God's Mission - Fundamentals

June 12, 2022 • Vitaly Kunda

Rooted in the Past - Fundamentals

June 5, 2022 • Andrey Bulanov

Main idea: Healthy christian discipleship is rooted in the witness and example of the past as it seeks to faithfully understand Scripture and live out the mission of Jesus. Outline: 1. The Bible commands us to be rooted in the past i. The biblical idea of discipleship includes one generation passing on its understanding of the faith to another ii. The Holy Spirit is continually active in history, building the church 2. Faithful Christians have always been rooted in the past. i. Creed/Rule of Faith, Confession/Statement of faith, Catechism 3. Practical implications ◦ A great sense of security in seeing God's work in history ◦ A deeper sense of unity with the body of Christ ◦ A rich heritage of examples and wisdom Practical steps: • Understand that you are part of a greater story of faith ◦ consider the faith and life of others, imitate them • Learn church history ◦ Books ◦ Podcasts • New City Catechism • Get a cool print out of the Nicene Creed Scripture References: • Matt. 28:19-20 • 2 Thess. 2:15 • Hebrews 13:7 • Jeremiah 6:16 • Acts 28:28-31 • Hebrews 12:1-2 ----------- We continue our series on the fundamentals of what we as a church value as of prime importance. We have covered some solid ground - Gospel, Scripture, Discipleship, Community Today we hit our fifth point: Historically rooted. We believe it is very important to the health of the church and of the individual christian that our discipleship, our spiritual growth - our whole life be rooted and informed in the story of the church in the past. Some may be skeptical of this kind of thing being essential to the life of the church. Why do we need other christians and other traditions and creeds? Isn't the Bible enough? Isn't the Bible our only standard? Isn't the past generations of the church all corrupt and incorrect? Weren't there just a bunch of traditions and ideas that ruined people's view of the church? 1. The Bible commands us to be rooted in the past • The biblical idea of discipleship includes one generation passing on its understanding of the faith to another Matt. 28:19-20 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. Notice, when we speak of the process of christian discipleship - we are not just talking about memorizing the Bible. We are talking about us teaching each other our understanding and life in the Bible. That means that we are using our own works to summarize, clarify and explain biblical truth. God's command of discipleship includes US studying Scripture, and then using our own words, ideas and summaries to explain Scripture. Human summaries of the faith are not bad - they are actually ESSENTIAL to healthy discipleship. The NT has a number of phrases that refer to human summaries of biblical truth. Here is one example. 2 Thess. 2:15 "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” Traditions - good traditions are faithful examples and summaries of biblical truth. Hebrews 13:7 "7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith." People say, "We only need the Bible!" - point them to this verse. Notice here that there is a generational element to healthy faith - examples and teachings of saints who come before you being passed on and on. "as you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith...." There is an inevitable historic component to God's plan of the church. There is a deep interconnectedness with previous generations - with their wisdom, with their experience, with their examples and their faith. Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths, “Which is the way to what is good?” Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, “We won’t!” God is calling the people back to faithfulness to his Word - how does he do it? He does it by calling them to a historic expression of that faithfulness. • The Holy Spirit is continually active in history, building the church The book of Acts ends on a very interesting note - Paul is a prisoner in Rome, he preaches a message of conviction to the Jews, and his closing words are - Acts 28:28-31 28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” And then Luke closes with these words: 30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. This great book, this great story of the birth of the church - of the spread of the gospel to the empire in ONE generation - it gets to the end and leaves you hanging. The story is unfinished. The word of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit to build the church continues on to today. And we are all part of that story. One of the reasons the church struggles is because every generation thinks that its the only one. Its not. We are not the only christians who ever lived. God has been faithfully building the church for 2000 years. And when he calls you into discipleship, when he calls you into the fellowship of his love, into the community of his people, he is inviting you into a loooooong story in which he has been working from generation to generation to preserve his faith. Healthy discipleship is based on faithfulness from one generation to the next. The Holy Spirit is active in history. That means that if you are serious about following Jesus, you will be very interested about how previous generations have done it. We are ALWAYS passing on the teaching of the Bible with a certain historic expression of the faith. This is why the author of Hebrews 2. Faithful Christians have always been rooted in the past. There is a general pattern in church history - the worst seasons in the church are the seasons when the focus on the church and its traditions became exclusively focused on itself, and was cut off from the history pattern of faith that came before it. This is the only way that cults and heresies are born - to take some Bible passage and twist it to a totally new idea. The only people who will be convinced of that will be people who don't know the story of the church and its beliefs. There is also a pattern of awakening in the church when christians return to the authority of Scripture AND a rediscovery of old historic voices in the church. This is how it happened for Luther and Calvin in the Reformation. The only way they were able to stand up to the foolish and corrupt teachings of the catholic church is by reading the bible themselves AND by listening to older voices in the story of the church. They went back to Augustine and to the early church fathers. How did generational discipleship happen in the church? • Creed/Rule of Faith - a short summary of the faith that can be easily memorized. ◦ Ex. Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed • Confession of Faith/Statement of Faith - a longer more extensive summary of detailed doctrines and teachings, usually broken down into topics. ◦ Ex. Westminster Confession of Faith, London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, Living Word Bible Church Statement of Faith • Catechism - Question/Answer format statement of faith meant to be memorized, often used for new believers and children. ◦ Ex. New City Catechism Why are all these necessary and why do we have to write new ones all the time? Because each generation has to battle slightly different challenges to the truth. There are two ways that christians get this wrong. one the one hand we think "well our battles today are totally new, so we don't care what they said back then..." So they completely ignore the story of the church and foolishly try to figure out there own answers. On the other hand, poeple say, "The saints of history are the faithful ones. We need to stick to what THEY said. Stop inventing new ideas and new answers. The biblical example is in the past!" These people fail to face the actual challenges that stand before us. "imitate their faith..." Watch how they battled against lies in thier times and learn to do the same in YOUR time. The correct approach is to learn from the generations of the past to face the future! There is a generational wisdom and power that is passed on in the church. Turtullian - He is battling against a false teacher named Praxeas who teaches that God is NOT three in one - that God is just one person - just the father (no Son no Holy Spirit) Turtullian: "In various ways has the devil rivalled and resisted the truth. ... We, however, as we indeed always have done ... believe that there is one only http://god...that this one only God has also a Son, His Word, who proceeded from Himself, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. Him we believe to have been sent by the Father into the Virgin, and to have been born of her— being both Man and God, the Son of Man and the Son of God, and to have been called by the name of Jesus Christ; we believe Him to have suffered, died, and been buried, according to the Scriptures, and, after He had been raised again by the Father and taken back to heaven, to be sitting at the right hand of the Father, and that He will come to judge the quick and the dead; who sent also from heaven from the Father, according to His own promise, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the sanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost." Notice that his statement of faith is VERY similar to the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. When you look at early church history you see all these little summaries of faith - and they all say the same thing. They all look at the Bible, and try to summarize it best as they can, and they stand together against the lies that come at them from the world. Notice his conclusion: Turtullian: "That this rule of faith has come down to us from the beginning of the gospel, even before any of the older heretics, much more before Praxeas, a pretender of yesterday, will be apparent both from the lateness of date which marks all heresies, and also from the absolutely novel character of our new-fangled Praxeas." How does he battle false ideas? • Scripture • Creed He says, "This is not what Scripture teaches, and this is not what Christians have taught from the http://beginning...this idea is NEW, just like all the heresies." Orthodoxy precedes heresy. Truth is older than error. How do we answer people who say they are christians, but they have all these new ideas?? "God accepts everyone" "there is no such thing as judgement for sin and hell" "God accepts all - no matter what there gender ideology is..." This is not christianity. Orothdoxy precedes heresy. Truth is older than error. Practical implications • A great sense of security in seeing God's work in history ◦ there is a way of truth - the rule of faith • A deeper sense of unity with the body of Christ • A rich heritage of examples and wisdom ◦ powerful against doubt and attacks on the faith ◦ you are not alone in the spiritual struggles you experience ◦ John Bunyan was imprisoned many years - he had two books. the Bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 Christian life that is rooted in the past is a life that cherishes Jesus all the more. Practical steps: • Understand that you are part of a greater story of faith ◦ consider the faith and life of others, imitate them • Learn church history ◦ Books ◦ Podcasts • New City Catechism • Get a cool print out of the Nicene Creed

