well, based on our verses from Luke for today that would seem to be appropriate. Even though Luke doesn’t specifically mention them in his account from our Gospel this morning, we can hardly reflect on the Palm Sunday account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem without thought of palm branches. But what do palm branches have to do with Christmas, or to be more liturgically correct, the season of Advent, which begins today?

Actually, more than you might think. The season of Advent, after all, isn’t merely the precursor or warm-up act to get us ready for Christmas. Rather, its focus on preparation and readiness includes the bigger picture of all the ways Jesus came to us, comes to us, and will come again. God’s people had been waiting thousands of years for Christ to be born. And what happened after that? They waited some more. They waited for thirty more years to discover what his coming to earth really meant, what it was all about. Even on the day of our text, when Jesus made his final grand entrance into Jerusalem amidst all the fanfare, the crowds – and even the disciple themselves – didn’t fully comprehend what it was all going to amount to.

That wouldn’t be revealed until the end of the week. Then it became clear. The cross. Not Pilate’s palace. Not one earthly empire. Not an earthly king’s crown. The cross. That’s why he came. To die. When we fail to connect Christmas wreaths with palm branches, when our celebration of Christmas is divorced from his Good Friday sacrifice, we open the door to a rather secular celebration of Christmas. We are more inclined to take a page out of the world’s celebration of Christmas rather than a Christian celebration, which is keenly aware that the real wonder of Christmas isn’t found in movie miracles, but in the Gift who came to give Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Keep Christmas connected to that and this year will not only meet, but exceed, your expectations.

Speaking of which, what are your expectations? Even as we’re still working on clearing out the Thanksgiving leftovers, our focus shifts to the holidays and the preparations and expectations. We recognize that this year will differ from the last regarding our preparations and expectations. But I wonder something: do we take the time to reflect and consider exactly what our expectations are each year? Or do we just rush from one thing on the schedule to the next, as if our next month is already determined for us, as if this time of year is filled with obligations and we don’t have a say in how we’re going to prioritize what matters to us?

That’s just it. You do have a say. No one is forcing you to get swept up in commercialism. You don’t have to buy the lie that the world knows better how to prepare for and celebrate this time of year than Christ’s church does. There’s no need for any FOMO in deliberately emphasizing the spiritual over the secular. Tempering those expectations and aligning them with God and his Word is really what this series is about. And this morning, it starts with Jesus setting the tone as he humbled himself.

Have you ever met a celebrity or famous individual? Some of us have probably met multiple famous or prominent people. If I asked you which experience was the most memorable, why would you pick the one that you did? Might it be that the one that stands out to you is the one who seemed to you to be the most down-to-earth? The one who didn’t leave you feeling as if you were somehow beneath them or inferior, but that they were just another person like you? The one who was… humble? It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it, that the people we are often enamored with or think so highly of are more likely to leave an impression on us by how much like us they really are? We may think the world of them, but your interaction with them made you feel as if you were just as important in their eyes as they were in yours.

This morning we begin our Advent focus under the theme, Humble Expectations, and we begin the series looking at how Jesus humbled himself for us. Unlike a down-to-earth celebrity, however, Jesus had a different reason for humbling himself: your salvation. Think of how God appeared to his people in the Old Testament accounts and what accompanied his appearing – terror, fear, dread – and rightfully so! A holy, righteous God who alone sets the standard of right and wrong, who determines mankind’s moral compass, is not one before whom sinners can stand! If God and men were ever to have the eternal relationship he craved, it could never be on the basis of our rising up to his level to meet him. No, it had to be God who humbled himself to our level, that through his work we might be taken up to him. Drawn to him versus driven from him. The difference is he humbled himself.

As he humbly entered Jerusalem, it wasn’t Jesus who made all the fuss; it was the crowds, and their excitement was all based on expectations. Jesus wasn’t the one who needed to ramp up the public relations efforts when he came into Jerusalem. The only directions he gave were to secure the foal of a donkey so that Scripture could be fulfilled. The rest of the fanfare was not of his making – it was the peoples’. It was the crowds shouting, the people placing cloaks before him and waving palms. The fanfare was not of Jesus’ making – he didn’t pay to pull in crowds from out of town to serve as his entourage. It was the crowds who ramped up their efforts to make the event such a big deal.

Don’t we often feel the need to do the same with Christmas? We go big with everything, as if Jesus needs us to make Christmas a bigger deal than he already did by his flesh and bone birth into our world, taking on the human body he needed to serve in humble obedience and so that body born on Christmas could experience death in our place. Was that not enough? Does he need the flashiest front yard decked out with a display that will be the envy of all the neighbors? Does he need the gifts we exchange to be bigger and better than the past – especially after last year’s limitations, so much so that we also find our credit card debt bigger as well? Does he need us to deck the halls to make Christmas matter?

You know what I enjoyed about our celebration of Christmas last year? We were forced to scale back. Our gatherings were limited, our celebration in general was rather muted. Because when all the other stuff was stripped away, all we were left with was… Jesus. As it should be every year. Pondering. Reflecting. Marveling. Quietly. Undistracted as the world whirls restlessly by. Just Jesus. Will this year be like that again, or… will we slip back into the older practice of thinking Christmas will be less if we can’t somehow make it more? Do the holidays (holy-days) need our help to make them matter? 

While it is not a part of our text this morning, in the very next verse, Luke records Jesus’ lament as he overlooks Jerusalem:

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (vs. 41-44). 

Would it be too much of a stretch to question if Jesus’ reaction to our Advent preparation and Christmas celebration would perhaps be similar? What led to his lament? The people of Jerusalem failed to see the peace he came to bring and they “did not recognize the time of God’s coming” (v.44). How many in the weeks that follow will not only completely miss out on the peace Jesus came to bring, but will actually add more distress in their misguided preparations and oversight of what this season brings? How many will remain oblivious to God’s coming the first time in Bethlehem at the birth of Christ, his ongoing coming to us in Word and sacrament, and his promise to come to us again on the last day? Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem before he rode into it to die could just as well be his lament over our world today in 2021! 

May it not be his lament over you. Set the tone for the season by revisiting – and repeating as necessary – the reason behind Christmas. He came to us. God came to us. It’s the only way it would work – for him to descend to us. Do not, as so many in Jerusalem did in Jesus’ day, keep hidden from your eyes the peace that he came to bring. Peace to slow down our frenetic pace. Peace as an anchor for our anxiety. Peace to cease to our stress. Peace to forgive and restore and refresh weary souls. And that peace is ours because he humbled himself. 

Humility marked Jesus’ first coming as the Babe of Bethlehem. Humility marked Jesus’ life. Humility marked this day as he entered Jerusalem. Humble Jesus, though, is not a picture of whimpering weakness. He did not humble himself because there was no other option or because he was somehow incapable of displaying his divine power or majesty for all the world to see. No, he humbled himself so that it might be possible for the Almighty God to come among his lost and fallen creation to rescue and redeem. He became less to save those who are the least: rebellious sinners like you and me. He became less and humbled himself to walk the path of perfect obedience upon which we daily stumble and fall. He became less and humbled himself so that an immortal God could die the death that all mortals deserve. He became less and humbled himself so that hell could be his to suffer and not ours. He became less and humbled himself so that his heaven could be our heaven.

What does your to-do list look like this year? Don’t overload it with stuff that doesn’t matter. Humble your expectations and direct your focus on the One who humbled himself for you.

Heaven Is… a Great Banquet for Everyone

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(Luke 14:15-24)

When you attend a significant event, the number of people present matters. How would it feel going to hear your favorite band or singer in concert at a large venue and being surrounded by empty seats? What if you received a special exclusive invite to the opening of a trendy new restaurant and only a handful of other people were there? It was one thing to have to witness that kind of emptiness during the pandemic when in-person attendance was not permitted, but barring those restrictions, we expect big events to bring in big numbers of people. If not, and attendance is sparse, it can result in lower expectations, second-guessing the level of quality associated with the function, or wondering about the organization of the whole thing. Numbers matter. We are impressed by large attendance numbers at events – they give credibility to something.

Have you ever wondered what the attendance numbers in heaven will be like? On the one hand, we have pictures of multitudes gathered around the throne. Each of Daniel and John’s (Revelation) visions make reference to thousands upon thousands and ten thousands upon ten thousand – numbers which may refer to just angels or could also include believers. Jesus preached to large crowds and many came to faith. Throughout the book of Acts we are told the Holy Spirit added thousands to the faith here and there through the preaching of the Word. World statistics of professing Christians currently top 2.5 billion, to say nothing of the total number of believers existing throughout history. So it would appear that heaven will be pretty full.

But Jesus also said, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” (Lk. 13:24). And in the parable before us this morning there are clearly a number who excuse themselves for a variety of reasons, leaving the master to conclude, “I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” (14:24). So will it be many or few? What will the numbers be like in heaven? We can’t say for sure, and while I know few of us like to hear that answer, we must be willing to accept it frequently in regard to questions about heaven. Instead then, let’s give our attention to two matters that we DO have control over: 1) making sure we get there, and 2) taking as many with us as we possibly can.

I know it feels rather odd even to state it that way, to “make sure we get” to heaven. There’s nothing for us to do! Jesus did it all, so what could we possibly need to “do” to make sure we get there? He traded heaven for earth to make sure that one day we would be able to trade earth for heaven. His perfect obedience replaced our daily disobedience. On the cross he was forsaken so we could be forgiven. How do we cover that debt when it has already been paid? How do we convince a judge who’s already declared us innocent because of what Jesus has achieved as our Sacrifice and Substitute?  

It’s really more about what we can make sure we don’t do rather than taking credit for anything we can do. Simply put, don’t lose what you’ve been given. Don’t reject the free gift of salvation. Don’t misplace your invitation. Don’t let the big day arrive and find you unprepared because you allowed enough excuses to mount up over time that you became preoccupied with this life at the expense of the next one. It’s as if every time you make an excuse, you are pounding in yet one more tent stake to make this your permanent home instead of heaven.

It would appear this is a very legitimate concern on the part of Jesus. At least that’s the way it comes across in the parable. Not only do the servants receive a variety of excuses from the invitees when the party is finally ready, but notice how many times the host has to send out his servants to bring in more guests – three times they are sent out! That would seem to emphasize two important truths. One, many will end up on the outside looking in when it comes to heaven. Two, God really means it when he says that he wants everyone to be saved. Why else would he continue to send out his servants to invite others? “Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full” (v.23). There’s still room. 

There’s still room. You probably noticed the Trunk or Treat invites in your worship folders. Those invites aren’t for you, because you already know you’re invited. But they are for you to pass along to someone else. Heaven is the same. You already know it’s for you, but now the invite is for you to pass along to others. 

So each and every one of us can focus on one or both of the two things we DO have control over. If you are in the excuse-making camp of the banquet invitees in the parable and are dangerously close to forfeiting your spot at the heavenly banquet, then that needs your urgent attention. Get your act together and make your faith the priority it needs to be so that you don’t give up what you’ve been given. And if you are solid in that department, then you can give attention to your role of passing along the invites. One or the other or both is where we all should be. Make sure you get there and do your best to help as many others as possible get there. 

Where exactly is “there?” What will “there” be like? After all, that’s what we’re really interested in – the information about what the accommodations in heaven will be like, right? So will there be an actual feast, a banquet, as heaven is so often depicted in Scripture? Will the most tantalizing food and drink imaginable be served? The perfect cut of meat, perfectly cooked, or for those who prefer, the perfect Beyond Meat plant-based product perfectly imitating the perfect cut of meat, perfectly cooked? Will the food melt on your tongue the moment it touches it? Will the beverages be served chilled so they aren’t too cold or not too hot so they avoid burning your tongue? Will there be appetizers? How many courses? And dessert – what about dessert??? Now that I’ve lost you for the rest of the sermon… will we actually experience any of this? 

Or… is it all figurative picture language to make heaven more relatable to us? It would make sense that Jesus would speak a parable involving a great feast, given he spoke these words this morning while he was a guest at a Pharisee’s house for a meal. And, the comment made to Jesus leading up to the parable referenced the blessing of feasting in the kingdom of God. So is Jesus merely tying his description of heaven to something we can conceptualize, something we could connect to through personal experience? After all, as much as both the Old and the New Testaments speak about heaven as a sit-down saintly smorgasbord, the Bible also says that no one in heaven will ever hunger or thirst. Therefore, if there is eating and drinking, it won’t be out of a need of sustenance, but rather out of the joy and pleasure associated with it.

Here is another thought: why should we ever experience any good pleasure at all in a broken, fallen world? Why should we be able to enjoy tasty delicacies and delightful drink? Surely a world of rebellious sinners has not and could not earn the right to such pleasure? No, but God is good. God is gracious. Maybe there is another reason behind God allowing us such enjoyment – perhaps such pleasures have an even greater purpose: merely to whet our appetite for what is coming in heaven. Certainly no good, no excellent experience here on earth was ever intended to attract us so strongly to this temporal world; rather could it serve all the more to provide us with teaser upon teaser of how splendid heaven will be? 

And don’t forget another part of a great meal – one enjoyed with favored guests! After all, a meal spent with old friends can make even the blandest food palatable. And even outstanding food is only made better when enjoyed in the presence of those dear to us. Think of that part of a feast or banquet – not so much about the food, but about the guests gathered together to enjoy it together. That is real joy! Gathering around food builds community. Meals are where stories are shared and memories are made. Traditions and family rituals so often involve food. Food satisfies, but sometimes the biggest role it serves is to bring people together. And that is certainly one of the main themes of heaven, isn’t it – all of God’s blood-bought saints finally being brought together in perfect unity and harmony? No polarizing division. No draining disagreements. Just Jesus-centered gathering.

Years ago there was a popular series of T-shirt slogans that had a statement regarding one’s favorite sport. It had a simple phrase indicating that one’s favorite sport was life, and the rest was just details. “Basketball/tennis/golf/baseball/etc. is life. The rest is just details.” The point was clear: nothing else really mattered. The wearer of the T-shirt was claiming that other concerns in life were quite trivial in comparison to the favorite sport. 

At the end of the day, there is much speculation about what heaven will be like. There are many unknowns. We don’t know if there will be a literal banquet feast or if the imagery is merely figurative. But there is one known: Jesus will be there. And we’ll get to be with him. Nothing will be better. In heaven we could rightly sport the T-shirt, “Jesus is (eternal) life. The rest is just details.” Let’s make sure that when we’re done here on earth, each and every one of us – and as many others as we can possibly bring along – are all wearing the same shirts.

Heaven Is… Coming

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(Matthew 25:31-46)

More and more evidence points to the reality that the happiness associated with a certain experience has less to do with the experience itself and more to do with our anticipation of it. Studies that measured brain activity and the subjects’ feelings of happiness prior to a positive experience and during that experience have seen higher dopamine levels before than during the experience itself. So it seems that looking forward to a positive experience is many times the most exhilarating part of all.

I won’t disagree. When I got to the last book of the Harry Potter series, I recall how bittersweet it was. While it was always exciting to finish one book in the series and look forward to starting the next, I knew I wouldn’t have anything to look forward to after I read the last one. So, I actually put off starting the final book for some time just to extend the time I had to look forward to it. We’ve probably all experienced something similar in the past at some point regarding vacations. We were so eager to plan and look forward to and anticipate an upcoming vacation – but the vacation itself didn’t match our anticipation of it. Or, we look forward to watching an episode of our favorite show, but how bummed are we when the last episode airs? Now we don’t have anything to look forward to anymore. It is the anticipation of the experience – not the actual experience itself – which is so often the most exhilarating part. 

Heaven, dear friends, will be the exception. Are we eager about heaven? Do we anticipate it? Are we looking forward to getting there? Absolutely. But unlike every other experience we have had on earth, it will not be the anticipation of heaven that fills us with the greatest joy, but our experience of it. Our experience of heaven will absolutely surpass in every possible way any detail we could have imagined about it. No matter how high the dopamine levels register in our anticipation of heaven, they’ll be off the charts when we actually experience it!

When it comes to anticipation, studies have shown that two primary factors play the biggest role in heightening our good feelings about an experience: 1) simply looking forward to the experience itself, but also 2) the increased likelihood that it will happen. When those two factor in together, we experience the height of anticipation. You get a rush from placing an online order, but that anticipation is heightened when your tracker tells you the delivery truck is only two stops away! The opening music to your favorite show starts playing on the screen and you get a quick rush no matter how good or bad the episode is. You look forward to the possibility of reconnecting with an old friend, but that anticipation is heightened when your phone pings with a text confirming the date and time. It’s really going to happen! It’s a certainty!

Jesus provides us with the same certainty as he introduces his teaching on heaven this morning. He started out, “When the Son of Man comes…” (v.31). There is no uncertainty in those words, is there? Jesus doesn’t say “I’m hoping to” or “I’ll really try” or “I might be available”; he says, “when the Son of Man comes.” Everything then, which follows, will happen. Jesus will return. He will come back to us. Doesn’t that heighten our anticipation?

And we are so in need of that repeated reminder, aren’t we? As more time passes, we wonder more. We question ourselves. We question God. The world worsens. Is Jesus’ return a reality we can count on, or is it just wishful thinking? Am I foolish for believing it or looking forward to it? Jesus puts that to rest. Jesus doesn’t lie. He laid out what will happen when he returns. He will return. 

And his return will be glorious! While Jesus’ first coming into our world was meaningful and marvelous in its own right, I don’t know that “glorious” is the description we’d use for the child born in a barn. Jesus highlights the difference between the first coming and the second coming – “in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne” (v.31). Glory – what a contrast to Jesus’ first arrival! That last glorious day is described elsewhere in Scripture in this way: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). No secluded stable, but the most glorious announcement, accompanied by hosts of angels and trumpet calls – “Jesus returns!” 

And why is he returning? To judge. Notice both parties on that last day are shocked, but for different reasons. They are surprised at the criteria behind Jesus’ judgment. Believers were not even aware of their service to others amounting to service to Jesus himself. The believer, from whom faith naturally springs into action to love and care for and serve others, thinks nothing of those things. They weren’t carried out to earn points with God or to elevate our standing before him, for we know that nothing good lives in us by nature. Yet through faith, God works much good in the lives of believers!

Unbelievers, on the other hand, were not aware that their selfishness and lack of service to others amounted to selfishness and lack of service to Jesus himself. The unbeliever was convinced he was doing enough to be on good terms with God, that he was a pretty decent guy or gal, making some positive contributions in the world. At the very least, better than a whole lot of other people. And they’re absolutely shocked to not be acknowledged by God.

So the sheep and the goats, believers and unbelievers, were both surprised, both shocked. In other words, you will be shocked on that last day. The question is, for what reason? Will you be surprised by how effortlessly and naturally your faith flowed into service for others without ever thinking of recognition or reward? Or will you be surprised because you were pretty sure you were going to hear from Jesus’ lips, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance…” (v.34), but instead will hear “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (v.41)? I don’t imagine too many people actually expect they will hear those words from Jesus, but he makes it clear that he will speak them. Will they be spoken to you? 

