A Cure for the Common Conflict

In the Spring of 2007, I had the privilege of preaching at my church (Southside Baptist, southbc.org). My message was entitled, "A Cure for the Common Conflict." I came across that message today and found it amazingly suited to where we find ourselves today. I invite you to read the message below and discuss using the comment feature.

A Cure for the Common Conflict

Once upon a time, there was a church that was struggling with conflict. Different members supported different leaders. There was conflict over doctrine. There was conflict about the use of spiritual gifts. There was conflict about the message of Christian freedom. There was conflict about morality and about money. That church sought outside advice about how to deal with the conflict, and they received it from expert authority. Of course, you know the church I'm talking about, don't you? ...It's right here... in your New Testament. Please open your Bible to 1Corinthians 1, where we'll discover "A Cure for the Common Conflict."

1:1 ¶ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

With all the trouble they were having, we might be tempted to say this Corinthian church was pretty unhealthy.
But that's not at all how Paul described them in his opening:

• He called them "the church of God at Corinth" - the representatives of God's kingdom in that first century mega city.
• He reminds them and us that these men and women are sanctified, or set apart to God through Jesus Christ, just like all who call upon the name of the Lord.
• He thanks God for the grace and gifts He has lavished on these people
• He knows that they were longing for the day of Christ's return.
• He knows that God will build them up all the way to the day of our Lord Jesus Christ

When we have a kingdom perspective like this, we can see that, even if we're experiencing conflict, our identity is not that we're sick. Our identity is that we are Christ's. They're not sick. They're saints.

Fact is, while everyone agrees that unity is sweet, it's still hard for Republicans and Democrats to see eye to eye. While everyone agrees peace in the mideast is important, It's still hard for Jews and Palestinians to see eye to eye. While everyone agrees that it's better to agree, It's still hard for you and me. That is, conflict is common.

In fact, conflict is inevitable. No matter where you go, you'll find conflict:

• At home between husbands and wives. (Amen?) The #1 complaint in divorce? Irreconcilable differences.
• Or between siblings, even adult siblings. [e.g. how to care for an aging parent]
• At work. [business strategy or cubicle size]
• Even at church. Maybe even in our church. We might find strong differences of opinion on the spectrum of matters like in 1 Corinthians: leader loyalty, doctrine, spiritual gifts, freedom...

We are not alone. Everywhere that you find people who care deeply about something, you will find conflict. Conflict means people care. They just see things differently. Resolving conflict means bridging the gap between your perspective and mine. Or as Paul put it in v.10, being "perfectly joined together".

Sometimes conflict can get out of hand.

• A man abuses his wife or his children.
• A senior adult turns curmudgeonly so that no one wants to be around him.
• A teen refuses to listen to all authority.

What do you do when conflict gets out of hand? That's exactly where the Corinthians were. It got so bad that some of the members finally appealed to outside help. There's something therapeutic about even just asking for help. When you want change enough that you're willing to risk asking for help, God can change you. If you're a Christian, that's what happened to you when you asked God to save you from your sins.

In verse 11, we see that Chloe's people sent a letter to Paul appealing for help to resolve the conflict in their church. According to the verse, there were "quarrels" among them. That's nice NIV-speak for fighting, arguments, bad feelings. Things were pretty bad. Doubtless, they got to where they dreaded going to church. (BTW, I find it interesting that there's no hint of a church split in Corinth. In our city we have hundreds of options. They had options too, but they remained faithful.)

So, if you feel you're in a conflict that's long-standing or out of control, ask for help.

How do we begin to cure conflict?
Make it priority #1. You can't ignore conflicts like these and go on with business as usual and just hope they go away. Resolving this conflict was so important to the apostle that, of all the things he could talk about, must talk about, eventually does talk about in this letter, healing the conflict in the church is the thing that must be done first and foremost. I'd even go so far as to say that everything Paul writes in this letter is intended to rebuild unity in that church. 

And, dear Christians, that is God's call on our lives, too: to rebuild unity. 

2 Corinthians 5:18 "God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, ... has given us the ministry of reconciliation."

Matthew 5:24b “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

The Law. Good doctrine. Exercising Spiritual gifts. It's all about loving God and loving our neighbor. Or, to use less worn-out words, it's all about devoting ourselves God and genuinely caring about our neighbor. That's reconciliation. Reconciliation is God's first priority. Make it priority #1.

Don't command, appeal. Paul, the apostle, endowed with great wisdom and spiritual authority isn't commanding them to agree. He's appealing to them--NKJ has "pleading"--to come together. 
You can't command people to agree. Not at home. Not at work. Not in the church. Just try these on for size:
-You don't like your beans? Eat them anyway!
-You believe your husband's insensitive? Your wife's a nag? I command you to come together!
-You are Calvinist? You're Arminian? No big deal!
-You believe in Spiritual gifts? You don't? Forget about it!
-You believe in NIV? You believe in KJV? Nonsense!
It's not that easy, is it? You can't command unity.

When you appeal, you show respect for your adversary, who was born of the same Spirit and washed in the blood of the same Christ.


When you appeal, you exercise the same Spirit-powered self-control the Scriptures tell us of: (See Gal 5:23; 2Peter 1:6).

You can't command. You must respectfully appeal. And you'll be amazed at the difference in the response you get.

When you appeal, you must do more than be a cheerleader for unity.

You must give a basis for agreement. And that's the essence of 1 Corinthians. In point after point, Paul builds them a solid foundation for doctrinal, procedural, and practical unity.
    If we were to go through the entire book of 1Corinthians together, you'd see that throughout the book, Paul is coming alongside these women and men, giving them a basis for unity. Giving them something they can hang their hat on.

• ch 1-4 - He fights the factionalism and cliquishness by giving a proper perspective on the ministers of the gospel and the gospel itself.
• ch 5 - He directs them to be uncompromising in dealing with the sin in their midst
• ch 6 - don't go to non-Christians to solve your problems
• ch 7 - answering their question about marriage/singleness
• ch 8-11 - Christian liberty - being a Christian in a corrupt culture
• ch 12-14 - Getting Spiritual gifts right
• ch 15 - The reality of the resurrection
• ch 16 - Money for the needy

You can't just pray for unity. Did you know that Paul never tells that conflicted church that they need to pray for unity. Oh, we must pray. In Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17, our Lord prayed and asked the Father twice to unite us. But the only true way we can achieve unity is by understanding each other and by sharing common ground. (As the prophet Amos asks, (Amos 3:3) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?)

Work through the issues. Two Christian brothers were on the same committee in our church, but they didn't see things the same way at all. One thought we needed more order. The other thought we needed more spirit. Initially, things were strained between them. But they valued their mission and each other so highly that they made a commitment to each other and they invested time together. By spending time together, they were experiencing the kind of fellowship and communion that the New Testament calls koinonia. Those brothers discovered first-hand this principle: koinonia cures conflict. After a time, these two men had gained a real respect for each other, and genuine appreciation for the other's viewpoint.

Even though it's hard, we must strive for unity. If we don't even try, then we besmirch the gospel of Christ, and we're no better at heart than bickering children or even Muslim extremists. But, as Christians, we are intrinsically different creatures! (2Corinthians 5:21) We are called to be saints. We are set apart. Citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom. Servants of the Most High God. If my adversary and I are both Christians, the Spirit of Christ dwells in my adversary as well as me!

It's not just about first century Christians.

The kingdom of Christ is all about repentance and heart-change. "Repent" was Christ's first command to us (Matthew 4:17). Repenting means making a course-correction back toward God. It's a fresh submission to His Law, His Word. Have you had a heart change lately? If it has been a while since you faced an issue and found that you might just be part of the problem, let me say as lovingly as I know how, you are part of the problem. Even the apostles didn't rule out the possibility that they might be the one who was about to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:21-22). If you won't even seriously consider that you might be in the wrong, you are part of the problem.

Or rather, you have been part of the problem. Today is a new day. Today, things can be different. Today, you can regard your neighbor with a fresh perspective. Today, you can be a peacemaker. Today, you can make a difference for the kingdom of Christ.

For heaven's sake, then, engage!
-Husband, are you having trouble with your wife? Engage! I appeal to you, I plead with you to take your wife out to lunch and engage! Let there be no divisions among you. What God has joined together, let not man or woman fracture.
-Teen, please, respectfully go to your parents and engage! You can begin to build that bridge.

