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Pastor Larry's Message for March 7, 2010
Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren
Living Out Loud
Good morning. Reflect for a moment. Let me ask you…What has been the best day of your life so far? What
has been the worst day of your life? Let’s take a look at a scene from the movie “City Slickers” that
contemplates this very question. We’re in our final week on our series on the temptations of Christ and I want
to close by talking about joy. Scripture teaches us to give thanks in all circumstances and to find joy in the
Lord and in life. But that can be tough, huh? Just like those guys in the movie.
We are in the month of March and (if you pay taxes) you know that April 15th is just around the corner. And
paying taxes can just take the joy away from me. That can be a real joy stealer. Or…have you ever had one of
those days when life seems to be going well. Feel like you’re in cruise control and then all of a sudden some
sort of problem comes along that feels like that five foot pot-hole out on I 75 this past week? These are joy
stealers that get us distracted from our godly purpose.
The past two weeks we have examined the temptation of Christ from the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Today we’
re looking at Matthew 4, verse one: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. He fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and afterward He was famished. The tempter (the joy stealer)
came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ Jesus
said, ‘It is written, one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
What Jesus teaches us in the midst of the temptations is that our joy is not based on our income tax returns
or pot holes. Our joy is based on every promise that comes from the God‘s Word.
Up on the screen is a picture of Jesus laughing. As a youth, I remember the first time I ever saw that picture
and it kind of set me back. I had never seen a picture of Jesus like that. Don’t you wonder if Jesus smiled
during those forty days in the wilderness? Personally, I think he did. The reason I believe this is because Mark
and Luke stated that Jesus was filled with the Spirit. And the second fruit of the Spirit is joy and the third is
peace. When you and I are filled with Holy Spirit…in spite of difficult circumstances…we have the ability to be
connected to God.
When we go through tough times…testing times in life…we have a tendency to postpone life. What do we say
to ourselves? “Well…when I get through this tough time…then I’m going to be able to regain my joy and get
back into life.” But we need to be careful about that. Life is short…we don’t have time to postpone life or joy.
I. Laughing Out Loud: When we are going through tough times…wilderness days…God is teaching us that
we need to learn to laugh out loud. The reality of life is that those joy stealers that come into our lives will try to
tell us that we can’t be happy until the concerns of the moment are cared for. If you are like me, it is easy to
become consumed by those concerns. The crisis becomes the priority and we put off the opportunities of life
around us.
It took me awhile to learn this…but the challenges of life…the crisis that come along…how I respond is the
key to how I live with the life God has blessed me with. You see…ultimately…I am responsible for my own
smile. Tami can’t be responsible for my smile. My kids, you folks or anyone else can be responsible for my
smile. My smile is not dependent upon how well things are going or if they’re not going so well.
Do you ever say to yourself, “Won‘t it be great when things slow down a little and life won’t be so crazy.” But
with life…things never slow down. Something else will come along that will make us crazy. It’s why Jesus
said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
(Matthew 6:33). Do you know what the kingdom of God is? The Kingdom of God is where God is present.
Where two or three are gathered in His name…God is there. So…God is right here…right now. Jesus
teaches us that the Kingdom of God is among us. So, seek first the presence of God. Seek an intimate
connection with God. Seek first the joyful, immediate presence of God and everything else will fall into place.
As followers of Christ, we need to know how to laugh out loud.
II. Loving Out Loud: In this third week of Lent we learn how to laugh out loud and we’re also people who know
how to love out loud. From Old Testament times to the days of Jesus…the first Commandment taught (even
today) is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength. And Jesus adds “love your
neighbor as yourself” When we’re loving somebody that much…that my friends is loud! But that’s where we
find life…connected to God and connected to others.
The challenge before us is that Jesus didn’t say we’re going to find life out of what God said 2000 years ago.
Jesus tells us that we will find life out of what God is saying today. And that means that we must take time to
listen for God in our lives.
