What Matters Most?

 Last week, I was pulling up to a stop sign planning to stop behind it - as is the law - but I ended up having to stop about 20 feet short. As I approached, another car was cutting the turn rather tight and was actually in my lane. I had every right to pull up to that stop sign - but I chose to stop and wait.

If I had chosen to exercise my right, there would have been an accident. Legally - it would have been the other driver's fault. But if I had been seriously hurt, would 'being right' have mattered much at that point? Sometimes we can become so attached to 'our rights' or the way we prefer something that we forget to ask a more important question: What actually matters most?

And that same principle applies to us as we seek to follow Jesus in our everyday lives. In many cases, there might be a difference between what we feel, what our preferences might be, and what is actually Biblical. I want to start us off by looking to the Bible, where the Apostle Paul wrote…

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. (20) To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. (21) To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

(22) To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (23) I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul understood that following Jesus sometimes meant giving up something he had every right to keep. Christian maturity is not merely knowing what I have the right to do; it's knowing what's worth giving up. If we choose to follow Jesus, we must be...

I. Willing to change

And the key word here is 'willing'. Sometimes God isn't calling us to a big, drastic change. Sometimes He's just calling us to be faithful. But if He does ask me to change - am I willing?

I am a creature of habit. I do not like change. I understand that my kids have to grow up and make their own way in life - but I don't like it. I want things to stay the same. But I am learning that change happens whether I like it or not. And change in itself is not necessarily a bad thing.

Now - I'm not setting you up for some major change next Sunday; this isn't some sort of an ambush. But I want to continue to challenge each of us in our own lives - and as a body, as the Church - to evaluate change properly. And when it comes to the Church, there are some things that are not negotiable.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When it comes to 'non-negotiables', God has spoken. So the first question is not, 'What do I prefer?' The first question is, 'What has God said?' And we must be willing to change if our preferences...

A. Conflict with God's Word

God's Spirit inspired men to write Scripture. The Bible is The authority that we're to follow. We can get caught up in the latest theological debates and philosophies and religious pop-culture, all of which changes as man's values and morals change – but God's Word does not change! For us to please God, we need to be Biblical first in our practices - what we do.

What our preferences might be and what is Biblical don't always come into conflict, but when they do – we need to make sure being Biblical is our first concern. Where the Bible clearly speaks, we need to make sure we're in complete harmony with God's Word. And if we're not – we need to change. We need to understand what is sacred as established by God's Word and what are simply our beliefs or our religious preferences. Let's look at Matthew 15:1-6 (NIV)...

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, (2) "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" (3) Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? (4) For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'

(5) But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' (6) he is not to 'honor his father ' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition."

Tradition is not a bad thing. We establish traditions to remind us of important truths. We have a cross on the wall to remind us of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins – but would it be wrong if we would take it down to project the words of our praise songs on both walls on a Sunday morning, as I've seen some Churches do? Scripturally speaking – no, but I'm guessing there would probably be some who would be upset if we made such a change. But any discussion about such practices needs to be done in love.

I've got all kinds of opinions – political opinions, opinions on music and fashion trends, opinions on movies and TV and even religious opinions – but I can't forget that they are just that – opinions. Of course my opinions are right and yours are wrong... that goes without saying. (That's a joke...)

But my opinions need to be shaped directly by scripture, and they are still just opinions if the Bible doesn't speak directly on that particular subject. I will stand extremely firm on clear Biblical issues, such as the truth that Jesus is The Christ, The One and Only Son of God – but I won't fall on my sword over an opinion.

Paul warned the church in Colossae in Colossians 2:8 (NIV)...

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Jesus Himself instituted the Church. Human traditions and opinions have produced hundreds of denominations and divisions within His Church. That's why we must distinguish between what God has actually commanded and what we may simply prefer. But how then do we decide between opinions and practices if the Bible is silent? We must be willing to change when...

B. Change is wise

If the Bible has not specified one particular way, then we need to ask which way best accomplishes the mission God has given us. The Bible determines our mission and our boundaries; wisdom helps us determine our methods. In other words, when Scripture gives us freedom, we should use that freedom wisely. The Church – God's Church – has The most important job in all of history; to spread the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ! And we have a limited amount of time in which to do that.

Each of us only has a limited amount of time here on this earth. Congregations do as well. Deep River has been blessed with a history of over a hundred years, but all congregations have seasons. Some grow, some are pruned, some eventually fade away, while new congregations are planted.

Knowing that Deep River may not be around in another hundred years – what are we going to do now for our legacy? If we aren't wise with what God has given us today, we can't assume that there will automatically be another generation here tomorrow.

