GOSPEL COMMUNITY: WHAT?

and amen what gospel Community we spent the summer thinking about gospel fluency. How do we live our lives in such a way that the gospel is continually and holistically speaking to our lives. The American gospel says that you need to believe something so that after you die, you don't go to hell and you go to heaven and if you live a nice life, you can have a good life. That's the American gospel. Not the biblical God. the biblical gospel says that Jesus came to rescue us from ourselves from the power of Sin from the fear of death and he came to make us new the biblical gospel is the power of God for salvation in all of life. Guy doesn't want to just rescue us from hell and get us off the planet to some place called Heaven. God wants to remake us. Renew us into who he originally made us to be his Imago Dei His Image Bearer. Restore to us that original mandate to bring order out of chaos light Into Darkness to spread the presence in the Beauty and the joy of God's kingdom throughout God's creation. The gospel is not something that we believe once and then move on from the gospel is something that impacts. Not just the religious area of our life every part of our life. In order for the gospel to be that kind of reality. Let me say this way if you want to be fluent in the gospel. The only way that that is going to happen is if you participate in true biblical gospel community. It cannot and will not happen in Independence and isolation. For the gospel to do with the gospel in the gospel alone can do within you you need to be in gospel Community last week. I did my best to try to explain why we should be in gospel Community simply put if we want to grow if we want to change if we want to be the men and the women that we want to be in that God wants us to be We've got to be in gospel Community this morning. I'd like to think about okay, what does gospel Community look like? What what what is a gospel community? And what does it look like if you got your Bibles to look at Romans chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 again. We spent quite a bit of time of this earlier in the summer in Our Gospel fluency series.

It says this I am not ashamed. of the Gospel that good news announcement not only of what Jesus has done. But what Jesus is doing and what Jesus will do a not ashamed of what God is doing in this world not ashamed of God's plan of reconciliation and Redemption. I'm not a shame. Of the Gospel why because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek the gospel is universal. The gospel is for everyone and the gospel has the power to say The gospel has the power to set us free. The gospel has the power to bring reconciliation and forgiveness. It is the gospel. That is the power of change in this world, but not going to be ashamed of that because it is our hope.

Efest for in it. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. That is as it is written the righteous shall live by faith.

Whenever an author what's a word? One sentence multiple times. It's kind of a clue that it's important and that he wants us to get it right in the gospel. It is revealed from faith for faith. That is as it is written the righteous shall live by faith. God really wants us to walk by faith. The guy is something that is not just to be believed. Once the gospel is something that we need to constantly be putting our trust in giving our allegiance to being directed and guided by in all of life. The righteous will live by faith.

Hate this is not simply mental assent. Yeah, I believe that's true very often. That's how we think about faith. Yeah, I believe that's true. That is an essential element of Faith No Doubt But faith is active. It's not just about the leaving something. It's about trusting in it. It's not just about accenting to something. It's about acting because of it. Gospel Community whatever it is, however, it looks and and one of the things that I love about the New Testament is that it never dictates and lays out what gospel Community looks like exactly. It's never enculturated. Right? We don't open up the New Testament and we find an order of service open up new testament. I find a detailed list of how I have a gospel Community will function we do find principles. We do find major themes. We do find things that they that they're all about. But because the gospel is not limited to one culture because the gospel is is greater than all colors. The New Testament says this is what gospel Community is going to be about.

But it doesn't it doesn't bother bound us into a cultural expression of it. But this we know to be true whatever gospel Community looks like it will be Gospel Center. I know that sounds may be too simple. Maybe that sounds redundant gospel. Community will be Gospel Center. No, duh. and yet

in my experience much of what passes as gospel Community Church community is anything but Gospel Center. I think I'm sure this story before my my shirt again when my wife and I moved to Texas so I can go to Seminary. I took a job as a youth pastor and we joined and connected in with the church and I was diving in the first few weeks just was chaos getting connected an end. But but pretty quickly while then I decided we needed to get connected in a in a gospel Community. We needed to be in a small group. We need to be with other people a preferably at that point not teenagers just for some sanity, right? That's what we needed in our life. So at the church that we were at had all these small groups and in one of the people invited us to join them for their small group and so we were excited. I was excited. I was in a season of incredible growth and Delight in the Lord. God was doing some amazing thing. I was excited to get connected with a new group of people. We were kind of mourning the loss of those that we left behind to move. We were wanting craving deep intimate Fellowship in the gospel and we We show up at this this house has a beautiful house really really nice house. And when we pull up all the guys are standing around out front and then we walk up and and coming and one of the guys going to tells one that while all the all the ladies are inside head on in there little lady and and

get her done, right?