You may say, "I'm not in conflict." That's terrific! Please be proactive. It's easier to prevent the milk from spilling than to clean up afterward. Every week, we find ourselves sitting shoulder to shoulder with people who feel isolated. And that's conflict just waiting to happen. Will you be a peacemaker and fold them in? Right after each service, invest in getting to know someone. Include them in your life. And, in your Bible study groups, make every effort to make your guests feel at home, feel like they matter to you. Not only is it true that koinonia cures conflict; koinonia prevents conflict.

Will it work? / Did it work?

Doubtless, many of the Corinthians followed Paul's advice. A couple years later, we get a report card: 2 Corinthians. If you read that book, you'll see that the Corinthians were a work in progress. The word "conflict" only occurs one time in 2 Corinthians (2Cor 12:20). So the moral of the story is, it's worthwhile, even vital, to address conflict. And as long as we're on this planet, surrounded by people with different perspectives, continually taking care of conflict is just going to be a part of life. But, oh, it's worth it.

Will you decide now to deal with your conflict, to make that a priority? In addition to praying about it, what will be the next step you take? How will you begin to build that bridge to the person you're in conflict with? A phone call or text inviting them to coffee? If you don't know what to do next, let's talk about it.

With Paul, I appeal to you, whatever you do, take care of it!

It's your move.

Transcript of "Zacchaeus Reboot"

Background: On June 24, 2012, I was privileged to preach at the church I attend. I entitled the message "Zacchaeus Reboot". Below is the transcript of the message. I had this whole thing in front of me on my iPad as I was speaking. Many people of all ages came up to me after the message to say they really appreciated the message. I'm thrilled that people benefitted from it. I endeavored to be faithful to share what the text really said, and not some clever, rhyming or alliterating list of points. See for yourself. Or, take a listen. The audio for the message (except for the invitation) is posted at the church website. Go to http://southbc.org. Click "Messages". Scroll down to "Guest Speakers - 2012". Find "Zacchaeus Reboot". Click on either the "Listen" or the "Download" button. Or, here's the direct link to the audio: http://www.southbc.org/media/audio/custom/596.mp3

Preliminaries

1. [PICT Thank You] Thanks to our pastor for giving me the opp to stand before you today. I feel like I've won the lottery.
2. Many of you know that I've been on quite a journey the last couple of years. [BLANK] Diagnosed with lymphoma in 2009, I underwent two different rounds of chemo, and had a stem cell transplant last year.
   A stem cell transplant is a complete reboot of your immune system. It’s an amazing thing!
   It seems to have pleased the Lord to set me free, as I've been in remission since June of last year. Glory to God. And thank you all for coming alongside me and my family during that difficult season.
3. I got my own stem cells. But many people need stem cells donated from others. [PICT: BeTheMatch.com] You can literally save a life by going to bethematch.com and clicking the Join button. If you’re interested in more information, I’d be happy to talk with you about it after the service.

Transition:

[BLANK] Speaking of reboots, have you noticed all the reboots in the movies? Two Snow White reboots with Mirror, Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman. Sometimes stories need refreshing.

The same is true about the Bible.

This morning, I’d like to reboot an "old" Bible story, found in Luke 19. [PICT Zacchaeus reboot]

A reboot of this story is important, because some Bible passages are so well worn, we don't hear them any more. Some passages are like inside jokes. You read and you think you get it, but you’re not positive. This Event is one of them. Google for “Zacchaeus”, and on the very first page, you’ll get great resources for kids: puppet videos, coloring pages.

And I know that the first thing that came to your mind when I said Zacch was the song “Zacchaeus was a wee little man.”

Like Snow White, the Zacc story has been pigeon holed into a kids story. But it's time for this story to grow up. And it's time for us to learn what it's really about.

So let’s turn to Luke 19:1-10.

[PICT Jesus Thru...] While you’re turning there, I want you to know about a great book called “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes”. It should go without saying that the gospel wasn’t originally written for 21st Century Westerners. It was written for 1st Century Middle Easterners. As a result, the stories had different significance than they do for us. This is the source for a lot of the inside information I’ll be sharing this morning.
[BLANK]

[READ]

19 1 [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to lodge with a sinful man! ” 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much! ” 9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

PRAYER: Open our eyes Lord, that we may see wonderful things out of your Law. May this be a time when each of us hears from you and responds to you. Have Your way here today. Amen.

1. [PICT Map showing relation of Jericho to Jerusalem.] "He entered Jericho and was passing through."
   • Why was Jesus in Jericho? He was wrapping up His preaching from village to village [PICT Matthew 9:35ff], and was on His way to Jerusalem for His last Passover and then crucifixion. The clock was ticking.
   • [BLANK] He’s surrounded by crowds. Lu 18:35ff. Some in the crowd were Disciples and some were Roadies, following Jesus from place to place.
   • But most were a sort of welcoming committee from Jericho.
   • Jesus is a celebrity. Who knows, He might even be the Messiah, sent from God to save the world!
   • You don’t just Like Jesus on facebook. You get out on the road to town so you can get a glimpse of him and welcome Him into your town with shouts and waving..
   • [PICT: Motorcade and soldier] like when the President’s motorcade comes to town and we go out to meet him
   • Or when a hero comes home and crowds meet him at the airport
2. Jesus wasn’t staying in Jericho, but was passing through.
   • In the Middle East, when a dignitary comes to town, their hospitality customs had the people prepare to give him an appropriate welcome, including a feast and a place to spend the night. [BLANK]
     
   • With the huge crowds that were awaiting him, you can be sure that someone had a banquet set up.
     
   • But while the town was ready to receive Jesus, He was just passing through.
     
3. Introducing Zacchaeus "2. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich."
   
   • His name is ironic. It means “Clean, pure.” [PICTURE of Mr. Clean.] But he was NOT clean.
     
   • He was a tax collector.
     
     • People don’t like the IRS today, but a New Testament tax collector was nothing like the IRS. Much more like the mafia.
       
     • In exchange for providing trade and world peace, the Roman empire exacted taxes on its peoples.
       
     • Someone in each region would volunteer to be the person to pay the taxes for an area, and then they would get the citizens to pay him back. He might have to pay $1000 per year. And he gets Roman backing to help him collect from the people.
       
     • [PICT Tax collector math.] Here’s the thing: the tax collector sets his own fees. He may require $10 per person per year. With 5000 people, he collects $50000, and makes quite a profit.
       
     • If people didn’t like it, the tax collector could call for a squad of soldiers to come and make the person pay, if you know what I mean.
       
   • Taxes is a big deal, because when they were trying to frame Jesus, they accused Him of not paying taxes. [PICT Lu 23:2]
     
     • I could see where they’re coming from, because when tax collectors came to Christ, they either quit (like the apostle Matthew), or they began charging fair wages, making it seem like He was cutting Caesar’s take.
       
     • [PICTURE: chief tax collector] He was a chief tax collector. Greek: an arch tax collector.. Three things to point out about this:
       
       • As the arch tax collector, he had regular tax collectors working for him.
         
       • As the arch tax collector, he was the one who actually had regular dealings with the Romans as he handed them the money.
         
       • He may have' been a man of power and influence with the Romans, but he was the person who most betrayed his people.
         
     • He was rich. PICT Tax Collector Math 2
       
       • Of course he was!
         
       • And, I can see how he might justify his wealth. The more detestable his position in society became, the more he felt he deserved his wages for having to put up with so much stuff.
   • [BLANK]. That’s Zacchaeus. Obviously a man beyond hope, right? There’s no way someone like him would ever be saved. If you or I were to encounter someone like him on the streets of Huntsville, or in a business setting, or in an airplane, we would sincerely think that sharing Christ with him would be a waste of time.
     
4. "He was trying to see who Jesus was"
   
   • I don’t know how it happened, but there was something going on inside Zacchaeus. 
   • Maybe Zac really was hungering and thirsting for rightness.
   • The Greek is emphatic. He sought to see who Jesus was. Literally, he was a seeker. [Foreshadows Jesus’s words in 19:10 - He came to seek and to save the lost.]
   • What about you? [PICTURE: “What about you?”] Who is Jesus to you? Not the Sunday School answer, but your soul's answer. Is Jesus more to you than a paper cutout? Is he more than just a rumor to you? Come on. Honestly. Deep down, don’t you really wish there was something more to Jesus than this?
   • Don’t just sit there and let your curiosity slip away as if it were nothing more than indigestion. Be at least as serious as Zac. [PICTURE: What if it’s really true that Jesus is the One sent by God to change the world?] What difference would that make to you? This isn't a speech. This isn't a sermon. This isn't a lesson. I'm sincerely asking you a question. 
   • Back to our story. Let's see what difference this makes to Zaccahus.
5. [BLANK] "He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man."
   
   • Not just that he was short. There were all kinds of short and weak people around Jesus. Beggars, lepers, blind, bleeding people.
     
   • He couldn’t risk it. He was a Roman collaborator. If he had made his way into that crowd, he would’ve ended up with a knife in his ribs. And no one would’ve known it until the crowd passed and there was his trampled dead body left behind in the street.
     
6. He did two embarrassing things. "Luke 19:4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way."
   
   • Prominent Middle Easterners don’t run, any more than diplomats in business suits run. You have to hike up your robes and then people will see your feet and your bare legs and your underwear.
     
   • And they definitely don’t climb trees! Imagine a Saudi sheik in a tree.
     
   • How far would you be willing to go to see who Jesus was? Would you be willing to run or climb a tree?
     
   • At the end of our time together this morning, would you be willing to step out from where you’re sitting and come down to the front and meet with one of us? Are you willing to say, "I want my life to be different. I want a better understanding of Jesus."
     
   • That's where Zacchaeus was.
     
7. [He was stuck!]
   
   • The nice thing about the sycamore tree [PICTURE], is that it’s big and has big leaves. You might be able to climb into such a tree and be totally hidden from view.
     
   • No such luck for Zac. He was spotted! We know he was because Jesus called him by name.
     
     • Sure, he could’ve been using His divine power to do that, but when Jesus does, the text usually points out that He is, with “Jesus, knowing all things.. ”
       
     • its no stretch to imagine that someone in the crowd happened to see Zac up in the tree. What a laughable site that was. “Hahaha. Look, Zac is in that tree! Is he trying to hide? In a tree?!”
       
     • And doubtless there were people in that crowd who were licking their lips, amazed at this golden opportunity to get back at Zac. They were throwing insults and thinking about throwing rocks.
       
   • I think it’s important to point out here that at Southside, you’re in a safe place. If you respond to Jesus today, this crowd will be on your side. No one will be against you. If there are any shouts, they’ll be shouts of joy! We are all on this journey together.
     
8. Jesus rescued Zac. Luke 19:5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.”
   
   • This is the part that’s so easy to miss. Jesus shouted up to Zacchaeus. The crowd hushed, anticipating how the Messiah would put him in his place. It was going to be sweet. “Zacchaeus, you filthy robber! You stand under the judgment of God, and you will fall!”
     
   • [SLIDE John 3:17] But Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
     
   • Jesus did shout to Zac. He commanded him: “Hurry up and come down!” He said, “I have to go back into town and spend the night in your house.” [BLANK]
     
   • Curious that Jesus said “I must stay at your house.” Why must He? Because, ladies and gentlemen, He had a divine appointment. This was the very reason the Son of God grew that sycamore tree. It was the very reason He passed through Jericho.
     
   • At this point, Zac’s choices:
     
     1. Stay in the tree. Hope and pray for Roman soldiers to come and back him up before someone comes and pulls him down from the tree. Or throws rocks at him.
        
     2. Risk everything, take Jesus at His word, and come down.
        
        • Jesus might’ve been joking. He might betray him.
          
        • OTOH, Zac might find himself under the protection of Jesus’s influence, so that the crowds wouldn’t dare touch him.
          
   • It didn’t take Zach long to decide because the Bible says he hurried up and came down!
9. Luke 19:6 So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully.
   
   • he received Jesus joyfully. He opened his home to Jesus.
     
   • And the Bible says, [PICTURE John 1:12]
     
   • This was Zac's first step of faith in Jesus. And Jesus proved Himself trustworthy.
10. [BLANK] This rescue cost Jesus. Luke 19:7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
    
    • Moments before, Jesus was the darling of the crowd. They loved Him. Now they’re angry at Him. Why?
      
      • Jesus committed a serious faux pas by showing compassion to this traitor.
        
      • BTW, don't miss their hypocrisy... They don’t really care that Zac’s a sinner against God. What irks them is that Zac is has sinned against them.
        
    • Jesus took the wrath of the people on Himself in order to rescue Zac from them.
      
    • In about one week, Jesus was going to be in a tree--nailed to a cross. And the people will hurl their insults at Him. [PICT Mt 27:39-44] But He won't come down because He must hang there without relief until He had paid the sin debt of everyone everywhere in all time who would ever do like Zacchaeus, and trust Him.
      