Changes in culture happen more rapidly today than ever before. If we're going to continue to reach people with the message of the Gospel – we need to think of practical and effective ways to touch the lives of everyday people outside of the Church.

There's a passage in Matthew where John the Baptist's disciples came and asked Jesus why His disciples didn't follow the traditional practice of fasting. And in His response, he said this...

Matthew 9:16-17 (NIV)

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. (17) Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

Jesus wasn't saying that everything 'old' is bad or that everything 'new' is good. He was teaching that sometimes new circumstances require new ways of doing things.

We are called to Be The Church - the same as those who were called back then when Jesus founded His Church. But the ways in which we live out that calling will be different. For instance - is it okay to stream our services live on Facebook? I'm pretty sure The Bible doesn't say. But live streaming a service isn't anti-Biblical. As long as we're within the guidelines of Biblical authority, when it comes to opinion, tradition and day-to-day practices – it really comes down to what works and what doesn't. - How can we get the message out effectively?

It used to be that the Church was a social hub of American society and most people were involved in a Church home. There wasn't a driving necessity of the Church to go 'out' - because most people were coming 'in'. Now that's not the case. There are many people who have never set foot in a Church building other than maybe for a wedding.

That's why we're encouraging a change of focus - a change from what we've always done. Inviting a friend is great - and I'll still say it every Sunday. But going out and serving and making friends to invite - maybe that's going to help, too.

As we make plans for how we conduct our services, what programs we put in place, and how we structure the ministries that we do here – there's another important something that we need to be willing to do…

II. Sacrifice our preferences

- But I really don't want to... Knowing what is Biblical and what is effective doesn't necessarily mean we'll be willing to do it. Because sometimes the biggest obstacle isn't that we don't know what needs to change. Sometimes the obstacle is that I simply don't want to change. Sometimes the hardest thing to surrender is not something sinful - it's simply something I prefer.

It's easy to forget that Jesus didn't come just for us. Deep River has a heart for ministering to the needs of people within the Church, and that matters greatly. But you and I are here because someone cared enough to help us and bring us to Jesus. And there are still people outside these walls who need someone to care enough to bring them to Jesus.

The work to which God's Church is called...

A. The work is bigger than us

Those who've known Jesus for a while understand that spiritual maturity often entails focusing on others. Jesus never said that our needs don't matter, but He did demonstrate for us that He was also very concerned with those outside of His Church.

Mark 2:15-17 (NIV)

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. (16) When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" (17) On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

We are those 'sinners' who answered Jesus' call. And there are many more who need to hear His message. When it comes to the work of the Church, it's not just about us and what we want - we know it's about God's desires.

God never asked me how baptism should be done. He never asked my opinions on how to get to Heaven or my traditions on how to receive His grace. He never asked, He told us in His Word. The Church exists for the glory of God and the salvation of people - not simply for my personal comfort. If I am going to follow Jesus faithfully, I need to embrace this truth...

B. The lost are worth it

When it comes to reaching out to the lost in a modern context, does God care as much about exactly how we do it as He does that we are doing it?

Imagine you were building a bridge so people could cross a river. You had a design you liked. You liked the way it looked and the materials you were using. And as the builder, you had every right to make those choices. But then you discovered that the bridge design you preferred wasn't actually helping people get to the other side. At some point, you'd have to ask: Do I care more about preserving the bridge exactly the way I prefer it - or am I most concerned about helping people get across?

The Church isn't a bridge to be admired. We're called to help people find their way to Jesus. Jesus said, in John 6:38-40 (NIV)...

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (39) And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. (40) For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

There are a lot of people who've never truly experienced the love of Jesus through His people. If we're going to continue to be a part of God's work as His Church, we need to continue finding faithful and effective ways for people to hear and see Jesus.

So What?

Remember my story about the stop sign? I shouldn't have had to stop short to avoid being hit. I wasn't in the wrong. But that choice certainly made for a better outcome for both myself and the other driver.

In what areas might God be asking us to step out in faith - to perhaps change - in order to reach those He is calling in our community? Without compromising the Biblical message, or those things clearly spelled out in Scripture, what are we willing to do to reach the lost?

Continue to pray for God's guidance in your personal life and for His Church, for Deep River. Pray for those in leadership, and pray that God will show you the role that He has for you in His Church. Reach out to those around you and find out what's keeping them from finding Jesus. God's Word determines what we must do. Wisdom helps us determine how to do it. Love determines whether we're willing to do it.

If Jesus doesn't return soon, do you believe God has big plans for His Kingdom work through Deep River in the next generation? And if you believe He does - what are you willing to do to help make that possible?