And I'm like, alright, we're going Mennonite I can deal with this. We're going to let you know guys, so We're all standing around outside and then I walk into a conversation.

that was

racist fear-based

and full of hatred

And sadly, I wasn't shocked by that. I hear this conversation going on and I and I'm like, okay. Well, let's let's see what can happen. And so I go ahead guys tell me a little bit about your story with Jesus. How'd you guys come to Faith? I kid you not this like group of I mean, these are adult man. He's a big boys right successful in business. They got families. They look at me like a deer in the headlight. What will talk about that?

We talked about orders and we talked about this and we don't talk about that. and literally

hey, what do you think the Cowboys chances are this week? Literally that's what app I'm not making that. I know there's such a thing called pasta.

Maybe some people would have just shut down and given up that just seemed like an invitation to me with meth to mess with these guys. So so they start talking about the Cowboys and and I I wait for a break and I go ahead been speaking to you in the world this week. I read this this text is amazing and I shared the I don't remember what it what's the price of a Share House. Been speaking to you guys in the world? And they looked at me like I was growing horns, right? And again just silence until somebody goes well and started talking about trucks or I don't know something. I don't know.

I don't give up. I'm like, hey guys. I'm new to this group. What were you guys praying about? What are some of the prayer request? How are you guys seeking the Lord together? And apparently the guys looked at each other and go like it's time to go inside and get started. So we went inside and got started. And then there was a prayer not sure anybody talked to God. There was a Bible study. I'm not sure anybody heard from God. That they're there was some little details in here. I'm not sure anybody walked out Changed by God.

My point is not to beat up on a small group cuz I think a lot of Christian Community works that way. It's more cultural than Christian. It's more religious than relational. Gospel Community has to be centered on the gospel. It's got to be about face because the righteous will live not by works. But by faith not by performance not five behavior. Not by politics not by Affinity not by people talk knowledge. The righteous will live by faith.

Which means we got to deal with the areas of unbelief in our lives means we have to learn how to apply the truth and the power of the Gospel not only to our lives each other life. We call each other to trust an allegiance to Jesus. We have to speak truth to each other in such a way that we're looking to Jesus in all of life.

gospel or gospel centered community not a book club or a Bible study. Cuz it's not centered on your doctor in a curriculum. It's not a social club because it's not centered on your connections our relationship Counseling Group because it's not on your therapeutic Kneads. It's not a Social Service Group because it's not censored on your good deeds. It's not a Community Association group because it's not centered on geography. It's not an affinity group because it's not centered on your stage of life or preferences. It's not an event or meeting because it's not centered on a convenient time slot.

Gospel Community is centered on the gospel.

Reagan and anything else isn't gospel Community not saying their bad things.

I'm not. but it is if your if your community is based off of you.

That's all you're going to get out of it. If your community is based on studying the Bible and gaining biblical truth, you'll gain biblical truth, but that's all you're going to get out of it. biblical Truth by itself is useless that almost seems reticle to say right from pulpit. but the devil knows the word of God better than you and I are ever going to facts trivia principles and information do not bring about transformation. We live in the age that has proved this more than anyone else, right? Information is power information brings transformation. We have more information available to us than any time in the history of time. All you have to do is go. Hey, Google. Hey Siri, for those of you enslaved Apple products. May the Lord set you free.

Hey Alexa. Hey Cortana. Hey, what are you?

All the information and misinformation information is there at our fingertips?

Can anybody with a straight face say that information has transformed us into a superior culture has dealt with our Brokenness has a radicand pain and suffering has made up a utopian peaceful place on this Earth. If anything, it's making it worse.

I love Bible Study Bible study alone is not the gospel. If your Christian Community is all about Community if it's all about the relationship, I just love the people that were with that we just love each other. That's good. But it's not the gospel. Cuz the gospels bigger than your relational need. The gospels bigger than a handful of people that you do life with and you guys cuddle and cuddle in Jesus name. If that's all Christian Community is for you if it's if Community is all it is it's a good thing but it can very easily become an idol.

The gospel is holistic. My main intent in these these two series is to is to make the gospel bigger for you that we understand the gospel is more than getting us out of house and getting up to heaven. The gospel is for all of life. Do we need the gospel everyday in every way?

Gospel Community is Gospel Center. We are at the chord gospel. People is how we learn to Define ourselves. Very often the gospel is presented in American culture as we're inviting Jesus into our heart write a phrase that never occurs in the New Testament by the way, but that's a different sermon you invite Jesus into your heart. Now. Here's the challenge with that kind of methodology and phraseology because words matter words mean thing. When you invite Jesus into your heart functionally, you're inviting Jesus into your story. This is my life and my life and help me to live my life. It's so often resented you believe in Jesus. You're not going to be sick anymore. You believe in Jesus. Everything's going to name it and claim it the disgusting perversion of the Gospel. What is the Prosperity Gospel?

It went when we frame and understand the gospel as inviting Jesus into your heart. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel because you think that you're inviting Jesus into your story The Gospel is not you inviting Jesus into your story The Gospel is God's invited you back into his story. Being your story you're the hero and Jesus helps you out in the gospel. Who's the hero? Come on. Now. That's as easy a question as you're ever going to get it for me. Show me lights. I get it I get it. Jesus is my hero. Jesus is the center. We're invited into his story. We're giving a new story a meta-narrative that explains all of life and history successful is a world view. The gospel is holistic and comprehensive. We're not invited Jesus into our story were invited in the story The Gospel makes us his we become gospel people and we're given Gospel Power to save. And there's a the way the New Testament talks about salvation. There's always a past present and future reality to it. The gospel saves Us in the past. It saves us from that stuff that you're embarrassed of it saves you from that stuff that you don't want anybody to know you're failing all the stuff that you're ashamed of The Gospel Four gives you out the gospel saves you from but the gospel, isn't it? Not only saved the gospel is saving us. Right. Now the gospel is at work within us setting us free. We've been set free and we're being set free.

and the gospel will save us the best is yet to come. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to be set free from this Mortal body. I can't wait to be set free to an attorney with a new Heaven and a new Earth without death without sin without sorrow Without Shame. Can't wait to talk. The gospel has save me the gospel is saving me and the gospel will save me you see why we don't start or nothing. You want to be saved. You need the gospel. gospel people with Gospel Power That gives us gospel purpose.

Another word for invited in the god story. He sets the agenda in the direction. We don't invite Jesus into ours and then begin to tell him what to do. He's not our Cosmic Butler. He's not the genie in the lamp. Faith is not the key that unlocks the storehouses of Heaven to give us what we want. Faith is the key that allows us into the story and heart of God that sets us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Beloved son that gives us a direction and purpose the gospel gives us a purpose in life. That is greater than a purpose. We can come up with for our self. better listen to me carefully

gospel purpose is better than the American dream if your life is centered on and driven by and focused on the American dream. Your dream is weak and pathetic.

What was the better than anything else officer comparison? Maybe the American dream is better than the Canadian dream or the Zimbabwe and dreamer or any other dream of any other country? Okay. Let's I give you that not sure that's true. But let me give you that. pales in comparison to the dream of the Kingdom We don't get the coop Jesus into our small Petty American Dream. Jesus came to set us free from that and Co-op back into the dream of the Kingdom.

Gospel purpose week we get to do what God wants us to do which means we have to develop gospel practices.

It's got to be more than words. It has to move from the realm of ideas to the realm of incarnation.

We need to develop gospel practices in our everyday rhythms of life. The way we we tended to Faith in the west is segregated in multiple forms with what I mean by this is that we face right now on Sunday morning. And then we do everything else during the week by something else. And that's not gospel fluency. That's not gospel Community Gospel Center then. We need the gospel when we go to work. When you the gospel when we drive our kids to school. We need the gospel when we're at the hospital. We need the gospel when things are going well. We need the gospel in every area of our life, which means we have to think about if intentionally develop rhythms and practices in our everyday life as any Lobster. Say the normal traffic patterns of Our Lives. How does the gospel lead and direct and show up in all of life?

Not here at AMC. with four core values and those four core values are really derived from the gospel. and them I want to walk through those again with you this morning for some of this be the first time you've heard it for others of you. You've heard it a lot and that's good because we really want to drive those values beat. We want to be driven by the gospel. We think about what this gospel Community look like what my mind and heart goes to is this that goes to this understanding the gospel the values of the costal being lived out and flushed out. in real time by real people so that the first the first values identity the gospel gives us a new identity. We're not inviting God into our story. We're being invited into his we're being transferred from one Kingdom to another kingdom. I don't know how many of you all have like moved moving from one state to another state is kind of like that. You got to get a new driver's license guess which over your insurance you had call. It's moving from one country to another country is is that on steroids? It is a radically different experience. Some of us have walked through that all sudden you find yourself in a in a foreign land. Maybe there's a different language or different currency. There's different processes are different food. There's different values. it's a strange and wonderful experience coming to Faith In Jesus is that Remove from one Kingdom to another and we have to learn how to function in this new kingdom. We have to learn to live out of the new identity that we've already been given and that's an important distinction. I'm not telling you you got to work hard to get your new identity. What you don't work for your new identity? You've been given the new identity you do have to work hard. You have to work hard to that live out of that new identity. I love how simply John puts it in John chapter one. He says to all who did receive him. He's talking about Jesus who believe in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God who were born not of blood but the will of God.