They may be, if you should make the terrible mistake of presuming that how you live doesn’t matter, that you treat your faith like a hazmat suit that somehow protects you from caring for others and serving their needs. You may hear those words if you make the grave mistake of treating grace and forgiveness as merely a free pass to live as you please. Those words may be spoken to you if your confession of sins and confession of faith are merely empty words that have no root whatsoever in your heart. Now before you blow off that possibility, are you really willing to gamble that you might be wrong? Maybe you don’t believe there is a hell. Maybe you don’t believe a loving God would actually ever send anyone there. One, do you really want to chance that, to take that risk, and two, are you comfortable with calling Jesus a liar when he lays out that this is exactly what will happen on the last day? Hell and eternal punishment are real and many are really going to end up there. Don’t let it be you.

Let us instead hear the other words of Jesus, music to our ears: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v.34). We are finally going to experience what all the “fuss” is about! We’ll finally experience the culmination of everything he’s done for us and the blessings laid out for us from the very beginning. Jesus calls you “blessed.” You think you know what that word means now? People toss it around as a blanket term that covers anything good that happens to us – whether or not they acknowledge God as the source of blessing. Rest assured, the word will take on a new meaning in heaven. If the best it can do this side of heaven is describe only the stuff we know now, imagine what it will truly mean to be blessed when we hear that word on the last day in reference to what’s waiting for us. 

And what is waiting for us is an inheritance. An inheritance is always a good thing. No one leaves behind an inheritance that is intended to harm another or leave them worse off. An inheritance is always a good thing. How much more so with heaven! What will that inheritance include? How can we use known terms and experiences to describe what can’t be known or experienced here on earth? It will simply surpass the best of the best in this world by leaps and bounds, and exclude anything and everything that is undesirable and unpleasant. 

Jesus described that inheritance as “the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” He is not referring to just an object or item, but an entire kingdom, a way of life, a world, an experience that completely overshadows anything we could know or experience in this life.

And imagine how much the Lord has been longing to grant this to us – he’s had it prepared from the beginning. Ever shopped for someone and found the perfect gift that you know they are going to love? But you have to wait to give it to them. You want to right now, but the occasion has not arrived yet, so you have to wait. Imagine God holding on to this amazing gift that he knows will blow our minds, and he’s been waiting this whole time, throughout the entire history of our world, from creation until that last day, to give it to us. He must be about to burst every day that he waits!

What will determine who receives this gift? In a word, faith. Only Jesus doesn’t use that word; rather, he describes what it looks like. Think of faith like this. Coaches in many sports speak of the importance of follow-through. A golf or tennis swing with a strong follow-through matters. A shooter in basketball knows the importance of follow-through after he releases his shot, as does the pitcher on a baseball mound. Follow-through is important. It matters. Faith alone saves, but faith has a follow-through: works. Works are the follow-through of faith. They are the continuation of it. They are how faith shows itself, how it manifests itself. So without works, faith is not only incomplete; it simply doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as saving faith that is not accompanied by works. Jesus makes this clear by referencing works to determine who are the sheep and who are the goats, as those works are the follow-through of faith. 

Heaven is coming. Anticipate it. Strengthen your faith to be sure of it. Get to know the voice of Jesus more and more through his Word, so that you will be confident of the words he will speak to you on that last day, leaving nothing up to chance. Believe, boldly show that belief in how you live, and long to hear those words of eternal life, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (v.34). Amen.

Apologize

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(1 Peter 3:13-16)

If this morning’s word is not familiar to you in the context of evangelism, then it might be necessary to clarify that we aren’t talking about saying we’re sorry for believing in Jesus. Though apologies in that sense may have their place if we need to come clean before somebody else we may have wronged, the word apologize this morning carries with it a different meaning than “I’m sorry.” Apologetics refers to the field of defending the Christian faith. One of our Confessions in the Book of Concord is called the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, which is not Lutherans saying we’re sorry for ever confessing our faith as expressed in the Augsburg Confession, but rather a defense of what that Confession states. So while we are never sorry for our Christian faith, there is great benefit in being able to defend it. 

One important caveat when it comes to apologizing, or defending, our Christian faith: strictly speaking, defending our faith is not evangelism. No single soul was ever ushered into heaven because of a convincing or compelling defense of the Christian faith. Only the gospel awakens faith in the human heart. So what role, what place does defending the Christian faith have? 

If you’ve ever gardened, you know there is value in tilling the soil. Doing so prepares the soil for the seeds that will be planted. It removes the stones or pebbles or debris in the dirt that might otherwise impede growth and never give the seed a chance to take root. Growing in our ability to defend the faith can serve the same purpose – it doesn’t convert souls, but it may help to jar loose some of the other debris in someone’s heart or mind that could decrease the likelihood of the gospel being clearly heard or understood.

Some of that opposition to Christianity is based on the perception that the Christian faith is unreasonable. Now on a side note, what a perfect time for Christianity – our world is completely unreasonable right now! We see a lack of reason all around us. So in a world in which so few people actually make any sense and seem to be acting unreasonably, then Christianity ought to fit right in – an unreasonable religion for an unreasonable world! 

While I say that tongue-in-cheek, the reality is that Christianity is actually quite reasonable. Jesus thought so, as Luke recorded in our First Reading from Acts. “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (1:3). Note that Luke referred to Jesus providing “convincing proofs.” That is, the evidence that Jesus displayed after his resurrection was apparently very reasonable. If something is truly unreasonable, then we would presume there would be no amount of evidence that would ever appeal to someone’s reason. Yet, people had seen enough from Jesus over the forty days after his resurrection to conclude that his rising from the dead was not so unreasonable after all. Their reason was in fact convinced by the proof.

So apologetics matter – appealing to people’s reason can make a difference. In one case it may serve merely to pique someone’s curiosity who is then open to hearing more of God’s Word, regardless of whether or not that results in saving faith. In another case appealing to one’s reason may serve as the very compelling and convincing element they needed to put them on the path to faith in Jesus. If we can then help people be open to the possibility that perhaps Christianity isn’t so unreasonable after all, we may have removed just enough obstacles in the way that previously kept that person from being open to the power of the Holy Spirit to work through the Word.

If the thought of being an apologist, of having to defend your faith, terrifies you, or if you don’t feel confident in that arena, you live at a good time. Because there is something else that others may be willing to listen to than the truth of the Bible, which doesn’t carry the same authority in many people’s minds today as in the past; they’re more than willing to listen to your truth. Much as we might cringe at such a statement, it might be an extraordinary time for us to take advantage of it. Here are two reasons why this is true.

One, our culture is anti-institution, so inviting someone to church may not be received as warmly as in the past. For some who seem disinterested or even turned off by Christianity, the real issue may not be Christianity itself, but the organized church they’ve come to associate with it. Some of those reasons are understandable; others perhaps not. When a pastor or religious leader associated with a certain church has fallen from grace, or when someone has been personally burned by a bad experience in a church in the past, we can understand why they may want nothing to do with the church as an institution. Those scenarios can be more challenging for us to help them navigate through. Then there are the general ones like “the church just wants your money” or “the church is full of hypocrites” that have always been around. Regardless, where people today may not trust the church as an institution, you are most likely the best thing we’ve got going. For that reason, we need to shift our perspective a bit to seeing ourselves – not necessarily our church – as an instrumental stepping stone to connecting others to Jesus. 

Two, if you’ve ever had doubts about your own faith, if you’ve ever had questions, guess what? That makes you 100% relatable. While many Christians wish they were as well-equipped as a pastor or a professor at a theological college or seminary, let me ask you something. Do you think the average unchurched person relates better to the theologically trained expert, or to you, someone much more like them who has real struggles and an imperfect faith that is a work in progress? The answer should be quite clear, shouldn’t it? So chances are, the individual who seeks out a pastor or trained spiritual leader is someone who may be curious or just be interested in seeking out an answer to a specific question. However, to whom do you think the person genuinely interested in Christianity and the possibility of pursuing the Christian faith is going to go? You. Someone just like them. Someone to whom they can relate. In this regard, that makes you uniquely equipped to defend your faith and expand on it for others. 

Now if you see the sense in these two reasons, perhaps your next question is why aren’t people coming to you with their questions? Why might others not approach us? One possible reason: they think Christians are unintelligent dim-wits. Is this justified? On the one hand – nope; we embrace the role of fools that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians. On the other hand, are we? When is the last time you read a book? When is the last time you educated yourself on how to talk to skeptics and defend your faith. Maybe they think we’re dim-wits because… we are? Simple evangelism doesn’t have to mean shallow evangelism. Have I been avoiding personal spiritual growth for too long? Then it’s time for us to make a change. 

The other reason people don’t ask us about the reason for the hope that we have? They don’t see hope in us. Why would they ask about what is absent in our lives? If they don’t see the hope in how you speak, live, and engage with others, don’t be surprised when no one asks you about it. If you put Debbie downer to shame with your constant gloom and doom, you might be waiting a while before anyone asks you for the reason for a hope they don’t see in you.

If it isn’t obvious to others, where do we find that hope? Don’t forget the name of this series: “simple evangelism.” At its center, the message of the gospel is profoundly simple, so much so that a child could explain it: we are sinners who have in Jesus the Savior from sin that we all need. That makes heaven ours. It really does not need to be any more complicated than that. 

Question: are you able to apply the hope of that gospel of forgiveness to yourself? Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Do you need to revisit that hope? Do you have it? Do you embrace it every day and live in it, breathe it? Does it smother you, cover you, envelope you… or do you allow your own guilt or the crud of this world to pin you down while hope seems out of reach, like an inflated balloon, drifting out of sight high up in the sky? 

Hope is here! Right now! We live under the shadow of the cross. We live in the reality of a vacant tomb. We live in the certainty of a hope-filled home in heaven. That is your lot in this life, your hope. And the reason behind that hope? Jesus. No more. No less. Jesus is your hope. So when your situation feels hopeless or your hope seems distant, chances are, so is Jesus. Keep him near and hope will also be close by. 