11. [BLANK] Look how Zach has changed. Luke 19:8
    And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
    
    • Zacchaeus stands up during dinner and makes this announcement about lavish restitution.
      
      • He wasn’t making this announcement to the crowd, but to Jesus.
        
    • It does matter a little what others think of you. It matters much more what Jesus thinks of you.
      
    • What does Zach call Jesus? [Wait for response.] Lord!
      
    • What does it mean to call Jesus Lord? It means you’re under His authority. In v. 8, Zach surrenders his whole life to Jesus and calls Him Lord.
      
    • When it comes to dealing with money, it’s a Mideastern custom to be dramatic. To exaggerate. In all honesty, Zach probably didn’t even have enough money to pay as much as he claimed he would.
      
    • What's more, if he had spoken carefully like we would today, they would’ve thought he was weaseling out.
      
    • You know someone’s life has changed when money has stopped being the central focus of their life. Zach has found a new Master, and now even Zach’s money is at the Lord’s disposal.
      
    • He’s willing to go back to those he’s wronged, painful as that will be, and make restitution.
      
    • Nothing shows that a heart has been transformed more than a willingness to make restitution.
      
    • There's nothing glamorous about restitution. It's painful. It's costly.
      
    • But it's cleansing to the soul.
      
12. [Salvation in the house.] Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham."
    
13. Even before Zach really did anything, Jesus said “salvation has come to this house.”
14. Notice the change of address in this verse.
    
15. Jesus begins by talking to Zac, and ends by talking to us.
    
16. Zach is a son of Abraham, not just by genealogy, but by faith. [SLIDE “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.” Gen 15:6 Rom 4:3 Gal 3:6 Jas 2:23]
    
17. This passage illustrates how real faith is something that shows up in a changed life.

Conclusion.

[BLANK] Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

• At the beginning of the story, we see that Zac was out to seek Jesus. At the end of the story, we see that Jesus was out to seek Zac, and me, and you.
  
• And now that we have reached the end of the story, what did Zac find as his answer? PICT Jesus is the Lord
  
  • That Jesus is the Lord
    
  • That Jesus loves him, and us, even when we're dirty.
    
  • That God's a much better God than he ever imagined.
    
  • That Jesus is actually on a mission to find us and save us.
    
• At the beginning of this story, Zac was seeking to see who Jesus was. At the end of the story, Zac was all in.
  
• That's what Zac found. Is that what you have found?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please pass through our Jericho today. Some of my friends here are pretty much hiding in a tree. They’re hiding because it’s all they know to do. Would You please call their name today? Would you call them to Yourself? Would you come into their lives today and save them?

Invitation

• You’ve been so gracious to listen to me. But we're not thru yet. Because if Jesus is calling you, then I'd like to give you an opportunity to respond. Do you feel prompted to do something? If so, i know what’s happening inside your mind right now.
  
  • On the one hand, you're thrilled to imagine what wonders await if you respond.
    
  • OTOH, you say, “I don’t have to step out. I can give my life to Jesus from right here.” Theoretically, that’s true. But in all honesty, that never works. That’s a cop out. That’s you staying in the tree.
    
• you're so close. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Take a deep breath and Say, “Lord, I really do want to listen to you. I am willing to put up with a little embarrassment to step out in faith and really put my life in your hands.
  

With that, LET'S ALL PLEASE STAND.

There’s nothing magical about the front of the church. There’s nothing magical about me or any of these folks who are up here. But there is something magical about you stepping out. Because that is your testimony that you are listening to the voice of Jesus. We’re just here to register your decision, to celebrate with you, and to chat with you about some next steps.

Maybe Jesus is saying, “Come down out of that balcony where it’s so easy to hide, because I want to stay at your house.”

Maybe Jesus is saying, “Step out from the back of the room where it’s easy to hide.”

Students: Does it feel to you like Jesus is inviting you to follow Him? If you’re tired of a half-way walk, surrender to Jesus. Step out. It’ll change your life.

When you get serious about pursuing God, He’ll change you.

"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house."

Ip Man 2 and the Christian Worldview

I just watched "Ip Man 2" on Netflix. I really enjoyed the movie. But it got me wondering, "So how does the Christian worldview compare with Ip Man's worldview?"

In the film, the main character has the unusual Chinese name Ip Man. He's the kung fu grandmaster who eventually trained kung fu legend Bruce Lee. It's an exciting film, culminating with a bizarrely conceived Chinese-Western boxing match. Ip Man using martial arts, and Mr. Twister using Western boxing techniques, duke it out. I'll leave it for you to guess who wins. Definitely an adrenalin rush.

This movie has all kinds of great themes. It has a modest, respectable hero who, even though he can beat up a whole gang attacking him with knives and staves, discourages fighting and goes out of his way to care for people around him. It has good vs. evil, where the evil is unambiguously so. It has reconciliation, discipleship, death. And the good guy usually prevails and the bad guy usually gets his comeuppance.

And you can't help but think that the Chinese-Western boxing match is a metaphor for two worldviews.

I am a Christian. I am the man I am because of God's hand on my life. Jesus Christ allowed himself to be murdered in order that he might reconcile people like me to God. (I know, it's not obvious how murdering Christ brings about reconciliation. But it does, and it's magnificent! If you're interested, I'll gladly talk to you off-line about that.)

I admire Ip Man. He faces challenges with an unflappable demeanor. He has this air of moral rectitude. He stands for God and country. Nope, strike that. He stands for country and traditional culture. Is that bad? On the surface, the answer is "obviously not."

But isn't it interesting that the fantasy worlds constructed by Hollywood (and Hong Kong, in this case) in film after film never have a sovereign God? In this respect, art miserably fails to imitate life.

Hear me with the right tone here. I am not whining. I'm not asking for men to give God a fair chance. I'm announcing emphatically that God condemns them for omitting Him from their thinking and their lifestyle. (See for yourself: Jeremiah 29:17-19; John 3:18-19; Psalm 14:1-3; Mark 16:16 )

In Chinese film, there's a sense of deity in the culture and heritage of the people. In American film, there's a sense of truth, justice, and the American way. Both are inadequate, incomplete substitutes for a godly life. Hear the whole story from a biblical prophet (Micah 6:8):

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

In the Hollywood constructs, they're all about the "justice" and "mercy" stuff. It's the requirement "to walk humbly with your God" that causes them to stumble. Every single time. Observe:

1. It's a requirement to walk humbly with your God. It's a requirement levied by God Himself. As the old joke goes, "They're not The Ten Suggestions." The prophet said, "God has shown you what He requires of you." We're not ignorant. "I'd prefer not, thank you very much," we politely demur. But no matter how nicely we say it, our serene sense of entitlement to do our own thing is stubborn rebellion. (When we see our children do it, we recognize it for what it is.)
2. The requirement is about a walk. That's symbolic language for a lifestyle. God's not interested in merely a weekly performance, but in your whole life.
3. He requires us to walk humbly with God. In America we get "humble" wrong. To us, humble means "modest" or "self-deprecating" (instead of ostentatious). It means puny or poor ("a man of humble means"). These are side effects of true humility, which is a sense of bowed, reverent submissiveness to God. When someone is really humble before God, their life habits will likely be modest. But modesty by itself misses the core of humility.
4. When we get a better sense of God's God-ness and our smallness, humility comes more easily. After all, we are flesh and blood creatures who can be stopped cold by bombs and cancer and hunger. And God? God merely spoke and just about everything we attribute to the Big Bang happened. On top of that, He got involved. He was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.
5. And when the one true God becomes your God, you've got Him right where He wants you.

So Ip Man's worldview, though noble, misses the mark of the divine requirement. And when you get that wrong, you're on the path to destruction. So when the credits roll at the end of the movie and the hero stands triumphant, realize that that's not really the end of the story (see Hebrews 9:27).

Take to heart what the prophet proclaimed and make it your life's purpose to walk humbly with God. More than decency and morality, that's the essence of the Christian worldview (see Matthew 6:33).

Why are Christians not as radical as we should be?

My Sunday School class has been working our way through the Radical book by David Platt. Today we explored the question, "Why are Christians not as radical as we should be?" Or rather, "Why are you not as radical as you should be?" Before you read our list (and a couple more I've picked up), what reason would you give? What's holding you back from being more radical for Christ?


1. Uncertainty about the future - what would really happen to me or my family if I were to sell my house and move to Sudan or to the housing projects? What about our safety, my kids' teeth? What if I get sick, mugged, or eaten by cannibals?

2. Repercussions from family and friends - they'll ostracize me and reduce even further their chances of hearing the gospel and trusting Christ to be their Savior.