One of the things I do on a daily basis now is take time to read God’s Word and to have time for a devotional
and prayer. And that can be a challenge with a busy schedule…but it’s essential. For that is where I find life
and guidance. One of the things I notice when I get away from the Word and prayer is that I resort back to
some old past behaviors and attitudes. Also…I can get on my “high horse” and be all high and mighty and
religious. But Jesus teaches us that this goes way beyond religion. Religion is not life. Religion relies on
yesterday‘s word and a bunch of rules and regulations. Some of the saddest people I’ve seen are religious
people. They know all the scriptures but have no spirit or life.
You know what Jesus said? Jesus didn’t say live in my religion. Instead, he said live in my love! What a great
place to be. In John 15:11, Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that
your joy may be full." That’s great. What Jesus is saying is life is about knowing and experiencing the joy of
God right here and right now. So…let’s recall…followers of Christ will laugh out loud, love out loud and
finally…they will live out loud.
III. Living Out Loud: Let’s talk about belief. The world today is pretty ambivalent towards Christians. Part of the
reason I believe is because of certain messages they perceive from Christians: That you believe in Jesus, get
your sins forgiven and then you have a ticket to get into heaven. Someone who claims Christ can be a
complete moron and do some real jerky behavior and be completely oblivous…but he/she has that golden
ticket to heaven.
Ever seen the bumper sticker on the back of cars that says: “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven!”? Next
time you see that bumper sticker…take a look at how they’re driving? Some of those bumper sticker
Christians are pretty wild on the highways. They probably say that so they can act and drive like any other fool
on the road! Those fish logos and Christian bumper stickers really give me a kick when I see how those folks
are out on the road. You take a look at my car…no fish logo…no Christian bumper stickers. And it’s not
because I’m pretty wild at times driving also. I just don’t believe in a bumper sticker Christianity. Accept Jesus
and get your ticket to heaven! It’s so much more than believing in Jesus…it‘s about transformation…living a
new life.
I learned this from my Brethren heritage. Quite simply I believe that a Christian is someone who strives to live
a life like Jesus! We are learning this in our Membership Class right now. That the early Brethren lived
according to the Word of God. It’s like what the Romans said in the book of Romans, "These Christians are
unbelievable! You can spit on them and they don't spit back. You can hit these people and they act just like
that fellow, Jesus that they follow. They'll turn the other cheek. You can take their coat and then they give you
their shirt." The early Brethren understood what was to be Christian. A Christian is someone who looks like
Jesus. The Romans were amazed by these Christians. The Romans would persecute Christians by stripping
them naked and forcing them to walk on frozen ponds (with the possibility of death), coercing them to
renounce their faith in Jesus. No different for the early Brethren would be imprisoned, tortured, all their
possessions taken away from them. They were persecuted because the early Brethren were striving to be
Christ-like.
How many of you remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” We all learn to recite that Bible verse.
Do you remember who Jesus was speaking to when he said those words? It was a religious fellow by the
name of Nicodemus. You’ve heard of political correctness? Well…Nicodemus was the authority of religious
correctness. He practiced all the rules. But then…in the middle of the night he goes to Jesus to find the
answers that went way beyond the rules. And Jesus tells Nicodemus, "You'll never understand the joy of what
this God-life is about unless you are born from above." In other words, Jesus meant that Nicodemus’ life and
our lives are invaded by the Spirit of God. For when the Spirit of God comes into your life, you are being
transformed into the likeness of Christ. You see…it’s not about believing in Jesus…it’s about allowing Jesus
into your life.
You see where I’m going with this? Following Jesus is so much more than having a fish logo or a cute little
bumper sticker on the back of a car. Following Christ means to be immersed in Jesus. And when we’re
immersed in Jesus…we want to share that God-life with others. Living and following Jesus is filled with joy,
love, peace and hope. The season of Lent is about letting go of things that we value to receive spiritual things
of greater value. It’s about making and living life.