It would seem Peter knew that, as he encourages us, “in your hearts revere Christ as Lord” (v.15a). Imagine your reaction if you showed up today and looked to the front of the church and saw the cross had been removed from behind me. In its place was a very nice tasteful painting. Or a floral arrangement. Or a decorative light. I think no matter how nice any of those things might look, you’d be quite shocked and probably downright disgusted to see something replace the cross. That’s what goes on in our hearts when Christ is not revered as Lord, when he is set aside or replaced by some other love in our lives. Let him alone rule. When he alone rules in your heart, so does hope. When that happens, look at what else happens. 

We’re eager to do good, and to do it with gentleness and respect (cf. 1 Peter 3:13-16). These things alone would do wonders for our witness, as they are such a rarity in our day and age. Doing good with gentleness and respect for others is radical; it’s other-worldly. It’s attractive. It’s craved. It’s appealing. And the icing on the cake? When you live this way, even when you suffer certain consequences because of it, that’s when the questions come. That’s when people want to know why you put up with it and what hope you cling to in order to get through it. It’s like the opportunity to shine the spotlight on Jesus is being served up to you on a silver platter! When those times come, listen. Witness. Always. Apologize. Keep it simple. Let Jesus do the work. 

Always

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(Psalm 34:1-18)

Why does she order the same entree every time at this restaurant? Why is that the same beverage I see in his hand every time I see him? Why does he always want the same type of cake for his birthday every year? The answer to all of these is the same: they’ve tasted something that’s good, they like it, and so they don’t waver from it. 

That also explains where David was coming from. Why would he write, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v.1)? The answer is in the final verse: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (v.8). David had acquired a taste for the Lord. He knew from firsthand experience how good the Lord was, he liked it, and so he didn’t waver from him. He extolled him and praised him… always.

I will state it plainly: there will be no “always” to your witness without first acquiring a taste for the Lord, as David did. Until that happens, evangelism will be anything but simple. It will be infrequent – if it even takes place at all – and it will be perceived as something we are required to do rather than something that flows from our lips at all times, always. 

After all, it is possible to know a lot about the Bible without ever having tasted how good the Lord is. Many an academic, a scholar, and a skeptic know the Bible quite well – without ever having tasted how good the Lord is. Sadly, the same can be said of many Christians. We can know the Bible quite well – without really tasting how good the Lord is. 

The story has been told some time ago a dinner social gathering brought a number of people together. Among them were an actor and a pastor. The host invited the actor to recite the well-known psalm 23. He agreed. As was expected, he read it beautifully, with clear articulation and at the perfect pace, raising and lowering his tone to properly reflect all the meaningful words and phrases. When he finished, many felt it may have been the finest reading of the psalm they had ever heard. 

After the actor had finished, the pastor was also invited to read the psalm. At first, he declined, knowing himself well enough to realize that his recitation of the psalm would not be on nearly the same level as the actor’s. Somewhat reluctantly, however, he did finally agree to read through it, on the condition that he was permitted to provide some commentary on the beloved psalm. After he had finished, the guests agreed that they had been treated to quite a gift to be able not only to hear the psalm, but to hear it explained in such a profound way. Later, as the guests discussed the unique characteristics that the actor and the pastor each brought to the psalm, they finally agreed on this noticeable distinction: the actor showed how well he knew the psalm; the pastor how well he knew the Shepherd.

That’s the secret to simple evangelism: knowing the Good Shepherd well, knowing Jesus. What does that look like? It looks a lot like what David describes in Psalm 34 for us this morning. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v.1). David writes that he will extol the Lord “at all times” and his praise for the Lord would “always” be on his lips. Those phrases indicate a full-time thing. Exalting the Lord was not a part-time job for David. It wasn’t a hobby he putzed with on the weekends. It was an all-the-time thing. It was always.

And the introductory description at the beginning of the psalm provides the backdrop for us to believe that was true for David – all times, good and bad. At the time described, David was not at a high point in his life. He was not only on the run from Saul, who was trying to hunt him down and kill him, but he was also seeking refuge in enemy territory – the territory of the Philistines. Remember them – the ones David had embarrassed when he, the little shepherd boy, took down their mighty towering giant, Goliath? Not only was David willing to hide out in enemy territory, but he had to play the part of a man who had lost his marbles, an insane man drooling on himself and marking up doors and gates. Yet even during this time – not his finest moment by a long shot! – David penned the words of this psalm that expressed the ongoing confidence he had in the Lord.

Christian friends, as you picture a person who fits the descriptions given in this psalm, do you imagine that many in the world might just be attracted to that type? What’s more, if the world notices this consistent upbeat optimism at all times – in both good and bad – isn’t it even more likely to make an impression on others? It is surely one thing for a person to have a cheerful disposition when everything is going his way, but others really take note when that cheerful disposition is still there even when the wheels have come off and everything in life is falling apart. That’s why it always matters that we’re always radiating God’s radical grace! Doing so in the tough times is when it comes across as something real to others.

And we all appreciate when others are real with us. Unless you are someone who appreciates the craft of sales, most of us don’t really like being marketed to and can tell when someone is pitching something or trying to sell us some good or service. In sales and network marketing, the distinction is made between selling and sharing. We can tell the difference, can’t we? We’re pretty good at being able to tell when someone just sees potential dollar signs when they look at us and when someone shares something that they not only feel passionately about but also genuinely feel could benefit us. There’s a big difference between the two approaches.

The same is true of simple evangelism. If you’re trying to “pitch” Jesus, others will see right through you. So how do you avoid coming across as “salesy” when it comes to evangelism? It has to be genuine, and it’s genuine for them when it’s genuine for you. And it’s genuine for you when the words before us from Psalm 34 are not just nice-sounding platitudes, but personal experience. So are they descriptive of your personal experience? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good (v.8)?

If you have to think about the answer to that question, that’s probably not a great sign. If you answer yes right away, but can’t describe or explain what it means that you’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good, that’s probably not a great sign, either. When getting up for church on Sunday morning is routinely a drag rather than a delight, not a good sign. When Bible reading and devotions are deferred daily in favor of every other important task and then subsequently forgotten, not a good sign. When I am disinterested in Bible study opportunities that are offered, not a good sign. 

Because think of it, when you experience something good, no one has to coax you to experience it again. You don’t find a great show to stream and then watch just one episode. You don’t find a good place to eat and then never dine there again. You don’t drink a great cup of coffee one time. You don’t find a great outfit and wear it just once. When you experience something good, you want to return to it again and again. If that isn’t the case when it comes to your relationship with God, one has to ask if you’ve really tasted and seen how good he is, if you’ve really acquired a taste for the Lord.

David shared a number of different ways we taste and see how good the Lord is. There are many! The Lord provides the afflicted with reason to rejoice (v.2). Exalting his name provides a reason to gather together with others (v.3). The Lord delivers from fears (v.4). The ones looking to the Lord are radiant because he has removed their shame (v.5). He saves those who are down and out (v.6). He protects those who are his and delivers them (v.7). Any who take refuge in him are blessed – they need only try him out and they’ll find it to be the case (v.8)! See all the reasons David had to always praise the Lord? See all the reasons you have to always praise the Lord?

If simple evangelism is to be an “always” thing, then my time with Jesus will first be an “always” thing. When that isn’t the case, we are more likely to view evangelism as a program or an event rather than a lifestyle if we don’t regularly taste and see how good the Lord is. But the more of Jesus we have in our own lives, the more we want more Jesus in the lives of others.

So do you get it yet? The key to being an exceptional evangelist is not making sure you’re thinking about evangelism all the time, that every time you leave the house or every time you’re engaging online your thoughts are 100% focused on telling others about Jesus. No, the key to being an exceptional evangelist is making sure that you yourself are always filled up with Jesus and his forgiveness, always tasting and seeing how good the Lord is. When that happens, we acquire a taste for the Lord, and the first verse of this psalm will be descriptive of each of us as well: “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v.1). When that happens, evangelism will naturally follow. It’s that simple. Always. 

Witness

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(Acts 1:1-8)

You’ve been accused of a serious crime. You didn’t do it, but while you know that, your situation doesn’t look good right now. The opposing counsel has put together a pretty compelling case against you that, as it stands, could easily be enough to compel the jury to find you guilty. Yet as dire as your situation may appear to look at the moment, you are not worried because you know there is still another witness to be called on to testify. The weighty testimony of this witness alone will be more than enough to prove your innocence. You are understandably shocked and terrified then, when this witness is called on to provide testimony and while on the stand, under oath… remains completely silent. The witness refuses to provide the information necessary to prove your innocence. Without the testimony of that key witness, the jury unsurprisingly reaches its verdict: you are found guilty.

The slight difference between that hypothetical scenario for you and the very real reality of a guilty verdict for many unbelievers right at this moment is that the unbelievers don’t know that you are the witness able to provide the key testimony that could set them free. Your testimony is enough to secure the “not guilty” verdict in their trial before God the Father. Their sin is piled up against them, ready to condemn them to hell. All that needs to happen is for them to hear and believe your testimony that they’ve already been freed because Jesus has paid for their sin. But when the witness – you, me, all of us – remains silent, then the only testimony, the good news of the gospel that can so easily acquit them, is not heard or believed, and a soul is lost for eternity. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not naively presume that it makes little difference whether or not we tell others what Jesus has done for them. It makes all the difference. In fact, it is the only difference that matters eternally. The stakes are much too high for us to carry on our busy lives going this way and that, occupied with this rather trivial concern and that unimportant matter that takes up far too much of our time and energy. Souls die while we concern ourselves with worthless debates online, never-ending streaming of one show after another, and hour upon hour of gaming. We entertain ourselves to death while remaining blissfully ignorant of the eternal death facing so many of the very people in our lives – people we see every single day. 