3. Pearls before swine - "I've been pretty open in the past and found that sharing my faith is generally a waste of time. They don't want to hear it."


4. We are so integrated into our society - the things society values and needs are the very same things I feel I need.

5. Being radical requires a major intentionality, especially in the face of an already demanding routine. So, when a wife and mother is already spending her whole day running her household, she don't have time to add on other activities.



6. We don't really see the greatness of Christ. If the kingdom were more real to us than what we can see... If, deep down, we really believed that Christ rejecters will experience eternal regret under the wrath of the God they'd spurned, we would be willing to lay it all on the line.


I believe that last one is really the key. Our vision of Christ needs focus. He is great (e.g., Heb 1:1-8). He does love us (Jer 31:3 John 3:16). He is with us forever (Heb 13:5 Mt 28:20). And he gives us the opportunity to be radically His. Let's roll!

It's all about the waiting

The traffic light at the end of our street takes two minutes to change. Doesn't matter if any cars are coming. That light makes us wait an unfair amount of time! And I have a life to live! Things to do! Places to go!

And now, during this extended medical treatment, I have learned a lot about waiting. Waiting to be seen. Waiting for results. Waiting to improve. I routinely wait around for a few hours a day. And that's just the way it is.

Of course, I become restless, and need to fill that time with something. Chatting. Reading. Watching TV. Facebook. Praying. And so I am gradually become acclimated to a lifestyle of waiting.

It must be good for me.

The 15 Verses Project

There are two things that really bolster the strength of my soul: my friends and the Scriptures. Here's an idea that brings them both together. I'm calling it "The 15 Verses Project." It's really simple, each friend videos someone (or themselves) reading a 15-verse passage from the Bible, starting with the book of Luke, and posts that video on facebook.

Details:

1. Select 15 verses in a row from the book of Luke. If the section of the chapter is shorter than 15 verses, just stop at the end of the chapter.
2. Passages should begin on even 15-verse boundaries. That is, Luke 1:1, Luke 1:16, Luke 1:31, Luke 1:45, etc. Sometimes, that means that your reading will start in the middle of a paragraph. That's perfectly OK.
3. You can read it yourself, have a family member read it, or make it a dramatization involving several. Be as creative as you please.
4. Choose whatever setting you like: home, office, car, park, Burger King, etc.
5. Be respectful of the God whose Word you are reading.
6. When you upload your video, title the post "15 Verses Project--Luke x:yy-zz", where x is the chapter you picked, and yy-zz are the starting and ending verses. For example, 15 Verses Project--Luke 24:16-30 
7. When you upload the video, tag me in it so I'll be notified.
8. Don't be surprised if multiple people pick the same passage. That's OK (Prov. 16:33)!

Feel free to do more than one 15. In no time, we'll have the whole book of Luke online, suitable for sharing with other friends. If we pass it on, we could eventually have the whole Bible available. How cool is that?

And in the near term, I'll receive the great blessing of hearing the greatest story ever told as creatively produced by my friends and my family. I can't wait to see it!

Testimony from "Help is on the way"

I was introduced to Christ and the Scriptures when I was 8 years old. Throughout my life, I’ve learned to wrestle with the Scriptures and turn to the Lord for the hard questions. I receive guidance and peace as God speaks to me through His Word.

There's a difference between believing something and walking through it. As of today, my future is a big question mark, followed by an exclamation point. I am going through a relapse of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This time around, it’s not responding to the chemo, so the medical team has come up with Plan B. I don’t know if I’ll survive it. I don’t know if it will take care of the cancer. That’s the question mark.

Not only is my future a question mark, it’s followed by an exclamation point. God is on His throne. He's Lord of heaven and earth, and there's not one dust mote that's out of his control. Jesus said that I'm in His hands, and He's in the Father's hands. And He said that He is with me always, even to the end of the age.

God has been gracious to come alongside me and minister even more grace to me than I've ever experienced before. I'm so glad to have brothers and sisters in Christ who have creatively and generously loved us with their availability, their prayers, their counsel, encouragement, and practical helps.

I can’t think of Scriptures that promise that everything will come up roses in this life. In fact, Jesus said that in this world we’d face tribulation, but, he also said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

So I’m trusting that God has me safely strapped in for the roller coaster ride of my life. And someone said the best way to ride a roller coaster is with your hands in the air, lifted up to the Lord.