Kat lives far away in Mae Sot, Thailand. She has a blog. We love Kat. We want her to feel connected to our community. Here's what she missed on Sunday. Maybe if you weren't here, this will help you catch up, too.
The first is a letter from Alysha, the one who made the video for Kat for us a couple of weeks ago. I decided a couple of weeks ago that I don't need to always write these, because it's all of us that miss Kat, not just me.
But I do miss her, too. After Alysha's letter is a much shorter one from me. And then it's my sermon notes.
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Hey Kat, this is Alysha, Shawn asked me to update you on what you missed at church this week, so here goes. I got here late, but when I came in Katie had just finished reading a letter from Jay and Sergio, they’re just about to embark on a super intense part of the Life Teams program so we prayed for them. It’s cool that this community is spread all over the world and that we can continue to uphold each other in prayer even though we might not even know one another. It’s a sweet picture of the body of Christ.
So, after a delicious brunch of giant vegan pancakes we shared anonymously about our homework this past week…to give away five things that 1) exist only to please people at the expense of God, 2) are hoarded rather than used or 3) are being used as an insurance policy instead of trusting God. It was sweet to hear what people gave away and how people were coming into greater freedom by letting go of things that aren’t needed or aren’t life giving. Brandon led us in communion and Ben led worship. Shawn’s message today was the last of his series on the Sermon on the Mount and was definitely super challenging. We were challenged to ask ourselves, who are we in this message? Are we the disciples who are being instructed in the ways of God’s beautiful kingdom, the crowds who are receiving an invitation to participate in God’s kingdom or are we the Pharisees who are receiving a word of correction? I kind of felt like all three. I also really liked how Shawn talked about the very familiar passage of building our house on the Rock of Jesus. We can’t build our lives on the shifting sand of our outer righteousness, rather, the only firm foundation is that deep place of our inner relationship with God by which we are transformed more and more into His image.
Also, the babies were super extra cute and fun today, so that was cool. We ended by reading your letter which we all were really challenged and encouraged by. So thanks for keeping us in the loop, we’re excited to Skype with you next week. Bless you tons! You’re in our prayers.
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Dear Kat,
We missed you at church this weekend. We haven't heard from you for a while. We're still thinking of you and praying for you, and hope to hear from you again soon.
Yes, we want to Skype next week.
Love,
Shawn and the Monk Punks and the LTTX crew
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Here's the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount series
Mar 20, 2011 – Shawn Birss – LTTX
Matthew part 6 (ch7) – Sermon on the Mount part 3
Citizens Wise and Rare of a Kingdom Living and True
REVIEW/INTRO
The Sermon on the Mount (ch 5-7)- Describing how YOU as an individual will change as who you are becoming looks more like who you belong to.
The Sermon on the Mount reveals results of participating in Kingdom life, not the means of attaining it.
WHAT WE DO does not determine WHO WE ARE.
WHOSE WE ARE (our own or Christ's) determines WHO WE BECOME.
Because we identify with Christ, his life becomes evident through us.
Who is present? (Ask yourself during this message, are you a . . .)
Disciples – An instructional sermon.
Crowds – An invitational sermon.
Pharisees – A correctional sermon.
Chapter 5 – Extraordinary Citizens of an Extraordinary Kingdom
Chapter 6 – Hidden Citizens of a Hidden Kingdom
Chapter 7 – Citizens Wise and Rare of a Kingdom Living and True
Chapter 5 – Extraordinary citizens. Extraordinary Kingdom. Jesus describes a people that are fit only for heaven, but then says that it is for the earth that they are salt.
After his disciples have renounced all earthly power, earthly wealth, and earthly recognition, they are now sent to earth.
These meek disciples will inherit this earth they’ve been sent to.
God intends for our lives to be changed lives that change lives.
We are not just passing through.
This world is our home.
We are light, and the property of our life is to shine. We cannot be hidden. We are a city on a hill. We look like Jesus. Our lives of service to Jesus will bring us to the most unlikely and obscure and dark places on earth, and yet we will shine. We cannot be hidden.
The cross was the darkest and most obscure place and time that ever has or will exist, and yet it has been displayed for all the world to see. We are on a lampstand as well.