We heard last week how important it is for us to listen to them. Today we add another word that is essential to their eternity: witness. We stressed the importance of listening for a purpose: it allows us to be able to determine the kind of response our neighbor needs. Listening provides the context we need to know how to witness. But finally, if we say nothing, if there is no testimony about the good news of life and forgiveness through Jesus, then all the listening in the world won’t have mattered. So we witness. 

Let’s take a moment to simplify what it means to witness. After hearing from several dozen witnesses in a recent courtroom trial, I got a refresher on what a witness is: someone who speaks about what they know from personal experience, someone who simply speaks about what they’ve seen or heard. And, while it’s true that a couple of the witnesses were experts in their respective fields, the majority were not. The majority were average, ordinary people like you and me who were in a certain location at a certain time. All they did was testify about their experience. The attorneys did not ask the witnesses to report on every detail of their lives, nor did they ask about other unrelated events, but only what was pertinent to the trial. That’s what you are called to do as a witness.

Dear friends, Jesus doesn’t just call you a witness by name; it is also what he calls you to do. What he said to the disciples before his ascension applies every bit as much to you: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts. 1:8). Jesus did not single out “some of you” to be witnesses or leave it as a possibility by saying you “might” be a witness. Five unmistakable words: you. will. be. my. witnesses.

Unless you won’t. If Jesus calls you his witness and commissions you to be his witness, but witnessing has never been a part of your Christian life, are you still at a point in your life of faith where you’re comfortable disregarding Jesus? I don’t imagine any parents would be too thrilled to have children defy them and fail to do the chores they’ve been told to do. There aren’t many employers who would continue to employ workers who refused to do what their job required. Yet, when Jesus says to us, “you will be my witnesses,” are we OK with saying, “Nah, I won’t be doing that” with our actions? If you are OK with continuing on that path, I would just point out that you’re long past due for a serious spiritual health check-up.

But if you’re ready to ditch the defiant attitude when it comes to witnessing, if you’re ready to work toward change – which for some of us might actually be the first time in our entire Christian lives that we’re getting serious about this – and that’s OK, then let’s address what the underlying problem is. Let’s rule out right away the excuses that we’ve sold ourselves on for years and years, because excuses don’t expose the real problem; like a bandaid, they merely cover it up. Let’s peel away the bandaid and see what’s really going in our hearts or minds that is preventing our witness.

What’s really going on? Do not care that Jesus has purchased you for a purpose? If heaven was his only purpose, you’d already be there. But you’re not. You’re still here… to take others there with you. Or maybe you don’t believe there’s an actual hell where people really go. Or maybe the gospel you’re supposed to be sharing is still only information for you and not real transformation yet. It’s something you know, but little more to you than that. Or maybe you’re just more important to you than Jesus is, which is what we’re really saying when we entertain excuses that are more worried about what others will think of us than whether or not they even get a chance to think about Jesus. Here is a truth about evangelism: when it’s about me, it won’t be about Jesus. Stop making it about you so that it can be about Jesus. Of all these, which one(s) do you need to break down for you to become the witness Jesus calls you to be? 

Let’s revisit Acts. It’s too easy for us to skim past the first several verses from chapter 1 – to treat the details of what Luke records about the Savior as merely being the substance of the content we are called on to testify as witnesses. But don’t rush past those words as mere details to be shared with others; those words are the reality of your standing before God right at this very moment. His “suffering” and the “many convincing proofs that he was alive” are the stuff not just of your neighbor’s salvation, but of yours! Those words are for you, and they are life! They are and they must always be not just information that we pass along to others, but also salvation that we process for ourselves. Jesus suffered and rose again to forgive weak-kneed witnesses like us. He is not only interested in us insofar as we are effective witnesses or not; he is interested in our own forgiveness and salvation first and foremost. He came to bear the guilt of our sin of indifference toward evangelism. He longs to empower us as his witnesses not with threat or fear or coercion, but with the peace of forgiveness that wells up into passion for the lost. He knows that grace makes the best witnesses, and so he suffered, died, and rose again so that we could see what grace looks like. And then he sends us to go to others with that same grace.

So we take the time to listen to others to inform our witness. What types of things are we listening for? What might we expect to hear that can guide us in our witness? Listen for pain points, which are struggles or hardships that are bringing about some level of hardship or suffering in a person’s life. Listen for times of transition, which are seasons of change in life. And even if everything is going well in a person’s life, they may feel a sense of gratitude, but aren’t really sure who to thank or where to direct it. These are open doors to witness how Jesus is a part of the solution to whatever they are dealing with. There are two great ways to carry out this witness.

First: the “Feel, Felt, Found” approach. As you listen and then restate (remember the “R” from listening with your EAR last Sunday), chances are, you have had some similar experiences. Affirm that you understand how they feel, then share a time or an experience in which you felt the same way. Then, as you relate to them they are reassured that they aren’t the only ones to go through what they’re dealing with, then bring in Jesus as you point to what you found in him when you went through a similar experience. “I know how you feel. I’ve felt that way, too. What I’ve found is…” 

The second approach to witnessing is to relate the situation to a Bible narrative. Simply put, tell a story. Admittedly, this approach does require more familiarity with the Bible, as it keys off of Biblical narratives that relate to a person’s situation or skepticism. As you listen to your neighbor’s story, consider a relatable Bible account that could be shared that would bring Jesus into the picture. When a person is expressing discouragement over being disappointed or let down by friends, can you think of any times in which Jesus was disappointed or let down by his disciples? His story relates! A loved one or dear friend passes away and you’re listening to how saddened this person is by it – Jesus’ story relates! He broke down and cried at the grave of his friend Lazarus, making him all the more determined to carry out his work so that death wouldn’t have the last word. When you’re listening to someone lament over uncertainty about the future, the disciples in the upper room after Jesus’ crucifixion could relate – Jesus addressed their uncertainty with peace and promises for their futures! Listen to their story and tie it to His story and let the Holy Spirit make the connections through similar stories. 

Note the word choices Luke uses in the verses from Acts – they have to do with Jesus making himself visibly known – giving people something to witness! (v.3 – “presented himself” “appeared” v.4 – “eating with them”). If the necessary qualification for someone to serve as a witness is simply that they have seen or heard something, then Jesus made sure to provide ample opportunity for others to witness by appearing to all kinds of people after his death. So when we look at the biblical witnesses, we’re not getting a second-hand story or an “I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend,” but we’re getting first-hand accounts – eyewitnesses. Jesus didn’t just appear to them to fortify their faith, but also to qualify them to serve as witnesses. They saw him, heard him, touched him, ate with him, which then qualified them to tell others about their experience. 

Also, note that Luke is modeling exactly how witnessing works as he writes Acts – he was on the receiving end of what witnesses told him about Jesus, and in his Gospel and here in Acts, Luke is then passing along exactly what the witnesses told him they saw and heard. So Luke shows us what happens when God’s people witness: the good news continues to get passed on. Why is Luke passing it on? So that his audience would do the same.

“You will be my witnesses” to the ends of the earth. That’s us. That’s now. You are the next link in the chain. Since the time of Jesus, witness after witness has testified about the news of forgiveness and salvation and their experience with it. When you witness, you continue to extend that chain that connects others to Jesus. You extend the reach of the gospel and give life and freedom. Witness. 

Listen

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(James 1:16-20)

You would likely find plenty of hits from an internet search that would provide list upon list of traits and skills that successful people have in common. One of those skills right near the top would have to be the ability to listen. Without listening, we’re limited. It’s really that simple. We’re limited by what we can learn. We’re limited by how much we might grow. We’re limited by how we might best help and serve others. A know-it-all fails to listen to others, so he can’t learn anything more. An egotistical person cares about himself, so he doesn’t listen for what needs others might have. Without listening, we’re limited. 

The world has plenty of talkers, but not many listeners, so it’s easy to stand out. And, those talkers want to be heard. We learn that at a pretty young age, as demonstrated in this video. You might have already seen this viral video some time ago. It strikes a balance between being quite humorous while also providing a striking reality check. This little child demonstrates the popular view of our society today: “I have something important to say, and you need to listen to it.” “What I have to say is more important than what you have to say, so listen to me and then we can get along.”

Now we could get miffed by that. We could get irritated – just like everyone else does. Recall how painful it was to watch the debates between two presidential candidates who could not stand there and listen without trying to talk over the other. They weren’t interested in listening, but in talking. We have more than enough outlets today for people to talk, but who is listening?

That’s where we come in. There is a reason this series is entitled Simple Evangelism. Because being an exceptional evangelist is much simpler than we have framed it in our minds, and it starts with listening. Do you want to be an exceptional evangelist? Start by becoming an exceptional listener. 

I know what you’re thinking to yourself: “But listening is really hard and I don’t know if I can do it.” I understand, and that’s why right this very moment, I’m going to share with you a training exercise that will help you vastly improve your listening skills. It involves two steps, and they’re a little bit complicated, so try to stay with me. Are you with me? OK, here’s the first step: you all have one of these (mouth), right? Now I want you to try to press your lips together so that this stays closed. It doesn’t have to be hard; you can press them together gently and that will do the trick. See – you did it! That’s the first step. The second uses an entirely different part of your body. For the second step, we’re going to use our ears. Now you don’t physically need to do anything, but you do have to pay attention to the sounds that these (ears) pick up. When someone is speaking words to you, these will allow you to hear those words and when this (mouth) isn’t moving, it allows your brain to process the words that these (ears) hear. That’s it! Work on perfecting those two easy steps, and you’re on your way to becoming an exceptional listener and exceptional evangelist. It’s so simple, isn’t it?

Now you’re ready for some additional practical tips on listening. You just have to use your EAR (Engage, Ask, Restate). 