True Community - Fundamentals

May 29, 2022 • Andrey Bulanov

Main idea: The christian life is an invitation into a life of community with God and his people. It is a shared common life in Christ which draws us together as Christians, gives us a deep sense of belonging, encouragement and purpose as disciples. Outline: 1. True community starts with God 2. True community is central to the life of the church ◦ Assume the best about others ◦ Reject performance and be real ◦ Commit to people as the most important investment of your life 3. True community is for the world Questions: • Do you feel a deep sense of belonging to the church family? Is your heart wide open to the church family in your life? What are the barriers to that? • Do you enjoy the church? Do you strive to make it a place that others enjoy as well? • Do you see yourself as someone who is actively building the life of the church? Scripture References: • John 17:21 • Revelation 21:1-3 • 1 John 1:3 • Ephesians 4:1-3 • 2 Corinthians 6:11 ---------- We are continuing our series on our fundamental values as a church. We have discussed Gospel, Scripture, Discipleship - and today we come to community. In many ways community falls UNDER the umbrella of discipleship. Our life as christians in the community of the church is PART of our whole life of discipleship. At the same time, community is such an important aspect of our discipleship that it deserves its own sermon. Desert monastics - an ironic birth of powerful community St. Anthony - was born in a small village on the left side of the Nile to relatively wealthy parents. Although his parents died when he was young he inherited enough money for a comfortable life. But his life changed when he walked into a church one day and heard the reading of Matt. 19:21 "if you want to be perfect, sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in the kingdom of heaven..." During the mid 300's when christianity became the state religion of Rome, a number of people were dissatisfied with the way that christianity was becoming the popular norm, and in thier view was being watered down. So these individuals set out to live alone in the desert and devote themselves to spiritual growth, prayer and meditation. Some of these early hermits lived alone for years is rock caves. But their devotion was very attractive to many others and no matter how they tried to get away from civilization - devoted disciples always found them. And so this movement grew from isolated people to form communities out in the Egyptian desert. These communities came to be called monasteries from the greek word that means "solitary". These desert monastic communities lived by a strict code, with clearly defined leadership, daily schedules and roles for everyone in the community. They gathered twice a daily for prayer and worship. They sang psalms while they worked. Joining these communities was not easy. People who wanted to join had to spend at least a few days outside by the gate begging to be let in. They they spent a year or so with the gatekeeper, learning the doctrines of the faith before they were admitted as true members. What started as a effort by some to escape social presence turned into a powerful movement of social spiritual community that permanently impacted Western civilization and christian practice for all of history. Why such appeal? Who wants to reject their freedom and riches, live in poverty and seclusion? We see in this a powerful attraction to the human need for social and spiritual belonging. what is community? The word community is used in a variety of ways to describe a group of people that have something in common that draws them into a shared life together. Christian community: a shared common life that draws us together based on our shared identity as followers of Jesus. A shared common life in Christ which draws us together as christians, gives us a deep sense of belonging, encouragement and purpose as disciples. Christian community demonstrates that following Jesus is not an individualistic process. That knowing God is not something that is experienced through a program or a class. That life with God inevitably carries with it a certain kind of social experience. Why is this so important to the life of the church? 1. True community starts with God Although community is a social experience its roots go far beyond any human experience. John 17:21 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. Jesus' intention for the community and love of the church is rooted in the love and unity that exists within the trinitarian relationship. The Bible does not present God is a isolated solitary old man floating in the sky. This goes way back to Genesis 1 "let US create man in our image after our likeness..." Man, created as a social creature is created in the image of a God who is, at his core relational, and lives in a life of communal partnership and belonging. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in essence and nature, three in person - living in a state of unity, oneness, joy. Jesus' goal for his disciples to live in community, belonging and love is rooted in his own life within the Trinity. The biblical God is a community of love within himself. Why do cults have such power to make people change their lives and do crazy things? Because their is something transcendental in a deep experience of spiritual belonging. Not only is God social within himself, he creates so that he may dwell with us. Why did God create the world? Often our practical, results oriented view of life makes us frame God in a way that is too results oriented. God is perfect and does not need anything. He creates the world not to get some specific result. He creates to spread and share what he already has. All thoughout the Bible we see the idea that God desires to dwell with his people - to live among them, to share his life, his presence with them. To belong to them and to have himself belong to them. "http://....and they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool evening breeze..." Notice how this is clearly highlighted in Revelation 21 as the GOAL of all history - Revelation 21:1-3 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 What does it mean that he will be "with them"? If we trace the biblical story and follow the idea of God's presence, we see a God who is not always seeking some sort of practical result - his mind does not work like a business man. He is a God who desires to dwell with his people. To live among them. To share a common life - he seeks to belong to them, and he seeks for them to belong to him. Maybe one reason modern culture is so sad and lonely is because we are always so excessively busy. We are running from one thing to the next. We don't have time to just be, to belong, to put down roots, to enjoy the company of others. We can learn from God. 2. True community is essential to the life of the church John 17:21 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. God desires and God works for this goal - not just so that individuals will be saved from hell, not just so that they would be changed to be more like Jesus - but that they may experience among each other, what God experiences within himself. One of the most important goals of the church is not just that we have correct theology, good preaching, a good building - but that there exist a certain kind of spiritual oneness among us. Jesus prays that the church experience a certain kind of social experience that mirrors God's own inner community. 