Notes on NHF 050326 sermon:
We often think in terms of: It wouldn't make me a bad christian if I ... At least it is better than: I think I can do this and stilll be a Christian and go to heaven ... Why is this kind of mediocrity the goal of your faith?
This type of thinking, applied to other areas of your life, would sound like:
- It doesn't make me a bad parent if I don't hug them...
- I want to be a not-bad-dad.
T-shirt:
- Greatest not-bad dad
- Avg. mom
- My kid is a straight D- student.
- The most slacked off but still not get fired employee.
- Outstanding achievement for appearing to be a good student.
Why is it, in the most important area, our faith, we settle for D- spirituality.
Most alive in God is a person most alive.
Baptism is 100%
If anyone come after me, as to lose his life.
Love the LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR...
1 Cor 9: run in such a way as to get the prize.
Paul doesn't mean only one gets the prize.
An analogy, where everyone is running his own life-race. You must exercise with utmost competitiveness.
Think of an athelete saying: I won't slow down much if I eat another 10 puffy cream. It is about actively deny oneself "freedoms" as discipline.
Corithians eating sacrificed food, freedom, vs discipline.
The good of the food vs the higher good of the fumbling of their brothers.
When you are heading toward what yo can get away with, you are already in the wrong direction.
e.g. "We don't always have to talk about Jesus" as if it is pushed by others, or an army of robots?
Question to ask: is it beneficial? What's so wrong with watching TV, drinking, ...
Ask instead: what's so good about pursuing Jesus, ...
Edward's struggle with RockNRoll music: Christian version of everything was the tempting alternative, but still, ... struggle. giving it all up in a dumpster.
Is this music taking me closer to Jesus, or to lure me away?
Will it be beneficial? Will the music under consideration focus me toward GOD?
Just as in basketball, if you are not focus and aim, you will simply drift. Our spiritual growth will not come randomly.
Illustration:
Master goes away, ask servant to build the best house. Servant started out good, then start to skim on every aspect. Later turns out the Master returns and give the house to the servant as a gift. Servant end up cheating himself of the best things.
Will we trust that God is good, and works for our good. The things He wants us to rid of are for our benefit. We will be building up ourselves for eternity.
Side note:
Just as my colleague Mark.R's seriousness in well structured coding, and always stress precision over quick hacks, now I see value in Pastor Edward's slow but sure steps in building NHF church in a precise and careful manner.
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