Did you catch how the conversation in today’s Gospel (John 4:1-26) began? Jesus initiated it. He engaged with the woman at the well with a simple request: “Will you give me a drink?” (Jn. 4:7). Quick question for you: did Jesus really need that woman to get him a drink of water? Do you know Jesus – God in the flesh! – well enough to know that he just maybe could have managed to somehow quench his thirst on his own? Jesus did not care about the water; he cared about the woman and her soul. So he engaged her to start a conversation, listen to her, and then provide her what she needed more than anything else: him. 

As much as everyone wants to be heard, socially, in-person, fewer and fewer people are comfortable starting a conversation with others. Our screens have become our security blankets to avoid interaction with real people (if we’re even brave enough to leave the safety and security of our own homes). But don’t be fooled – those same people still want to be heard. So we need to engage.

One of the top reasons Christians provide for not being better evangelists is that they don’t know anyone or have friends with those outside the church. Well… what’s going to change that? Are you waiting for others to come and befriend you – the same ones hiding behind their screens or hunkering down in their homes avoiding people? Not likely. We need to engage. We need to strike up conversations. Comment on what someone is wearing or how cute their kid is or give them a compliment – do whatever it takes to engage others. That’s how we get the ball rolling.

How do you keep it rolling? Ask questions. Once you have begun speaking with someone, keep it alive with questions. Focus on being interested, not interesting. You want to learn more about the other person and you do that by asking good questions that keep the conversation going. Then, when they respond to your questions, remember those two key steps we talked about when it comes to being a good listener: close these (lips) and open these (ears). This is the part where you listen to what the other person says after you ask a question. If we are not intentional about doing this, we’ll honestly miss what they said because we’re busy thinking of what to ask next! But if you’re actually listening, the other person will provide more than enough information for you to pose another question. 

That’s where the “R” from EAR comes in: restate. Speak back to her what you just heard her say. I’m not saying you awkwardly repeat it verbatim, like a child annoyingly copycatting her sibling. No, you simply restate in your own words what you heard the other person say. Doing so demonstrates to the other person that you’re listening, it helps you to retain it, and it buys you some time to come up with a follow-up question. Use your EAR to listen – Engage, Ask, and Restate – and suddenly you will be connecting with others regularly.    

You’ve got all the practical tips you need, right? Honestly, have you learned anything new from reading this? Aside from a neat acronym, you already knew everything you’ve read. But you already know lots, don’t you? You know you should save money and you know how to. You know you should eat right and you know how to. You know you should exercise and you know how to. You know plenty. But what does it take to give our “know” some “get up and go”? How do we put our knowledge into practice? We know how to listen, but what’s it going to take to get us to do it, to practice it?

Here’s how: you listen. That’s right – if you want to become a better listener to others with the goal of becoming an exceptional evangelist, you need to become a better listener – to the Lord. The more you listen to him, the more he’ll work a change in your heart to long to listen to others. Were you listening to what James reminded you about the Lord? “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (v.17-18). You listening? “Every good and perfect gift” is from him. You listening? He “chose” you. You listening? He gave you “birth through the word of truth.” You listening? Do you know what that means? 

James – the guy who spends most of his letter focusing on how we’re supposed to live as Christians and emphasizing the importance of good works – that James, is assuring you that all that you have and everything that you are is because God already chose you. He picked you. He selected you to be his, to be saved, to be forgiven, to be lavished by his grace. No conditions. Nothing is needed from you to make it certain. No contract to agree to. Nothing from you; everything from him because he chose you. 

Does that not stir your soul? Are you indifferent to that? Then perhaps that’s the real reason behind your struggle to apply the very next words of James: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (v.19-20). Are you always the one talking? Do you always have something to say, some opinion to express, something you insist on being right about? Do you get angry when it appears that others aren’t listening to you? Does it frustrate you that they don’t share your same passion or opinion over this matter or that? Welcome to everyone else in the world!

And when we act like everyone else, frankly, we deserve what everyone else in the world without Jesus has coming: an eternity without him. Being cut off from him. Letting our anger swell into sin not only fails to display the righteousness Christ has credited to us by faith; but it also potentially robs the now-turned-off individual on the receiving end of our anger of the righteousness Jesus longs to grant to them by faith, too. So we harm ourselves and we hurt others when our listening is replaced by raging anger. We put ourselves and others at great spiritual risk by doing so. 

But listen again to what James says: “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth” (v.18). Birth – not death. Birth means life. It means being alive. It means existing. It is a thing to be celebrated. And that birth came through the Word. The Word gives life. The Word sustains our souls, just as surely as your next meal sustains your body. The Word by which we were birthed into faith is the same Word that sustains that faith and the same Word that fans that faith into a flame that burns passionately for lost souls. Faith, fueled by the Word of forgiveness for our missed opportunities – whether by lack of listening, angry outbursts, or sealed lips – faith frees us to focus on the souls of others because faith knows our own souls are secure in Christ through the Word of truth. 

So listen – both to the Lord and to your neighbor. Listen to the Lord declare to you again and how deeply he loves you. Then, listen to your neighbor. Just listen. Take that first step and open the door so that after listening, you know what your neighbor needs to hear. I want us to get really good at listening, so that we really start to see how simple evangelism is, and so that Christ’s Kingdom grows because of it, as others are brought in to listen to the life-giving words of their Savior – the same Savior we love to listen to. 

Equipped to Escape

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(Ephesians 6:10-18)

I don’t know how many of them there are these days, but there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of different types of talent shows available for viewing. Whether you’re a fan who doesn’t miss a new episode or you just catch a clip here or there online, it’s obvious that people can do some pretty spectacular things. Singing, dancing, magic, are some of the more frequent acts, and then there are the bizarre performances that make you cringe and wonder if what you just witnessed was a talent or… something else. Regardless of the specific talent on display, when we watch others excel at something or do it very well, we are genuinely impressed. In addition to being impressed, though, there is often another thought which comes to mind: “I could never do that.” It’s a natural reaction when we see a professional or an expert in their craft – we’re wowed by them while also reminding ourselves how impossible it would be for us to do what they did.

How many times have you felt that way throughout this series? As we have explored unhealthy escapes and the damage they can bring about, have you experienced the frustration of knowing that you need to stop turning to that unhealthy escape, but feeling a little like “I could never do that”? An unhealthy relationship with alcohol or any type of illegal or prescription drug. An insatiable desire to shop or buy things. Using any form of sex outside of marriage as a release or an escape. Craving status or success. Did you find yourself listening to those sermons, knowing they were convicting you, but then at the same time, dismissing the warning because “I could never do that”? Sounds nice to talk about putting these unhealthy escapes behind us and turning to Jesus instead for real rest, but honestly, if we haven’t been able to change anything up to this point, why should we expect anything different in the future? 

Today, as this series comes to a close, Paul has an answer for you. But before we get to his answer, let’s take a moment to address what can be a boulder-sized barrier in the way before we even get to the verses from Ephesians this morning: that “I can’t” that you tell yourself. I don’t remember where we heard it, but one of the things Gena and I have tried to emphasize with our kids is the word “yet.” When we tack that word onto the end of the phrase “I can’t…‘yet,’” it shifts the way we think. Of course a kid doesn’t ride a bike on the first try. She doesn’t pick up an instrument and play it brilliantly the first time. So when a child says, “I can’t,” we tried to attach the word “yet” to the end of the phrase. 

I’m not sure why we don’t do the same thing as adults. We’re ridiculously hard on ourselves and the way we speak to ourselves stacks the deck against us so often right away. If any of these escapes we’ve touched on throughout this series have been “go-to’s” for you for years, did you really think you’d be able to put a stop to it after hearing one sermon? That’s not only unrealistic – it’s unfair. It’s unfair because it overlooks who you are: a sinner. You know what that makes you? It makes you really good at sinning. 

Far from being an attempt to make light of sin, its consequences, or how seriously God takes it, this acknowledgment is instead real. It’s who we are, and it means that the kinds of patterns and habits that we’ve allowed sin to carve out in our lives are not easily or quickly eliminated. Sin is never interested in merely stopping by for a visit; it wants to take up residence wherever and whenever it is permitted. So no, you may not be able to imagine yourself giving up this escape or that one; you may not be able to envision ever getting out of that rut. Just remember how to change up the end of that statement: “I can’t… yet.”

Here’s also another reality, and it’s one that is much more powerful than the reality that we’re sinners. We aren’t just sinners, thank God, and that isn’t even how God views us. God chooses to see in us what he’s made of us: saints. Forgiven. Washed. Holy. Sanctified. Remember, God doesn’t love you because you’re lovable. He loves you because he is love and that’s what he does – he loves. So again, as we have touched on already in this series, when you feel like it will be impossible for you to ever break away from an unhealthy escape, you’re right – it will be impossible for you. But not impossible for God. 

So stop making this about what you can’t do and start paying attention to Paul’s direction in the first verse of our Ephesians reading this morning: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (v.10). Paul doesn’t waste our time by directing us to look inside ourselves for strength or point us to the power of self-help. No, instead he points us to real strength – the Lord’s. When we look to him we see a power that no weight-lifter, no monster truck, no heavy-duty machinery, indeed no power in all of the galaxies that could ever come close to matching! And it is with his power that we are equipped!

Look at what his power has equipped us with so that our “I can’t” thinking can begin to be replaced with “He can.” How do we replace those thoughts? Look at how Paul says you are dressed for battle! You are not helpless! Look at each piece of equipment you’ve received: “the belt of truth,” “the breastplate of righteousness,” “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” “the shield of faith,” “the helmet of salvation,” and “the sword of the Spirit.” (vs.14-17). Now, notice the real strength of these pieces of armor is not at all the armor itself, but rather the spiritual realities Paul attaches to each of them: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Holy Spirit himself, who equips us with these gifts through the very Word of God!

You have what you need to stand firm against any attack from any enemy – including the spiritual forces of evil that daily wage war on your soul. See how each piece of armor is perfectly suited to defend. Against the accuser’s lies and deception and against the world’s twisted ideas of truth, we have the unwavering truth from God himself that will hold up against every attack. Against the evil one’s efforts at driving us to despair because of our lack of perfection required for heaven, Jesus arms us with his own righteousness. Satan sows seeds of chaos and discord to unsteady us, but the good news of grace and forgiveness keeps us steadfast in peace. Where the devil deals in doubt we have faith to grab hold of what reason or understanding cannot. The enemy tries to convince us the tide of battle has turned in his favor and that we are in danger of losing, but the helmet of salvation assures us otherwise: the battle has already been won and the victory is already ours. So we lack nothing that is needed to stand firm and defend against every attack.

That is encouraging news for us; we are equipped for escape. Spiritually speaking, we can relate well to the old sports adage, “The best offense is a good defense.” You’ve heard that one, right? Probably not, because that’s not the actual quote. But maybe you’ve heard it the other way around, “The best defense is a good offense.” The point is, if you are on the offensive, then you don’t have to focus as much on how to defend the other team. 

But does it have application in the spiritual realm? It should, because according to the picture Paul paints in these verses, not everything the soldier of Christ wears is for defense. We have a sword. A sword is not primarily for defending oneself. A sword is for inflicting damage. A sword is for going on the offensive. Tired of being on the defensive spiritually? Maybe it’s time we got a little more intentional about taking the battle to the enemy. Maybe we need to get more deliberate about going on the offensive.

What weapon do we have to mount an attack? The most effective weapon anyone could ever get his hands on: the Word of God. That weapon is so powerful that it can turn enemies into allies! Paul confidently touted its power when he wrote in Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (1:16). The writer to the Hebrews pointed out how effective a weapon it is: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (4:12).   

How might you, as an individual Christian, your Christian home, or our Christian congregation look if we put that weapon to work not just defensively, but going on the offensive? For you individually, armed with the only peace that provides real rest found in Jesus, what would your mood be like? What would your outlook on life be to daily embrace the joys that you have in Jesus?

What difference would that make in your home? First, for a spouse and/or children to see you wielding that weapon – the Word of God, what kind of impact would that make on them? How might it influence them? How might they end up imitating what they see in you? Could it change the whole dynamic of a divided house into a unified sanctuary of the Holy Spirit? Could real rest in the home provide that?

What difference would going on the offensive make in our congregation? I envision it would sound a lot like a comment a couple of Sundays ago from a member who had been away from church for a while and was struck by how many different faces there were in church that day. I imagine we would see a lot more of what we’ll see very shortly as we welcome another new member into the church family this morning. I imagine even more joy, smiling, and excitement as we see firsthand that the Word of God does exactly what he promised it would when we become more intentional with it and take it on the offensive. And, just as we’ve focused on for the six Sundays, I believe we’d become known as the place that provides a healthy escape for real rest in Jesus. For six Sundays we’ve focused on recapturing that for ourselves; for the next four, we’ll direct our attention on bringing that real rest to others to others in our new series, Simple Evangelism. Be sure to stick around.

Escape from Escaping

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(1 Peter 5:6-11)

Two people are sprinting as fast as they can in very different scenarios. One is in a movie on your television screen, desperately trying to escape through the woods from the bad guy. The other is in the final heat of an Olympic sprint, running for gold. Both are fast. Both are focused. But they finish very differently. The character in the movie stumbles and falls, while the Olympic sprinter stretches across the finish line to claim her medal. Why did one runner fall and the other didn’t (aside from being a very predictable occurrence in a movie.)? Not only was their purpose for running vastly different, but so was their focus. While both focused, they were focused entirely on different THINGS: the movie character was running from something while the sprinter was running to something. 

In a sense, that distinction captures the glaring issue with every escape we’ve looked at over the course of this series: each escape finds us running from something. So just like the predictable stumble in a movie when a character is trying to outrun, to escape from someone else, so when we choose to escape from something, we inevitably end up stumbling and tripping up, too. Maybe for a short time. Maybe for a lifetime. Maybe somewhere in-between. But when we seek out escapes as a means of avoidance, to get away from some trouble, challenge, sin, or something undesirable in our lives, we WILL stumble and fall. That’s because such an approach is focused on what we’re trying to escape from.

Consider the example of a visit to the doctor. A health concern led you to schedule an appointment so you visited the doctor. He informed you he’d be getting in touch with you later in the week after some results come back. Worried about what he found, you choose to ignore his voicemail or email a couple of days later because you don’t want to hear the bad news. But, if instead of running from the problem by trying to avoid it, you heard the messages and went back to the doctor, he’d tell you that what you have is easily treatable with a simple prescription and in a matter of weeks, you’ll be as good as new. How much worse did you make the matter by trying to run from it instead of to the doctor who could help you?

It isn’t about what we’re running from, but who we’re running to. And when we run to the Lord, we have finally found a healthy escape, we will finally find real rest. Throughout this series in our worship we have used the same Verse of the Day each Sunday: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28-29). Jesus’ invitation in these verses is not to find rest in running away from the world, but rather in coming to him. So this whole theme of escape has really served to underscore the need not just to try to escape or get away from the stress and strain of life in our world today, but to escape to the one source that can provide the real rest that renews and refreshes – found only in Jesus Christ. 

But we aren’t very good at it, are we? Oh, we’re good at putting up posters or even quoting Bible verses, sure. But we have a little work to do when it comes to applying them. Check that – we have a lot of work to do when it comes to applying them. Let me prove it. What do you visualize when you hear Jesus’ invitation to come to him when you are weary and burdened? Is it just a nice-sounding, comforting verse or… do you actually take him up at his invitation? And if you answer “yes” to that, how do you go about it? What does it mean to you to bring your weary, burdened self to Jesus? Does it mean you allow his promise of peace to lift you up when your anxieties anchor you down? Does it mean you take to heart his guarantee that you are good enough even when the voice in your own head tells you otherwise? Does it mean that his forgiveness frees you from the grip of guilt? If these are foreign concepts to you when entertaining Jesus’ invitation to bring your weary, burdened self to Jesus, then let us seek the guidance of Peter’s words this morning from our Second Reading. 

To get to the point where escaping has less to do with what we’re running from and everything to do with who we’re running to, let’s start with verse 6. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v.6). Isn’t the writer of these verses the ideal candidate to talk to us about humbling ourselves? Peter excelled at humility… not! Think of Peter walking on water… only to start sinking. Think of Peter putting the Lord in his place to stop all the talk of death and dying… only to have Jesus rebuke his satanic sentiments. Think of Peter claiming he’d never bail on Jesus, even if everyone else would… only to deny him three times. If anyone should know from experience how important it is to humble one’s self before God, it would be Peter, who repeatedly learned lesson after lesson of what happens when one doesn’t humble self before God! 

But don’t end up in the ditch on the other side of the road because your idea of humility is to simply avoid thinking too highly of yourself. In other words, let’s also be clear that humility is not the same thing as self-deprecation. In fact, arrogance and self-deprecation both have the same root cause: self. Negative self-talk and holding a low opinion of yourself are no closer to humility than is being egotistical and conceited – both are miles away from humility, because each one is overly focused on self, which is exactly the opposite of humility. So if God is to lift us up in due time, we must first humble ourselves, and if we are to generate true humility, then we need to die to self, to quit clinging to the best or worst version of self and humbly draw our eyes to God’s mighty hand. Then, and only then, when we quit getting stuck on ourselves, we may be ready for the next part.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (v.7). You may have noticed it, but just to make sure, let’s be clear on how Peter did not complete that phrase. He didn’t encourage us to cast all our anxiety on gaming/music/scrolling/Netflix/books/exercise/etc., but rather to cast our anxiety on him – the Lord God. Do you see that as precisely what we’re doing when we turn to any of those things as an escape? We’re changing Peter’s words and hoping our actions will serve as an acceptable substitute. We’re re-writing Scripture so that it reads, “Cast all your anxiety on sports. Cast all your anxiety on gaming. Cast all your anxiety on scrolling. Cast all your anxiety on music. Cast all your anxiety on Netflix.” Why? Why would we think any of those or anything else would serve as sufficient substitutes for how the Holy Spirit had Peter record it: “Cast all your anxiety on HIM…”? It isn’t as if those other escapes are wrong or sinful, but when they become our go-to for escape, then we’re merely running away from something and not to the proper source: God. 

As if we need a little more incentive, Peter reminds us what the Lord offers that those others cannot: “because he cares for you.” None of those other escapes care for you. Netflix doesn’t care for you. Gaming doesn’t care for you. Music doesn’t care for you. Sports don’t care for you. There is One who positively, perfectly, permanently, cares for you, and he is the Lord your God. The proof? No matter how many times you have turned to other escapes instead of turning to him, he still welcomes you back. And he always will.

The scars that you see on his hands as he opens them and extends his inviting arms to welcome you are the proof. The very body and blood with which he feeds you in the sacrament are the proof that he cares for you. The Word of God that endures and still stands even as it feels like our entire world at times is crumbling apart all around is – that Word is proof that he cares for you. The brother or sister in Christ who greets you, who checks in on you, who offers to meet your needs, who comforts you, who prays for you, who worships with you – these are all proof that he cares for you. So let us run – do not step slowly – but sprint to him to not lay down just a small little concern or two at his feet, as if that is all he could possibly handle from us! No, cast it, throw it, hurl it, pile it all – ALL your anxiety on him. He can handle it. Run to him, not just from your worries. 

Doing so also then allows us to take a different view of suffering, which Peter addresses in our closing verses. Living in a culture that increasingly turns away from God has left a vacuum, and one of its byproducts is our inability to handle suffering. Helicopter and lawnmower parents try to protect their kids from it at all costs, rather than train them to cope with it in a healthy way. Teenagers and young adults have such thin skin that virtually anything that isn’t a word of praise is deemed offensive of bullying. Adults resort to cancel culture to squash anything that might cause physical or emotional suffering or simply seek to escape it through unhealthy coping mechanisms or self-medication. Our society cannot handle suffering. Yet Peter took what today could only be perceived as a radical view of suffering, and he encourages us to do the same. He reminds us, “…you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (v.9-10).

When we are free from being enslaved by escape and finally run to the Lord, we then see how even suffering serves us. The one running from something sees hardship or obstacles as reason enough to give up, to drop down and let the bad guy catch up. He has lost hope. But the one running to something, to the finish line, to the victory, welcomes the suffering and the obstacles as something to be overcome, something to make the ending that much sweeter. And friends, we have God’s Word that the end will be so much sweeter. So do not give up. Do not call it quits. Instead, escape to the One who cares for you, and he will not let you down.

Escape from Chasing Status and Success

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(Daniel 6:1-23)

There are two ways to get ahead. One, you set yourself apart from the rest of the pack in striving for excellence. You stand out. You go above and beyond. Whether you have natural ability or work hard, you distinguish yourself and others take note. The other way to get ahead? You focus your energy on getting rid of the kind of people I just described. You tear down everyone else ahead of you in the pecking order. If a person doesn’t have what it takes to be on top, that person may choose to expend all energy negatively on bringing others down. If successful, once everyone else is out of the picture, that person then fills in the void – again, not by skill or ability or hard work, mind you – but by default. 

It’s quite clear which approach Daniel’s co-workers took. They simply could not match his exceptional administrative abilities. He was a head above the rest. “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (v.3). For some reason, his coworkers took issue with Daniel. Perhaps his promotion meant their roles would change. Perhaps they were jealous of his recognition. Perhaps they were irked that a foreigner would be given such status. Whatever the reason, we know that they resented Daniel. Rather than trying to improve themselves and outwork or out-hustle him, they just wanted him out. “At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (v.4). 

You know when it’s really hard to say something bad about someone? When there’s nothing bad to say about someone. No matter how hard they tried, this group of envious administrators couldn’t drum up any bad press on Daniel. In addition to doing exceptional work, he was also a man of character and integrity, so they weren’t able to dig up any dirt on him. Today anyone with an ax to grind simply scours through the past decade of tweets and social media posts, and eventually they’ll find something that will offend someone, but Daniel’s reputation was pristine. These other government officials gunning for him only hit one dead end after another.    

Before we proceed further, let’s go beyond the actions and consider the attitudes behind them. What is it that drives people to choose the course of action that Daniel’s co-workers did? Surely as top officials in the kingdom, they would have enjoyed an above-average lifestyle and had it pretty good. They weren’t barely scraping by. Their roles were still quite exclusive and undoubtedly included both great responsibility and recognition along with it. So why wasn’t that enough? 

Because it never is when chasing status and success. That was exactly the point of one of the popular songs from the movie The Greatest Showman, entitled “Never Enough.” That was the song sung by the beautiful world-renowned singer who was on tour with and being promoted by the main character in the movie. The singer belted out the same refrain, again and again, lamenting that no amount of fame or fortune would ever be enough. And if fame and fortune, if status and success are what someone is chasing, then it’s true: it will never be enough. 

We all crave it, to some extent. We want to matter. We want to be recognized, to be liked. After our very basic needs are met, like food, safety, and security, right there in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is our need to be liked, our need for significance. But where is the fine line between feeling secure with my status and being unsatisfied? And, related, is it wrong to want to be successful, to strive for more, to be ambitious and driven? Or is it the lot of the Christian to simply remain reserved, to maintain one’s lot in life and be happy with where one is at, to settle?

What is the answer? Well, the answer is found in determining exactly what it is you’re looking for. But here’s the problem: if your pursuit of status or success is tied to your identity, then you’ve got a long road ahead of you. The good news is that you won’t be traveling that road alone – there are countless others in pursuit of the very same thing: an achievement-based identity. The bad news? You’ll never arrive at your destination, because there isn’t one. If you are looking to others for status and significance, well, you can board that train, but here’s the thing: that train only makes pick-ups, never drop-offs. That’s because there is no destination. It’s always “just a little further.” If my value is tied to views – the view or opinion others have of me, it will never be good enough. Today is filled with likes but tomorrow I get unfollowed. These people praise me, but that one, whose approval I really crave, doesn’t give me the time of day. One moment I’m delighted by all the compliments, the next I’m deflated by all the cut-downs. Eventually, like a hamster spinning relentlessly in his wheel, you’ll end up collapsing of exhaustion – and not just physical, but even more dangerous, spiritual exhaustion. 

Let’s return now to Daniel and take note of something else about him that stood out – for it wasn’t just his governing ability that was exceptional; it was also his relationship with God that stood out. “Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God” (v.5). Stop right there for a moment. Consider how evident, how obvious Daniel’s faith must have been for his opponents to take such note of it. It wasn’t just his raw talent and ability that stood out. It wasn’t even just his character and integrity. His faith stood out – and in a foreign land, mind you, where it surely would have been much easier on him to just go along to get along, to try to fit in and avoid ruffling any feathers by either embracing the local religious customs or at least keeping his own religions under wraps. But he apparently did the opposite, so much so that everyone knew how devout he was when it came to his faith. 

Do others know that about us when it comes to our faith – that we are devout? Or do they just know that we want to debate? Do they know what we’re for as Christians, or only everything that we’re vehemently against? Do others know from experience that Christians are all about love, compassion, patience, gentleness, forgiveness, etc., or do they just hear us talk about such things while rarely seeing them put into practice? If/when others know that I am a Christian, is it only when I feel compelled to point out my opposition/distaste regarding some grievous sin captured in the headlines or a questionable lifestyle of an acquaintance? And if my Christian faith only comes into play when I am insistent on making a stand against this evil, wicked world, let’s ask – who has ever been won over by that approach? I don’t know about you, but these attitudes and descriptions don’t seem to fit the impression I get from Daniel and his expression of faith. 

He didn’t use his faith in God as a club to beat down the Babylonians and all their pagan practices, yet his opponents were still well aware of how important his faith was to him. He didn’t verbalize or vocalize what a godless country he lived in and make it a point to protest all the things that violated his faith. And perhaps the greatest expression of it was in what Daniel did when the new law was put into effect: “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (v.10). All he did was go home and pray. He didn’t try to shock or offend. He didn’t express outrage that his rights were violated. He didn’t play the victim. He didn’t complain that society – especially through this latest offensive demand! – was pushing back on his faith and he just wasn’t going to stand for it or take it anymore.

Here’s the sad thing about where we’re at today: while rather rudimentary, Daniel’s behavior is really quite radical. What if that was the radical approach we took instead of bemoaning everything wrong in the world today? What if we just… focused on Jesus and developing our relationship with him, on growing in our faith? What if we did something so simple as… got excited to be able to wake up every Sunday morning and enjoy the freedom of gathering together with my church family for worship? What if I found tremendous peace of mind in not only knowing that I can, but actually taking advantage of the privilege of prayer, talking to God routinely throughout the day instead of listening to the talking heads on this channel or that one? What if I looked for reasons to attend rather than excuses to avoid the numerous Bible study opportunities offered each week? If we did all these things, let me ask you, do you think you’d be better off or worse off than letting the world have so much space in your head right now? 

That’s really what today is about. Kick-Off Christian Education Sunday is the opportunity to take stock in where I stand right now in my walk with God. Are the choices I am making, are the priorities I am setting, are the ways I am spending my time – are these serving the purpose of bringing me closer to Jesus, or am I unknowingly, inadvertently letting my life allow me to drift apart from him? 

This Wednesday our school kicks off another year. Aside from allowing Jesus’ grace and forgiveness to decorate your home, having your children enrolled in our school is one of the best – if not the best – blessings you can give your child. And no, that’s not me tooting our horn about what a great school ours is – although it is! Rather, that’s the confidence I have in what Jesus is able to do in the hearts of the little children we allow to sit at his feet day in and day out. Because here is the greatest takeaway we pray for any student impacted by our school: that it becomes so deeply ingrained in them that they are worth far more in Jesus’ eyes than any value that can be attached to them by anyone else in this world. To know that in Jesus they have a status that no social media account will ever achieve, that not all the praise of men will ever bring about. They are cherished and loved in Jesus.

And so are you. So are we all. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 Jn. 3:1). I know, I know – it’s not the easiest thing in the world to believe, is it? After all, if it’s so hard for us to consistently achieve acceptance and validation and significance merely from other people, how on earth could we ever possibly hope to have it from a holy God??? How could he feel this way about me when so often he’s barely a blip on my radar, when I’m much more like one of the conspiring co-workers than I am like Daniel?  How could he feel this way about me when my Christian faith has served more as a platform for a shouting match with the world than it has a calling to care for the world and confess Jesus to it? How could he feel this way about me when I know that he can see right into my heart where I cannot hide even the slightest single sin from him and my hypocrisy is exposed? 

Listen, for this is how: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 Jn. 3:16). Jesus gave his life for us. That’s how we know how God feels about us. Compare that to the praise and validation you might receive from people. Facebook gives you a “like”; Jesus gave you his life. Instagram gives you followers; Jesus gives you forgiveness. A manager gives you a raise; Jesus gives you his Resurrection. A friend pays you a compliment; Jesus makes you complete. There is no comparison between the shallow status the world offers and the permanent promise of love and acceptance the Father offers because of Jesus. 

And, just like the law of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be repealed. Because God’s love for you is not based on your performance one way or the other, but on Jesus’ perfection and sacrifice, God will not change his mind about how he feels about you. He has loved you, he does love you, and he always will love you. Let us stop chasing worldly status and success as an escape, and instead focus more on clinging to the status that is already ours through Jesus Christ: dearly loved children of God – for that is what we are!