WEBVTT 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:01.600 Hello, friends. 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:02.799 This is Pastor Creighton. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:06.080 Thank you for tuning in to Newsong Church's Sermon Podcast. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:13.359 At Newsong Church, we want to see Jesus lifted high in Port Perry, Ontario, as we worship, grow, and serve. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:18.719 You can learn more about us and find contact info at newsongportperry.ca. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:25.519 The second lesson is from Romans chapter 15, beginning at the first verse. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:34.799 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:40.159 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:49.119 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:01:00.479 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:17.200 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:23.519 Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:39.920 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:47.280 As it is written, therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:52.959 And again it is said, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:59.680 And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:04.799 And again, Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:11.599 Even he who arises to rule the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:23.199 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:24.960 The word of the Lord. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:26.800 Thanks be to God. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:36.479 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:38.000 Let's pray. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:58.479 That the praise and thanksgiving we offer to you today would be acceptable to you. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:08.960 That our hearts would be transformed and our lives conformed that much more into your very image. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:13.039 Speak to us again by your word. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:16.560 Illumine our hearts by your Holy Spirit. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:20.960 We come to you, Lord, always dependent on your grace. 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:23.039 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:24.000 Amen. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:26.159 Please be seated. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:44.960 From time to time, I uh sort of kick around a criticism of well of Christians that was shared years ago, and I heard it first years ago. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.319 And um I don't know. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:52.560 I kick it around because I'm still, it cuts deep. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:54.719 But I think about it a lot. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:56.400 This is uh maybe you've heard it before. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:04:05.680 This comes from uh this comes from Mahatma Gandhi, and he's reflecting on his experience of uh encountering Christians, encountering the church. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:07.360 And this is what he has to say. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:10.319 He says, I like your Christ. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.039 I do not like your Christians. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:16.879 Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:22.639 You know, on the one hand, we can chuckle at that, but that cuts deep, doesn't it? 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:26.000 Now we could respond in a couple of ways. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:27.759 I suppose we could get defensive. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.160 I suppose we could also appeal to the doctrine of grace and sanctification. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:36.720 It's true that we're sinners saved by grace, and yet sinners we remain. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:43.519 I suppose we could also ask a fair question and ask, did Gandhi really understand what Christians had to say about their Christ? 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:45.439 I think that's a fair question to ask. 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:51.279 But nevertheless, I think this criticism is worth wrestling with a little bit because it cuts deep. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:52.879 I like your Christ. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:54.879 I do not like your Christians. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.240 Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:02.639 See, it's not just a criticism that comes from without the church. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:06.399 I think sometimes this is a criticism we hear within the church, isn't it? 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:18.800 Sometimes this is a criticism we hear Christians say, perhaps having had a particularly painful or difficult experience with the church, they think perhaps I'm better off without it. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:26.399 Perhaps the church corrupts my otherwise pure and uh and acceptable faith. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:33.199 Because it's well, it's just ruined by all these hypocrites, by all these sinners. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:36.800 I like your Christ. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:38.240 I do not like your Christians. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:42.800 Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:47.360 See, this criticism is not a recent one either. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:52.560 It's a powerful one, but I don't think it's recent as of the last century or so. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:06:02.079 I actually think this has been hanging around the church since sinners first started gathering together in Jesus' name and calling themselves the church. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.000 The ecclesia, the gathering of God's people. 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:13.759 There has always been a disparity between Christians and Christ, in whose image by grace we are being conformed. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:19.040 And I think evidence to this is Paul's letter to the Romans. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:28.399 Paul's letters in the New Testament generally, scripture generally, testifies to the fact that if we were perfect, we wouldn't need scripture. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:34.079 We wouldn't need God's word of instruction, of encouragement, of exhortation, of hope. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:38.879 Because we would just naturally be living out what it means to be like Christ. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:47.199 But here's Paul writing a letter to a group of Christians meeting in Rome, exhorting them to show forth the character of Christ. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:52.639 Churches are called to show forth Christ's character. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:56.560 We don't just gather in Christ's name to talk about Jesus. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:09.519 We're meant to gather together to be conformed together into his image, to show forth the character of Christ to one another and to the community that we're called to serve. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:20.319 So the question I think in front of us in our passage in Romans 15 is this: How can a church show forth the character of Christ? 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:24.959 How can a church show forth the character of Christ? 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:32.639 How can Christians be more like Christ to one another and to the world? 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:42.800 I think Paul identifies two things, two things in particular, that the church can do to show forth Christ and his character. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.480 The first is we can bear with one another. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.560 That's verses one to six. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:52.399 And the second is we can welcome one another. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:59.680 We can bear with one another, and we can welcome one another in Jesus' name and show forth the character of Christ. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:09.120 And I don't think that these are two things that Paul is just pulling out of his hat or pulling out of his air, like, uh, or pulling out of the air, you know, kind of like, yeah, bearing with one another, that sounds good. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.079 Yeah, welcome. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:12.240 That's that can't be a bad thing, right? 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:16.160 I actually think what Paul is doing here is more sophisticated than that. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:21.759 Paul is gazing deeply into who Jesus is. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:26.720 And he is seeing something essentially true of Jesus' character. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:29.519 Jesus is the one who bears with us. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.320 Jesus is the one who welcomes us. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:40.960 And so we who gather in Jesus' name to be conform to his image ought to be those who bear with one another and welcome one another. 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:46.799 And I can't help but wonder if this is especially true, especially important in our present moment. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:54.559 I was reading a survey recently that said that it reflected Canadian attitudes towards the church. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:07.519 And for the first time in Canadian history, the majority of Canadians would agree with the statement that the church either does equal harm and equal good in society or it does more harm than good. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:13.120 The minority of Canadians would say that the church is actually a force for good in society. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:15.279 Now we can get self-pitying about that. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:16.639 We can say, woe is us. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:18.240 That's one response. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:21.279 But I think, friends, this is an opportunity for us. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:39.200 Brothers and sisters, there's an opportunity here that if we are sincere to show forth the character of Christ to one another and to the world, this kind of bearing with one another, this kind of welcoming one another, cannot help but bear witness to the good news that defines us. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.960 And the good news that Canada needs, that our community needs. 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:49.759 So how can a church show forth the character of Christ we can bear with one another? 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:55.200 Let's pull out our Bibles, let's pull out our order of service, let's open up to Romans chapter 15. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:01.679 What can we do to show forth the character of Christ we can bear with one another? 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:12.480 Paul says this, verses 1 and 2 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:18.159 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.080 Okay, let's stop there for a moment. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:24.320 The strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.919 What's Paul talking about here? 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:29.600 Well, Paul is picking up on his thoughts in chapter 14. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:38.399 Chapter 14, he's calling Christians to practice acceptance with one another, to not pass judgment uh over one another. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:55.919 This is a particular controversy where some Christians in Rome are very, very keen to observe uh inherited food laws from uh you know from their Jewish heritage, whereas other Christians are very, very keen on keeping holy days while other Christians aren't. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:03.279 Some Christians are very, very keen to keep those Jewish holidays that they've inherited uh from uh from their Jewish roots. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:18.639 Other Christians see no need to keep those things, but those Christians that do hold either to food laws or to these holy days, they're the sort that have kind of doubled down on this such that they expect everyone to feel as strongly about this subject as they do. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:25.039 They expect every Christian to conform themselves to their best understanding of Christian practice. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:28.639 Now, we need to be clear, this is not a matter of God's law. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.960 This isn't sin and salvation kind of stuff. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:37.200 This isn't, you know, Ten Commandments kind of stuff that we uh, you know, we we we rehearsed earlier in the service. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:39.519 This is a matter of conscience, right? 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.440 This is a matter of conscience and personal practice for these Christians. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:58.559 But when we take conscience and personal practice and we we absolutize it and we hold every Christian to our best understanding of best practice, then we can end up, we end up becoming a judge over one another. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.240 We end up building barriers. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:07.200 I've heard it said that um Christians don't drink or chew or go with those who do. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.639 Have you ever heard that before? 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:11.360 That's a bit of a dated expression, isn't it? 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:23.440 But growing up in, you know, at least in in kind of my wing of the church, um, it was a big deal if a Christian, you know, had a beer occasionally, drank some alcohol. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.799 Maybe that was true for your upbringing, maybe it was just true of mine. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.840 But it was an example of a matter of conscience. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:34.000 It's true you can you can drink to a point where it becomes a sin, that's true. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:39.039 But for some, this was a matter of, well, if it can be a sin, then we need to absolutize this. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:41.279 One beer is too many beers, right? 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:42.960 I mean, this could be any number of things. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:46.639 I I bet you if we went around like a circle, we could all name something we've heard. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:52.559 Christians don't drink, Christians don't, uh they don't read fantasy novels, Christians don't play cards. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:57.600 These are all things that I've heard, and we might snicker because these seem kind of silly to us, and maybe they should. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:03.200 But the truth is these all belong to particular people, particular faces, particular stories. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:14.720 Perhaps there's some real pain in those stories that bring them to those conclusions, but they feel strongly enough that they expect every Christian around them to conform themselves to their own personal conscience. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.879 This is what's happening in Rome. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:24.320 This is a matter of liberty and conscience, and people feel so strongly about it they expect everyone to follow their own personal principles. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.360 So, what do you do? 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.919 Well, this is what Paul has to say to these Christians. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.159 You bear with one another. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:41.519 He describes those strong Christians as those who uh, you know, feel confident in their liberty, and those weak Christians who feel like they've got uh less liberty than more liberty. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:53.200 But he says, either way, this isn't about who's right and who's wrong, this is about you two accepting one another, practicing uh mutual belonging with one another. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:57.679 He says this: let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:06.480 Don't please yourself, don't insist on your own uh uh uh your own priority, your own agenda. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:12.480 Instead, conduct yourself for the good of your neighbor, the good of your brother and sister in Christ. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:20.879 It is a better thing to bear with one another than it is to bind someone to your own conscience. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.480 Please your neighbor for his good. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:28.799 By the way, that's not saying, that's not Paul saying, be a people pleaser. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:34.399 And that's that's good news for me, because I'm a bit of a recovering people pleaser, and maybe you are too. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:40.960 That's not Paul saying, do whatever it takes to make your neighbor happy all the time everywhere. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:48.399 That's Paul saying, please your neighbor in such a way to do him good, to build him up. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:54.480 Conduct yourself towards his or her edification and well-being. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:12.320 This is an obligation not to make them happy, this is an obligation to build them up with love in Christ, to conduct yourself for the very best, for the greatest good that we can imagine for our brother and sister in Christ. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.080 And why should we do that? 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.679 Paul has an answer for us. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.120 Verse 3. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:26.240 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproached you have fallen on me. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.840 Christ did not please himself. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:40.399 Christ is a supreme example of a life not lived for pleasing self, but for the good of others, to the glory of God. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.519 This is supremely true, friends, of the cross. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:50.240 Jesus said to his disciples, I've come down from heaven not to do my will, but the will of him who sent me. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:58.879 And in Luke chapter 22, Jesus prays, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:02.000 Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:08.080 That's not Jesus saying, Lord, I've got uh Father, I've got second thoughts about this redemption thing. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:10.159 That's really more your thing than my thing. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.759 I think I'd rather not. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.000 It's not what Jesus is saying here. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:29.200 Jesus recognizes the um the wild and he's he's about to lose, he's about to lose fellowship with his father. 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:33.679 He's about to become the Godforsaken one for our sake. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:36.639 And Jesus knows exactly what that means. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.759 And he longs for perfect communion with his father. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.799 Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:45.039 That's the love he has for you and I. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:53.759 To take our sins upon himself, to take our God forsakenness on himself, so that we can have restored fellowship with the Father. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:17:02.639 And that's why Paul in his letter to the Philippians can say this: let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:27.279 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:36.160 When we behold the cross, we behold the supreme example of a life lived for the good of others, the good of us. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:49.519 And the taking up our cross and following Jesus means we live our lives not to please ourselves, but to build our neighbor up, to edify them, to conduct ourselves for her good. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:59.200 And this is why Paul is a quick, he's got such a quick but such a profound little uh excursion on the nature of scripture here. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.839 The cross bears witness to Christ's example. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.640 He wants us to understand that scripture bears witness as well. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:11.759 Boy, verse 4 could be a sermon all on its own, but it's such a verse worth meditating on, especially on Bible Sunday. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:17.039 Paul writes to Timothy that all of Scripture is God-breathed, it's inspired. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:25.759 And here he writes to the Romans that this God-breathed Scripture is for our instruction, our endurance, our encouragement, our hope. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:30.240 Scripture bears witness to the one who bears with us. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:36.960 And so we go to Scripture to behold our Lord Jesus. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:46.400 See the bottom line I think that Paul's getting at is it's really easy for churches to come apart. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:53.279 Like sometimes when churches, maybe we've experienced the pain of a church split. 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:59.440 And we wonder how can something like that ever happened? 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:02.240 I wonder if the reverse is also true. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:06.480 Churches that journey together over the long haul, that's a mystery. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:09.119 What keeps these sinners together? 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:12.079 Everybody's got their idea of what church should look like. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:17.359 Everyone's got their best, call it an agenda in mind, and sometimes that's very well-intentioned. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.839 What keeps a church together? 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:27.599 I remember uh when I was a student in Chicago, uh, I was connected with a little evangelical church just outside of town. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:31.759 It was a lovely church, lovely people there, and I learned a lot there. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.200 I went away for the summer back to Ottawa and then returned in the fall. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:42.640 I was ready to spend the whole year in Chicago, including the following summer, because I was planning to do my internship at this little church. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:54.480 But somewhere between going back to Ottawa at the beginning of summer and returning to Chicago in the early fall, that must have been like eight to twelve weeks, this church had imploded. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:09.680 And it had its, I mean, it was organized differently than an Anglican church is, but it had its board of elders, its lay leadership, it had its pastoral staff, and it had some really influential families in the congregation all pitted against one another. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:14.640 Something had come up in the life of the congregation, and no one was talking to one another. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.640 No one was getting along. 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:20.160 Gosh, I'm getting some nods like we know what that's like. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.240 There's a lot going on there. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.319 I don't want to pretend like there wasn't. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:46.720 But one of the things that was going on, I can't help but think, is that you get these group, different groups of people not looking to conduct themselves in such a way to build up their neighbor, but to push forward their own agenda, to please themselves, and refusing to bear with others. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:54.000 It's a mystery that churches don't all end up in that category, sinners we are. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:57.200 Those churches that don't, I think we know the solution. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:59.759 It's the solution that Paul points out right here. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:05.599 The solution is that we don't look to ourselves, but we look to Christ. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:10.000 We look to the to Christ who bears with us. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:13.039 Christ who is our example. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:25.359 When we do that, I wonder if this benediction that Paul shares in verses 5 and 6 can be our own. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:44.559 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you, grant you, new song, to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.759 We bear with one another. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.400 We live not to please ourselves, but to build up our neighbors. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.359 And so we follow the example of Christ. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.359 We show forth the character of Christ. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.599 The second thing Paul says is we welcome one another. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.680 This is where I want us to land. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:09.359 So this last summer, um, Rachel and I were in England. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.559 It was a lovely time in England. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:12.240 I've shared this story perhaps with some of you. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.680 You know where I'm going with this. 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:17.279 But uh but Rachel and I were in England having a jolly good time. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:25.519 And um and it was Sunday, and we wanted to go visit a local church, and so we went to this local church that was a beautiful red brick building, yada yada yada. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.759 We were so we were we were so excited to go there. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:30.720 And we walked through the front door, and the sanctuary is empty. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:45.680 And maybe that says something, but the sanctuary is empty about five minutes before service, and and the pastor kind of glances at us from the far far side of the uh of the sanctuary, and then the first thing he says to us is um, I think you're in the wrong church. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:53.279 And uh, yeah, there was a misunderstanding there. 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:56.160 We but we were in the right place. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.680 But it was it was funny. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:06.160 I I I you know half-jokingly said to the pastor after service, I've I've never had that greeting before, walking into a church for the first time. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:10.559 I should think that no one's had that greeting coming to Newsong for the first time. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:26.720 I think one of the things that Paul wants us to understand, verses 7 to 13, is we conduct ourselves towards our neighbors, towards our brothers and sisters, in such a way that we always confirm to them that they are in the right church. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.920 Right? 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:32.079 You are in the right place if you are here today. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:34.160 And you are welcome here. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.519 Welcome one another is what Paul says. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:41.359 The big this is connected with this big idea of hospitality. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:49.599 Show kindness to one another, show compassion to one another. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:52.480 And why should we do that? 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:57.759 Because verse 7 says, Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:02.640 Christ has given us unbelievable welcome. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.920 Hasn't he? 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:13.599 One of my favorite titles of any book ever written is this it's Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:15.519 Come and welcome to Jesus Christ. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.880 It was written by John Bunyan of Pilgrim's Progress Fame. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:29.440 It's a long exposition of John 6.37, which is this all the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.240 That's the kind of welcome Jesus gives us. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:38.640 It is not a come on in, I'll check you out, and if you're lacking, I'll toss you out by your shirt collar. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:46.480 Whoever comes to me, I will never, I will in no wise cast out, and so this is the famous quote. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:55.440 John Bunyan anticipates all the possible objections to this wild welcome from Christ. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:02.079 But I am a great sinner, say you, I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:04.640 But I'm an old sinner, say you. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:08.720 I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.920 But I'm a hard-hearted sinner, say you. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:14.880 I will in no wise cast out. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:18.160 But I'm a backsliding sinner, say you. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:22.480 I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:26.160 But I've served Satan all my days, say you. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:30.400 I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:34.079 But I've sinned against light, say you. 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:38.079 I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:41.440 But I've sinned against mercy, say you. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:46.079 I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:49.759 But I have no good thing to bring with me, say you. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:54.720 I will in no wise cast out, says Christ. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.920 Amen? 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:04.480 How does Christ welcome us? 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:07.440 Paul says this in verses eight to nine. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:20.799 I tell you Christ became a servant to the circumcised, the Jews, to show God's truthfulness, his faithfulness to his word, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, his covenant-binding promises. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:32.640 And, he says, verse 9, in order that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, God has a plan for his people, Israel, the Jews, and for the Gentiles, the nations alike. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:36.160 He is gathering all people to himself. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:44.559 And for the Christians gathered in Rome who know the wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles, this is a pretty unbelievable idea. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:27:04.000 So he spends the next three verses expositing Scripture throughout the Old Testament to confirm the fact that yes, God's plan has always been to include all people, not just the exceptional, not just those of the highest pedigree, so to speak, but all people. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:10.160 Every church, I think, likes the idea of church growth. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:12.799 I hope we like the idea of church growth. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.319 I think we do. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:19.759 We love the idea of new people, new faces, new energy, all these things. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:27.119 But something happens in church growth sometimes, where new people bring new changes, right? 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:33.599 Or people start to show up who, well, they strike us as strange. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:36.880 Maybe we'd really rather not associate ourselves with them. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.400 This is not this kind of church, we might think to ourselves. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:44.000 This is the kind of tension between Jews and Gentiles. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:48.880 And what can happen if we're not careful is walls of hostility can be built up. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.200 Sometimes over minor things. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:55.839 How many churches have split over contemporary music or traditional music? 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.279 Too many. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:02.960 If we don't, there is a solution here. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:18.640 If we don't look to our own agenda, look to our own preferences, but instead look to serve one another, to show hospitality to one another, to welcome one another, we look to the character of Christ, the welcoming one. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:21.759 The one who welcomes us, the one who will not cast us out. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:24.880 So who are we to think we can cast others out? 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:33.200 We welcome in the name of Jesus every nation, all tribes, all languages, all people called by grace. 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:39.359 So, friends, how can a church show forth the character of Christ? 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:45.440 What can you and I do to show Jesus to a community in need? 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:48.240 We can bear with one another. 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:52.160 We can love one another with a serving love. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:29:02.319 Not pleasing ourselves, but looking to Christ who gives himself for our sake, and so we give of ourselves for others. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:13.119 And we can welcome one another as Christ welcomes us, serving and showing hospitality, extending ourselves towards our neighbor for their good. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:16.079 Friends, this is what New Song can be to Port Perry. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:27.359 We can be a church, what it would look like to be a church that is known to bear with one another and to welcome everyone who comes through the door. 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:30.000 I think we are that kind of church. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:32.720 I think we want to be that kind of church. 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:47.680 So, friends, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.640 Amen. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.559 Thank you for listening today. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:58.240 We worship a generous God who calls us to follow Him in giving willfully, cheerfully, and sacrificially. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:04.880 Newsong Church's mission and ministry is one hundred percent funded by the generous gifts of those worshiping and journeying with us. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:12.640 If you'd like to offer a gift towards Newsong's ministry, please visit Newsongportperry.ca slash giving for more information on how to do that. 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:15.920 May God bless you and keep you today and every day.