When you put your hope and faith and trust and Allegiance in Jesus Christ, you are given the right to become a child of God. You're given a new identity. You are New Creation last week. We talked about 2nd Corinthians 2 Corinthians 5. Anyone is in Christ. He or she is a new creation.

the new identity that we have to begin to live out of so whatever gospel Community looks like whatever the structure is, whatever the patterns however we need for when we meet sand. However, many people are involved in gospel Community has got to be constantly reinforcing the reality that we are new in Christ.

Moving us to consider and remember and contemplate the reality. The old is gone. The new has come. I was this I'm now this not because of what I've done but because of what Jesus has done. I'm not the hero of the story. I'll never be the hero of the story. Jesus will always be the hero of the story and Jesus has given me a new identity.

I got to learn to live out of it. Take some time. Take some not a lady supposed to be there when you got married. How many have you changed your last name? Right kind of an identity change how many of you for those first few weeks when you right now to check sign in your name? Find your old man probably the first time you didn't cuz you're so excited is that you're focused and then into thinking there's intention. Getting in dizziness in life and you're in the checkout stand you're doing this and you sign all that. I'm not I'm not that person anymore.

Cross it out. But unit that's what we do in the Christian Life. We find ourselves acting like we're on our old self. The gospel Community whatever it is that you're not that person anymore. You don't have to and you shouldn't act like your old person anymore sign your new last name. Walk a different life because of Jesus. Gospel Community has to call us into knowing and being known next like the gospel gives us new community. The end of that phrase right or Not by the will of man or flashers or it's born by the will of God. You don't get to choose your biological family. I didn't know you weren't consulted when you were made. And in the same way you don't get to choose your spiritual family God's not going to consult you about who is apart and who isn't. When when you come to Faith and cry you are given a new community.

new family new brothers and sisters new relational responsibility and privileges would giving a new family. so if if if you show up at church. Can you go through the motions? And you don't know anybody and they don't know you.

You haven't had community. You sharpen a small group?

You don't care about the people you're in that group with. You're there because you need to know more about the Bible you're there cuz you need to be involved in service projects. Are you there? Cuz the preacher told you you're supposed to be our you're there cuz it's you want to connect for business purposes shame on you first.

But it's about what family is about.

gospel community The person in the Bible is really straightforward about this if you say you love God. Yeah, you hate your brother. You are a liar, and the truth is not in you. John says as clearly as you can if you say oh I believe in Jesus, I believe in the gospel. I'm not going to hell I'm going to heaven cuz I believe the truth about Jesus, but I hate those people.

Political for a second. I hate those immigrants. They're ruining our great country. I hate I hate black people. I hate white people. I hate gay people fighting liberals. I hate conservatives. I hate I hate I hate I hate and we are culture of hay. Just look at Facebook. Look at the news we Define ourselves.

I hate you for one another. There's no room in the gospel or in gospel Community for racism or sexism or classism. There's no room in gospel Community for politics to divide us we can disagree but we can't be divided. We can disagree but we can't hates. We got to love. It breaks my heart that in our country. We can't love one. Another that we become so bifurcated. So divided its red State and blue state that breaks my heart. But what crushes my heart and my spirit is that it's happening within the church just as much as outside of a church. We're supposed to be different. The gospel makes a difference. If you say you love Jesus and you say you followed Jesus, but you hate another person because of the color of their skin or the way that they vote or how they live your life. You don't love Jesus.

Start cheer in the house of the Lord.

Gospel gives of it makes us into community.

Let's just let the word wash over you. Let Your Love Be genuine. Now I can preach an hour just on that. fake love

Or what is evil? Holdfast, what is good? Love one another with brotherly familial affection. outdo one another in showing honor Going to get competitive get competitive to see how who can bless each other the most.

Do not be slothful in zeal.