On the cross, Jesus took on himself all evil, and the punishment for it. On the cross he became the poor, the grieving, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the righteous, the merciful, the pure, the peacemaker, and the persecuted. From the cross, he gave every piece of clothing, took every second beating, and walked every second mile when he took the greatest violence ever committed into himself and called out for his Father to forgive. Through faith in him, we can now become the comforted, the filled, be shown mercy, inherit the earth, become citizens the kingdom, see God, and be called his children.
Through faith in him we live as disciples, walking in the image of that same radically forgiving love.
We are ALWAYS on mission. We are ALWAYS sent. We are ALWAYS salt and light. The kingdom is now. We live as citizens of it now.
WE ARE THE TEASER TRAILER OF THE KINGDOM TO COME
We are the extraordinary, and we will be seen. And God will be glorified.
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Chapter 6 – Hidden Citizens. Hidden Kingdom. Jesus makes clear that the extraordinary, bright, and world changing life of the disciple will be found in the most ordinary, common, and even hidden of lives.
To our spontaneous joy in seeing the exciting life of the extraordinary disciple, Jesus responds by asking us to be humbly considerate and reflective of every action we take. The visible life of the believer is not visible for visibility’s sake, but for the glory of God alone. It is not us that is seen, but our good works, so that God is glorified (5:16).
Of a disciple’s publicly demonstrated faith (vv1-18), Jesus challenges us to act rightly to glorify God alone, and not ourselves. In prayer, in fasting, and in generosity our lives are given as a sacrifice to God daily, but completely unconscious of the approval of others, or even ourselves (v3). Jesus condemns anything else as hypocrisy. He makes it perfectly clear that God is not impressed by our good works.
vv2, 5, 18 –Hypocrite literally means “two-faced”, and refers to an actor in a mask. Hypocrites played several roles, and wore a different mask for each. We can mask our depravity even from ourselves (23:25-26).
Our good works are fruits of righteousness, displayed as naturally a result of a disciple’s life as a beating heart which continues its’ essential work quite separately from our conscious thought.
We do not seek the approval of people. We only seek the approval of our Heavenly Father.
Concerning the private life of the disciple (vv19-34) Jesus continues to lay two paths before us.
Will we serve God, or earthly treasure? Will we serve God, or worry?
Our heart follows our treasure. Here is the point. Jesus is concerned first of all with where our heart is when it comes to our acts of righteousness. Anything at all which becomes a barrier between us and obedience to Jesus is earthly treasure, it is idolatry, and it is forbidden.
v24 - No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- Jesus is talking about slavery here. We’re either owned by God, or owned by money. Both demand exclusive service.
Deliver us Father from any of our stuff that would replace you.
If God is my sole master, at the expense of wealth and earthly treasure, I must also trust that he will also be my sole provider. - vv25-34
If earthly treasure is my master, I will be a slave to worry. If God is my master and provider, I will have nothing to worry about. God gave us life. He gave us a body. Of course he can sustain it. Clothes and food are nothing compared to lungs and breath. Both come from God. Do not worry.
Anxiety always exists in tomorrow, while our things are only to be used for today (daily bread). There is no insurance in our things.
v33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Jesus expects an extraordinary life from his disciples, not a common one. He is our example and standard. If we believe this, we will not need to seek approval from people (vv1,5). God is our total satisfaction. We are simply obedient. God is our provider.
Thankyou Father for providing for me today. Help me to see the provision that you’ve already given.
The extraordinary and hidden life of a disciple is…
Honest. Disciplined. Daily.
Free of Hoarded Wealth and Lived for the Treasure of Heaven
Free of Anxiety about Tomorrow and Trusting in God Today
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Matthew 7:13-27 (NIV)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
In chapter six, Jesus asked us to consider who our master is. Who do we live our life for?
God or People?
God or Stuff?
God or Worry?
In no uncertain terms he gives us no options but two in each case, and in each case the choices are mutually exclusive.
Here Jesus gives us two choices again. Two gates. Two foundations.
He makes it clear that he is the final judge, and the highest authority (vv23,26).
vv24-27 tells us that our lives must be lived in demonstrative obedience to the commands of Jesus. Anything else is less than discipleship, less than faith, and doomed to destruction. Jesus does not intend for his teachings to be studied and understood, but believed and obeyed. He intends for us to get on with it. This is the error of the crowds.