1 John 1:3 3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. How do we get to this? What is your view of the church? Is it a place you have to perform? Is it a place you have to be careful to please certain people? Is it a place where you see others as obstacles to your own goals? Is it a place you come to get what you need personally? Have a correct perspective of the church: • we are one in Christ • we have the same story of salvation from sin • we are adopted into the family of God • we all have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in our • we have the same battles with sin and temptation • we are on the same team against the forces of darkness • we are partners in the mission of the gospel to the world • we are all loved by the same Father When you think of the church, do you think of it as the place of deepest spiritual oneness in your life? But theres a second step. its not enough just to acknowledge our common spiritual foundation. We must work to build a community of love and belonging. Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. For many christians, experiencing spiritual community in the church is viewed as a bonus, but not as an essential. We are busy, we have jobs, families, plans - having a good church community is seen as a great bonus that we can plan on in some seasons of life, but not in others. Another thing we commonly see is that people want to come to church or a small group where there is a really good sense of community - a space that is encouraging, loving, genuine - but they don't want to build it. They just expect it to be that way so they can come and enjoy it. Paul says that when we understand our spiritual unity in Jesus, we commit to building a life of love, unity and peace among the christians in our life. "http://...make every effort..." Its great that we all agree that we have one foundation - but how do we actually become the kind of church that is marked by love, joy and acceptance? How we act in a social setting is a reflection of how your heart is oriented toward those people. • assume the best not the worst - love hopes all things believes all things, rather than fear and criticism bring joy and encouragement We can never see into people's hearts. But we act like we can. We look at their actions and we make assumptions about what we think their motives are. Maybe because you have been hurt in the past. Maybe for other reasons - we often fall into the temptation of assuming the worst about others. when someone said something critical of us, we may assume they are set against us, they dont like us, they are prideful, etc. What kind of community does this create? Prioritizing personal safety, distance from others, a spirit of criticism. "bearing with one another in love" "love hopes all things, beleives all things..." when I assume the best about others i learn to see them as struggling saints - as those who are battling with sin but deep down seeking growth in God. This is not naive. It makes forgiveness much easier. It makes me a lot less afriad or suspicsious of others. It makes me more likely to bring joy and encouragement instead of constant correction. Encouragement is very very powerful. When you assume the best about others, you are much more like to be an encourager. • reject performance and be real - even if people misunderstand me at times, i know that deep down we are all seeking to be more like Jesus Do you worry what others think of you? Do you feel like you need to put on a certain look? That you need to act a certain way to gain acceptance? A spirit of performance kills true community because it breeds an atmosphere of being fake and shallow. 2 Corinthians 6:11 11 We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. What if they misunderstand me? what if they judge me? Its ok. We can't fully control how others view us. The most important thing is that i am truly walking before God, I am loving people, I am opening my heart to them - Ill let God do the rest. Paul was misunderstood a lot. But you know what also happened through his miinistry - a lot of people were encouraged and built up. We think that its the pastors who are smart and know everything that build others up. The reality is that its often someone right next to you who is honest about how they are struggling, how they are battling sin, and how God is helping them. • make a commitment to people as the most important investment of your life community is built by people who show up, people who are committed to serve and to give even when no one is looking and even when it seems that it was all pointless. Jesus said what you did for the least of the brothers - you have done for me. Has that ever sunk in to your heart? Serving the church, loving people - its not always glamorous. Ask the people who keep our property looking so good. As the guy who rebuilt the kitchen. Ask a group leader. The most important investment you make will often not FEEL like the most important investment. It will feel like an inconvenience. Real community is built by people who show up, who don't let others down, who change their schedule to help, to love, to lend a hand, to give money, to grieve and pray... What is your heart orientation to the church? Do you desire to build up the community of Christ, to create an atmosphere marked by the love, care and presence of Christ? 3. True community is for the world look at the world and the culture, the decline of institutions has rapidly increased a sense of loneliness. There is very little that deeply holds people together people want total freedom and total belonging and the two are mutually exclusive. John 17:21 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. "by this all men will know that you are my disciples..." The world is in need. But in need of WHAT? Not another big church. Not another great program or a nice sermon. Its in need of a place where people come and witness the love and presence of God in how ordinary people accept, care and welcome them. "Come to me all...." That invitation is directed through the body of Christ. Our calling is not to worry about what the world will think of us. Its on building such a beautiful life together that others will find it irresistible. So much worry about how to fight back the hyper work liberals in politics. So little energy to building place where the love and wisdom of Christ compels them to come and want a taste. Questions: • Do you feel a deep sense of belonging to the church family? Is your heart wide open to the church family in your life? What are the barriers to that? • Do you enjoy the church? Do you strive to make it a place that others enjoy as well? • Do you see yourself as someone who is actively building the life of the church?