Church, Culture, and Commitment
Nehemiah - Restore the Broken • Sermon • Submitted
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· 138 viewsThrough the reading of God's word, the people were convicted ofthe need to make a binding agreement with God, to follow him.
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Introduction
Introduction
What does it take for a person to truly be committed to Christ Jesus.
The story of the Parrot… I read this story about a man who bought a parrot. It was a beautiful parrot but he had a really bad mouth. He could swear for five minutes straight without repeating himself. The man was embarrassed because the bird was driving him crazy in front of people.
He tried to appeal to the bird by asking him to clean up his language. The parrot promised to change but nothing happened. In fact, his swearing increased in both volume and frequency.
It finally got to be too much, so the guy grabbed the bird by the throat and started shaking him and yelled, “Quit it!” But this just made the parrot angry and he swore more than ever.
Then the guy got really mad and locked him in a kitchen cabinet. That really aggravated the bird and he started clawing and scratching and making all kinds of racket. When the guy finally let him out, the parrot let loose with a stream of swear words that made the man blush.
At that point, the guy was so ticked off that he threw him into the freezer. For the first few seconds the bird squawked and screamed and thrashed around. And then there was silence.
At first the guy just waited, but then he started to wonder if the bird was hurt. After a couple minutes of not hearing anything, he was so worried that he opened the freezer door. The bird calmly climbed onto the man’s outstretched arm and said, “I’m really sorry about all the trouble I’ve been giving you. I make a solemn promise and vow to clean up my language from now on.”
The man was astounded. He couldn’t believe the transformation that had come over the parrot as a result of being in the freezer for only a couple minutes. The parrot then turned to the man and said, “I just have one question…what did the chicken do?”
Today we are going to talk about making a vow or an agreement… Is there a difference between a commitment a Christian make than a non-believer.
An Agreement is when people will do whatever it takes for purpose of harmony.
For the Israelites, they wanted a harmonious relationship with God. Prior to this point, it was anything but harmonious, and it wasn't because of God. It was because of the nations sin; the neglect to remember God; to teach their children about God, to reflect upon his glory and presence, purpose and power.
Now however, they have come to a harmony of peace, which included faith in God as Sovereign over all and their commitment to God.
Their agreement was put in writing which was clear to all, no ambiguity and the leaders, (Nehemiah) Levites, and priest (Ezra being one of them) put their seal upon it! This is what made it binding in the eyes of all the people.
Church
Church
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Summary - After the Israelites read the word of God, they became convicted of their sins, repented of their sin, and then made a binding agreement. (10:28-39)
Knowing
Knowing
It began with KNOWING God’s Words as a body of people… the Church!!!
A Christian is identified as a believer in and follower of Christ Jesus.
We continue to emphasis the power spending time in God’s Word.
ILLUSTRATION: I remember at time when I was sitting in Sunday School and the teacher said, we’re going to have a Bible drill to see who will be he first to find the verse and read it. I was pretty excited because i had learned where the books of he bible were.
There was this one girl who would always get to the verse first. However, one day i found the verse first and got to read. As i was reading it there was a word that i mis-pronounce and the rest of the class snickered. it was embarrassing to say the least. The fact was i wasn’t a very good reader. After that I wasn’t so excited to find the verse first.
For many people not being able to read well or not knowing where books of he Bible are, it becomes a road block for them to spend time in God’s word.
For some it being too busy or they find and excuse not to take the time.
For some they just don’t care.
For Israel they had neglected God’s word. That had been part of their rebellious problem. Neglect leads to error.
Neglect is nothing new… even Jesus said...
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord:
Nehemiah 10:
That had been the case of Israel, but now they had rediscover the importance of reading and knowing God’s Word.
The names are listed of all who used their personal seal stating their agreement with God and one another.
There was a law given to govern oaths. it is found in ...
There was a law given to govern oaths. it is found in
When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.
We also read from the book of Ecclesiastes words from Solomon,
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
Vows are very important. they say a lot. the question is do they mean as much as we say they do?
In life, we make commitments to our spouses, our families, our employers our employees. We addressed this briefly last week talking about the vow that is made between a man and a woman in marriage. (For better or worse, in sickness and health, till death do we part)
This agreement is sealed by the authority of God, given through the church, through the state, and signed by the Pastor and two witness. it is an important document.