In the verses before it, he describes the even more insidious error of those living a life that appears obedient, but is not truly submitted in faith to the life and work of Jesus Christ, the King. If we look to ourself and our own works instead of to the cross and resurrection, those works are worthless. Even the most righteous pharisee has nothing to offer Jesus. This is their error.
From the attractive beginning of chapter five to the challenges of chapter six, Jesus now brings his sermon to a screaming conclusion with this confrontation in chapter seven. Will you believe, submit, and follow, or will you disbelieve, rebel, and disobey?
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(vv1-6) (see vv15-20 for an example of good judgment)
The beginning of chapter seven shows us more of this dichotomy.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (v1)
The first five verses is more often the error of the Pharisees. Judgmentalism makes us blind.
When we humbly see ourselves as God does, allowing him to judge us and receiving his grace, we will be gracious to others. Since our extraordinary life (chapter 5) is hidden even from ourselves (chapter 6, especially v3), we cannot use it as a standard of judgment. Those we would judge are judged by the same standard by which we fall short. Our legal righteousness does not give us the authority to judge someone as unrighteous.
If we judge, we cannot be living the extraordinary life of unconditional love described in chapter five. We commit to bring every relationship to God’s intended purpose - reconciliation and forgiveness.
We do not need to condemn sin in others. Jesus’ love for sinners on the cross was in itself a condemnation of their sin, and he took that condemnation upon himself. This is the jujitsu of love in Matthew 5:38-48, and is the opposite of judgmentalism.
It is not for us to set standards of good and evil. Jesus is the only judge, and the highest authority (vv23, 26). To condemn someone’s evil actions is also to imply a standard of goodness to their good works.
Neither our good or evil works reach God’s standard of holiness, so we must not discriminate according to earthly standards. All of our former righteousness is rubbish. The judgment of Jesus is total.
Judgmentalism makes us blind to our own sin, and blind to the grace offered to others. Love illuminates.
If we’re on the lookout for evil, we should only look where we know it can be found, which is in our own hearts. If we’re looking for it in others, it can only be because we are trying to justify ourselves, ignoring the sin that dwells in us. Jesus is the judge, not us.
The only occasion by which I should judge someone’s actions as evil, is so that I may forgive them, as I have been forgiven for my sin by Jesus, the only one with the authority to do so.
This is true discipleship.
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“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (v6)
Verse six is more often the error of the crowds.
Just as we are forbidden to judge others, we are also forbidden to be hucksters of cheap grace, trying to force upon the world a gospel that it does not want. If we cheapen or water down the gospel to something we believe is sure to be acceptable to the world, it will bore the world to disgust.
The world that has rejected the gospel is even more likely to see through the cheap copy we try to offer them instead. If the offer to join the family of God has been rejected, any attempt to hook or bait past that point will be even more offensive still.
The gospel is not a mere idea to be accepted or rejected, and to try to reason or force or cajole the world into believing it reduces it to just that, and the world would be perfectly justified in trampling it.
(Dogs and pigs both referred to unbelieving gentiles (15:26). Pearls can represent the kingdom of heaven – see 13:46. It would be appropriate to interpret this as meaning we should not share the holy and faith-necessary parts of our lives with those who do not believe. ie. Praying with someone who does not pray as though they do, or sharing communion with someone who does not believe in Jesus sacrifice and atonement.)
If we are tempted to water down the hard truths of the gospel, we should judge carefully whether it is for the benefit of others that we do so, or for ourselves. To chase people down with Jesus is neither gracious or kind. But if we have seen our own lives as insufficient in the light of the gospel, it is not the gospel which must change. The correct response to this conviction is to repent and change our own lives to become congruent with God’s word.
This is true discipleship.
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Before giving his invitation, Jesus ends his sermon by sharing with us the only power by which we can accomplish it – by faith in his resurrection life living in us through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus has fulfilled the law. He sums up the law for us in verse 12 – do to others what you would have them do to you. His sermon describes what he means by this, and gives us no opportunity to rest easy in its’ demands, as though it is simply a pithy saying to be placed on a plaque or pen or Hallmark card. On the contrary, the disciple who will accomplish this is carved out of wood, dead to the world, and wholly and desperately committed to Jesus.
How do we fulfill these commands? By the gifts of the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we receive Jesus, the life of his resurrection fills us and we can walk in the righteousness he has commanded. Jesus says here and in Luke 11:13 that the Father is pleased to empower us to accomplish everything he called us to do.
ASK – Have the humility to realize you need him.
SEEK – Act in faith according to the gifts he has given you.
KNOCK – Persevere in faith, with a single eye toward the goal for which Jesus called you.
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Conclusion
Jesus is King of the Kingdom of Heaven
Disciples of Jesus are the Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven
The Disciples are extraordinary, hidden, wise and rare
The Kingdom of Heaven is extraordinary, hidden, living, and true.
Jesus the King is the only example of a perfect extraordinary disciple, the only gate by which the Kingdom may be entered, the only authority by which the citizens may build their life, and the highest authority of all in Heaven and earth.
(Philippians 2:3-11)
vv24-27 – The Wise and Foolish Builders on the Sand and the Rock
In Galilee, you had to dig past the surface of the ground to get to solid rock (basalt stone) that was about ten feet below it. For half the year, during the dry season, the sand appeared hard. In the rainy season, the Jordan river would shift the sand on the surface and any houses on it. Skipping the process of digging would be easier, but if you didn’t dig past the surface to build your house, you were a fool.
We build our lives on what Jesus is doing underneath, not on what we appear to be doing on the surface. Our surface righteousness is no sure foundation. Only Jesus can change our hearts.
The gate to discipleship is as narrow as Jesus. This gate comes first, before the road of discipleship. He is the beginning of the path, and there is no hard path to reach him. It starts with Jesus, and it ends with life. Be encouraged. The gate is the king, the difficulty is temporary, and the benefits are eternal.
(Ask yourself) Are you a . . .
Pharisee (to be corrected)?
Self-Righteous. You will try to understand and disseminate the sermon, adding it to your toolbelt of good philosophical advice. You feel good about your performance in it, especially when compared to others, who aren’t as good at it as you. You judge and condemn those around you by your own standard of righteousness.
Repent, you hypocrite. Get the log out of your eye so that you can see that you have no authority in yourself to use these teachings as building material in your own kingdom. Your house is going to fall.
Only by humble faith in the person Jesus and his righteousness can you enter the Kingdom.
Crowdmember (to be invited)?
Curious. You think Jesus and his description of the Kingdom and the citizens within it are beautiful. You are even “amazed” at Jesus’ teaching. You’d like to experience the benefits of this kingdom. You are willing to hang around the citizens who have paid the price, but you recognize the cost of discipleship as high, and are not sure you’re ready to pay. You prefer a gospel of cheap grace, and would even impose your gospel on those who have rejected it in order to lower the price to what you are willing to pay.
Give up and commit. It’s time to realize that what you’re holding in your hand is nothing, and what you’re being offered is everything. Time to trade your handful of sand for the Rock of Jesus.
Only by faith filled obedience to the King can you enter the Kingdom.
Disciple (to be instructed)?
Dead to the world, and born again to the Kingdom. You hear the words of Jesus, and they read you. You’ve recognized the, beauty and the cost of this Kingdom, and the beautiful King that paid for it in your place. You’ve seen that any life but this one is no life at all, and that the only life that’s lived it is Christ.
You’ve gladly forsaken all for the cross and the resurrection, throwing your weak and broken self on the rock of the King. In him you live and move and have your being. You humbly follow daily as you allow his life to become evident through yours.
You are fully sustained by and satisfied in your King daily, and daily you give your time, your energy, and your resources for a Kingdom to come.
You’re not your own. You’re bought with a price. You are a slave to nothing but love, and love has set you free.
Be encouraged. Yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.
You are the salt of the earth. You are essential l to God’s mission on earth. Your changed life will change lives. You are light and will shine. God is glorified through you. The Holy Spirit empowers you to follow.
Press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you. Do not consider yourself yet to have taken hold of it, brothers and sisters. But still do this one thing:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus. (from Phil 3:12-14)
Matthew 7 (NIV)
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
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