Good morning. Reflect for a moment. Let me ask you…What has been the best day of your life so far? What
has been the worst day of your life? Let’s take a look at a scene from the movie “City Slickers” that
contemplates this very question. We’re in our final week on our series on the temptations of Christ and I want
to close by talking about joy. Scripture teaches us to give thanks in all circumstances and to find joy in the
Lord and in life. But that can be tough, huh? Just like those guys in the movie.
We are in the month of March and (if you pay taxes) you know that April 15th is just around the corner. And
paying taxes can just take the joy away from me. That can be a real joy stealer. Or…have you ever had one of
those days when life seems to be going well. Feel like you’re in cruise control and then all of a sudden some
sort of problem comes along that feels like that five foot pot-hole out on I 75 this past week? These are joy
stealers that get us distracted from our godly purpose.
The past two weeks we have examined the temptation of Christ from the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Today we’
re looking at Matthew 4, verse one: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. He fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and afterward He was famished. The tempter (the joy stealer)
came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ Jesus
said, ‘It is written, one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
What Jesus teaches us in the midst of the temptations is that our joy is not based on our income tax returns
or pot holes. Our joy is based on every promise that comes from the God‘s Word.
Up on the screen is a picture of Jesus laughing. As a youth, I remember the first time I ever saw that picture
and it kind of set me back. I had never seen a picture of Jesus like that. Don’t you wonder if Jesus smiled
during those forty days in the wilderness? Personally, I think he did. The reason I believe this is because Mark
and Luke stated that Jesus was filled with the Spirit. And the second fruit of the Spirit is joy and the third is
peace. When you and I are filled with Holy Spirit…in spite of difficult circumstances…we have the ability to be
connected to God.
When we go through tough times…testing times in life…we have a tendency to postpone life. What do we say
to ourselves? “Well…when I get through this tough time…then I’m going to be able to regain my joy and get
back into life.” But we need to be careful about that. Life is short…we don’t have time to postpone life or joy.
I. Laughing Out Loud: When we are going through tough times…wilderness days…God is teaching us that
we need to learn to laugh out loud. The reality of life is that those joy stealers that come into our lives will try to
tell us that we can’t be happy until the concerns of the moment are cared for. If you are like me, it is easy to
become consumed by those concerns. The crisis becomes the priority and we put off the opportunities of life
around us.
It took me awhile to learn this…but the challenges of life…the crisis that come along…how I respond is the
key to how I live with the life God has blessed me with. You see…ultimately…I am responsible for my own
smile. Tami can’t be responsible for my smile. My kids, you folks or anyone else can be responsible for my
smile. My smile is not dependent upon how well things are going or if they’re not going so well.
Do you ever say to yourself, “Won‘t it be great when things slow down a little and life won’t be so crazy.” But
with life…things never slow down. Something else will come along that will make us crazy. It’s why Jesus
said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
(Matthew 6:33). Do you know what the kingdom of God is? The Kingdom of God is where God is present.
Where two or three are gathered in His name…God is there. So…God is right here…right now. Jesus
teaches us that the Kingdom of God is among us. So, seek first the presence of God. Seek an intimate
connection with God. Seek first the joyful, immediate presence of God and everything else will fall into place.
As followers of Christ, we need to know how to laugh out loud.
II. Loving Out Loud: In this third week of Lent we learn how to laugh out loud and we’re also people who know
how to love out loud. From Old Testament times to the days of Jesus…the first Commandment taught (even
today) is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength. And Jesus adds “love your
neighbor as yourself” When we’re loving somebody that much…that my friends is loud! But that’s where we
find life…connected to God and connected to others.
The challenge before us is that Jesus didn’t say we’re going to find life out of what God said 2000 years ago.
Jesus tells us that we will find life out of what God is saying today. And that means that we must take time to
listen for God in our lives.
One of the things I do on a daily basis now is take time to read God’s Word and to have time for a devotional
and prayer. And that can be a challenge with a busy schedule…but it’s essential. For that is where I find life
and guidance. One of the things I notice when I get away from the Word and prayer is that I resort back to
some old past behaviors and attitudes. Also…I can get on my “high horse” and be all high and mighty and
religious. But Jesus teaches us that this goes way beyond religion. Religion is not life. Religion relies on
yesterday‘s word and a bunch of rules and regulations. Some of the saddest people I’ve seen are religious
people. They know all the scriptures but have no spirit or life.
You know what Jesus said? Jesus didn’t say live in my religion. Instead, he said live in my love! What a great
place to be. In John 15:11, Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that
your joy may be full." That’s great. What Jesus is saying is life is about knowing and experiencing the joy of
God right here and right now. So…let’s recall…followers of Christ will laugh out loud, love out loud and
finally…they will live out loud.
III. Living Out Loud: Let’s talk about belief. The world today is pretty ambivalent towards Christians. Part of the
reason I believe is because of certain messages they perceive from Christians: That you believe in Jesus, get
your sins forgiven and then you have a ticket to get into heaven. Someone who claims Christ can be a
complete moron and do some real jerky behavior and be completely oblivous…but he/she has that golden
ticket to heaven.
Ever seen the bumper sticker on the back of cars that says: “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven!”? Next
time you see that bumper sticker…take a look at how they’re driving? Some of those bumper sticker
Christians are pretty wild on the highways. They probably say that so they can act and drive like any other fool
on the road! Those fish logos and Christian bumper stickers really give me a kick when I see how those folks
are out on the road. You take a look at my car…no fish logo…no Christian bumper stickers. And it’s not
because I’m pretty wild at times driving also. I just don’t believe in a bumper sticker Christianity. Accept Jesus
and get your ticket to heaven! It’s so much more than believing in Jesus…it‘s about transformation…living a
new life.
I learned this from my Brethren heritage. Quite simply I believe that a Christian is someone who strives to live
a life like Jesus! We are learning this in our Membership Class right now. That the early Brethren lived
according to the Word of God. It’s like what the Romans said in the book of Romans, "These Christians are
unbelievable! You can spit on them and they don't spit back. You can hit these people and they act just like
that fellow, Jesus that they follow. They'll turn the other cheek. You can take their coat and then they give you
their shirt." The early Brethren understood what was to be Christian. A Christian is someone who looks like
Jesus. The Romans were amazed by these Christians. The Romans would persecute Christians by stripping
them naked and forcing them to walk on frozen ponds (with the possibility of death), coercing them to
renounce their faith in Jesus. No different for the early Brethren would be imprisoned, tortured, all their
possessions taken away from them. They were persecuted because the early Brethren were striving to be
Christ-like.
How many of you remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” We all learn to recite that Bible verse.
Do you remember who Jesus was speaking to when he said those words? It was a religious fellow by the
name of Nicodemus. You’ve heard of political correctness? Well…Nicodemus was the authority of religious
correctness. He practiced all the rules. But then…in the middle of the night he goes to Jesus to find the
answers that went way beyond the rules. And Jesus tells Nicodemus, "You'll never understand the joy of what
this God-life is about unless you are born from above." In other words, Jesus meant that Nicodemus’ life and
our lives are invaded by the Spirit of God. For when the Spirit of God comes into your life, you are being
transformed into the likeness of Christ. You see…it’s not about believing in Jesus…it’s about allowing Jesus
into your life.
You see where I’m going with this? Following Jesus is so much more than having a fish logo or a cute little
bumper sticker on the back of a car. Following Christ means to be immersed in Jesus. And when we’re
immersed in Jesus…we want to share that God-life with others. Living and following Jesus is filled with joy,
love, peace and hope. The season of Lent is about letting go of things that we value to receive spiritual things
of greater value. It’s about making and living life.