In the business world sometimes a contract is signed, other times it is not. However, there is always a non-verbal agreement that the employer and employee will do their part.
In the life of a Christian God made a binding agreement through Jesus who took our curse for sin upon himself, stating, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
In the Old Testament they were committed to laws to be righteous. In the New Testament it is a commitment to the righteousness we received through faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus. His righteousness becomes our righteousness.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
this brings us to the church… are we committed to the righteousness of Christ? Are we committed to being like Christ? Do we love one another as we love ourselves? Let’s begin with the church.
The Church
The Church
The church is defined by the people. After Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension the church became known as “Christians”
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
A Christian is identified as a believer in and follower of Christ Jesus.
Like the Israelites who took an oath to God’s laws, believers have take an oath to God’s righteousness.
The Church is made up of people who are followers of Christ Jesus. Christians are not defined by what they do, but by who they are. It is who they are that defines what they do.
In our culture we define who Christians are by what they do. not necessarily as for who they are. As followers we are to be committed to be like Jesus, to serve for his glory.
Jesus sets the example of service. It is seen by the way he washed his disciples feet
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus sets the example through relationships…
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Attitude
Attitude
In the earlier translations of this text it is Attitude.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lets begin with the attitude of the mind… Think about Jesus attitude towards you. How does he feel about your lifestyle as a Christian? Does he see in your heart the desire to live under His grace and loving others with that same grace?
Attitude is something you choose.
The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up. John Maxwell
Look at verses 32 &35
“We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands…
“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree.
We choose how we live as the body of Christ (the Church) AND we choose how we live in and affect our culture.
The best way to affect out culture is who we are as a church body.
Look at what the Bible says we are ...
You are loved ()
You are loved ()
Your are forgiven Matthew 12:31
And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.
Blasphemy - to speak against someone in such a way as to harm or injure his or her reputation. Against God it would be the defaming Him by claiming some kind of equality with him.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.400 βλασφημέω; βλασφημία, ας
to speak against someone in such a way as to harm or injure his or her reputation
Chosen, adopted as His sons, Redeemed, ()
Chosen, adopted as His sons, Redeemed, ()
You Righteous
You Righteous
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.400 βλασφημέω; βλασφημία, ας
to speak against someone in such a way as to harm or injure his or her reputation
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. ()
The New International Version. (2011). ()
Our commitment to Jesus Christ and being the church will affect our culture.
ILLUSTRATION: I was speaking with a mother of a Wednesday night club participant. It was a great joy to hear that she once attended church here as a child and now she wants her children to attend here. she talked about her receiving Jesus Christ when she was little.
As a church we have collectively stated that the primary ministries of the church is worship, congregational care, SS, youth and children.
we are here as a church to impact the lives of both believers and non-believers.
to be an effective church in our culture, our priority in Life should be Jesus.
during one of my quiet devotional times i began to read through the last 4 chapters of Hebrews.
Through these verses I thought of the song Jesus, there’s just something about that name. went to youtube and listened to Andrea Crouch sing it. These are the words...
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name… Master, Savior, Jesus like the fragrance after the rain, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim, Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name.
Isn’t that what life is all about? Jesus...
That song JesusThere is something about that name, led to Through it All, which is a song i remember listening to over and over again one night when i was 19. my room was in the basement, i was struggling with what to do in my life, then that song came on. I remember it so well because it was one the nights that led up to me surrendering my life to Christ for full time ministry. Like that night 42 years ago, i was balling my eyes out during my time with God… then I saw the song “I surrender all”
for the church to have an impact on our culture, it requires commitment… not to a place, not to religion, not to a pastor, but to a person, the Son of God. So here are the words and as you feel led, stand in commitment to Jesus…join in singing… all with the desire to be fully committed to Jesus.
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me Jesus take me now
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Saviour wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine
All to Jesus I surrender
Lord I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power
Let Thy blessings fall on me
All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh the joy of full salvation
Glory glory to His name
The New International Version Chapter 10
“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree
The New International Version Chapter 10
“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree
The New International Version Chapter 10
“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree
The New International Version Chapter 10
“We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands