Weekly Sermon

2017 Camp Message 1

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DAY 1 – 20170605
Message 1 : Transformed Convictions

 

TODAY’S WORLD – CHALLENGES TO DISCIPLESHIP (F-U-T-U-R-E)
F – Fast & furious. Our world is fast but discipleship takes time. No instant holiness but you have to grow into holiness.
U – Universal – our world is universal because of the internet and ease of travel. Universalism = Globalization. Globalization is Americanization. Globalization is American culture exported to the whole world. Discipleship is not universal. It is cultural. We can’t copycat. Against what is traditional, stable and long lasting.
T – Tribal. – People are becoming tribal even as the world is becoming universal. People want to establish their own identity. E.g. cliques. We want our own identity and not be told what to do. E.g. ISIS
U – urban. Our world is urban. In the past our world is pastoral not urban. Megacity is about 12 million people. Everyone is impersonal and not trustworthy. . Nobody talks to any body. It is survival of the fittest. Discipleship wants to have community, trust and communication.
R – radical. The world we live in is a radical world. It does not mean extreme. It means going back to the roots. Root word is “radic”. Going back to their ideology. I don’t want to learn from others. We will never change. This is what we are. Discipleship is not to be in isolation of other disciples.
E – ethical. The world today is becoming more ethical. Young people can see hypocrisy. They define what is spirituality – not according to the definition of the Bible. This is how I want to be spiritual. E.g. just meditate, just watch a TV service, etc.  This is counter discipleship.

3 TEXTS
Matthew 7 :21-29;
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.

Luke 6:46-49;
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Tall buildings have deep foundations.
We don’t want to just grow old, we want to grow up. So we need a deep foundation. Depth and the ground matters.

3 TRUTHS OF LIFE

  1. The foundations of life consist of the ground we build.
    the ground offers 3 sets of contrast.
    a. According to Jesus there are only 2 types of ground on which you can build your lives. Either rock or sand. We must build on solid ground and not shaky ground.
    b. 2 types of ground and 2 types of builder. Wise builder build on rock, foolish one build on sand.
    c. 2 houses are similar. 2 persons may have same lives or same achievements but one may crumble because of lack of a good foundation.

What is wisdom?
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Ps 111:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.
 
WISDOM IS 4 THINGS

  1. Wisdom has hindsight. Able to learn from the pass.
  2. Wisdom has insight. Able to see what others cannot see.
  3. Wisdom has foresight. Ability to anticipate problems. Can foresee problems. Can see trends.
  4. Wisdom has oversight. You have the big picture. See everything in clear perspective.

We want our leaders to have all these 4 points.

2. The storms of life confronts everyone of us.
 3 aspects of the storm

  • foolish and the wise both are surprised by the suddenness of the storm. Unexpected. Tragedy and disaster give no advance notice. Some never recover from the storm.
  • Intensity of the storm – very tough – rain came, stream rose, wind blow
  • Diversity of the storm – affects everyone – the roof, the foundation, the wall were all affected. All areas of life will be affected. E.g. marriage on the rock will affect the couple, the children and the extended family.

 

3. The stability of life is contingent on its foundation and not the other stuff. No credits to the materials to build the house. All credits go to the foundation. Jesus the rock. Our gifts don’t matter.
     3 aspects on foundation
We can build our life on career, business, etc. but we should build for :

  1. Build for durability
  2. Build with long term view. No need to rebuild foundation. Will not sacrifice this for short-term gain. Do the right thing first time.3 measures of success.

The world defines success as money, power and fame.

  1. Success – as define by the world – money, power and fame. Success adds value to yourself. (e.g. Donald Trump)
  2. Significance – a significant person – add value to others. (e.g. Bill Gates)
  3. Spirituality – You can be successful. You can be significance, but are you spiritual? This is when you add value to Jesus.

Lastly, implications to discipleship for today’s world.

  1. Discipleship is not just profession but practise. Preach what you practise. We should preach what we practise. If we are not practising it we should not be preaching it.
  2. Discipleship is a state of being. It is how I live. By God’s standards or our standards.
  3. Discipleship is not an option. You cannot be a regular Christian and not be a disciple. Accidental Methodist (born in a Methodist family) and intentional Methodist (join the denomination) but there is no accidental Christian. We need to build our lives on firm foundation.

Top 3 most important things in your life are : (food, fun & future?)

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Friends