But be fervent in spirit and serve the Lord rejoice in Hope be patient tribulation be constant in prayer contribute to the needs of the Saints. And seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who Rejoice weep with those who weep live in harmony with one another and say live exactly the same as they make each other into one cookie cutter image.

You sing this note and you sing this note you sing this note and together. Turns into something beautiful.

Live in harmony with one another don't be haughty. Associate with the lowly never be wise in your own sight. Christian Community needs to be radically different than any other kind of community in this world.

Thoroughly, the gospel gives us a new humility. The R-value of humility here is is simply the acknowledgement that left to our own.

We will always mess everything up. On our own we will always mess everything up as as comprehensive as I can say it. The gospel is bad news to your pride. Good news to everything else. The gospel says you're not good enough and you'll never be good enough. The gospel says you blown it and there's nothing that you can do that's going to fix that. But according to his great love kindness and mercy. A chosen not to treat us as our sins deserve to put our sin and the winds in penalty of it Upon Jesus on our behalf that we might be set free.

The gospel gives us a new humility a new Allegiance. I knew the long and we become apprentices of Jesus Jesus on my own. I don't know how to live. That's your son your daughter in this broken world. I will mess it up. I Need You Jesus to show me how to live in every area of my life and you just show me how to be a father have your neighbor how to be an employee how to be an employer how to be a citizen Jesus. I need you to show me how to do it in this world. So humility is not something that we start with and then we build ourselves up in the pride. No humility is the constant reality of the Gospel.

I believe. Help my unbelief.

Look at it this way the gospel. Is not the gospel in one sense is the ending of our old life. And at the same time it is the beginning of a new life off and we look at the gospel as a finishing Point writes. The gospel is for those who don't believe those who are going to hell. It's a one way pray that prayer once they make that confession. It's done they stamp your passport to heaven. They get on that train Bound for Glory.

Another way to die.

The gospel says no. Bugatti starting in u he's going to be faithful to bring it to completion in the day Jesus. gospel equals growth we are to grow in the gospel. We are to strengthen our faith and trust we are to improve upon our new eye, Tennessee.

This is what the end of a letter 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 18 it says.

In the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him be the glory both now until the day of eternity all men. Grow in the grace of God grace doesn't just set you free from how I get you to heaven wants to set you free and all of like you need to grow in the grace of God Gospel Community sets us into a new humility that says I'm not there yet.

There's a lot of work left to be done in me.

If you believe the gospel. And you're still fundamentally the same person that you were a year ago or 10 years ago when you believe the gospel, I'm not sure you believe the gospel. Because the gospel brings transformation and change and if it doesn't you need to seriously examine whether or what it is that you actually believe in because if you believe in the gospel, it gives us a new humility that brings transformation and change.

Lastly the gospel gives us a New Journey a new focus a new destination.

And because of that a new standard to evaluate success or failure. How about whether you achieve the American dream?

Do women get a new dream the gospel gives us a New Journey a new vocation.

Used to think of yourself as a son and daughter husband wife father and mother a employee a banker Builder. Baker to come up with other be at it. Arista I can give going to regret we Define ourselves that way. the gospel redefines us The gospel says that you're now in Christ you were sent one as the father has sent me even so I am sending you.

Every person that believes in the gospel is made a missionary. An ambassador of reconciliation that's what Paul says you are an ambassador of reconciliation where you go to presence of Jesus goes where you go the reality of the Kingdom go.

the gospel changes our goal and it will change our desires in that process for the gospel gives us a New Journey. The journey to go and make As We Go Make Disciples of all people everyone everywhere.

We've been made ambassador.

Just said as the father sent me even so I send you. this journey It's not the journey that we probably want it to be. It's not the Journey of easy success. Comfort and convenience. It is the Journey of Christ in the same way that God sent Jesus. Jesus is now sending us.

Mark chapter 10 verses that Jesus called them and said to them. You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them and they're great ones exercise authority over that let you know how the world Works might makes right.

Bigger is better upward Mobility. hierarchy, you know that in this world greatness is equated with being over others and that's the journey everyone on the world is on upward Mobility. Stepping Stones got to get my kid into the that good preschool. Cuz if they don't get into that preschooler not going to the ivy league. Got to got to get this got to do this got so I can move up so I can move up. The way Jesus is not upward Mobility its downward Mobility. And he says that it shall not be this among you. Not how you're going to function y cuz we have a New Journey. We have new values. We have a new goal. the new Lord and New Kingdom live in New Hope Hope is not in climbing my way above you. Because Jesus has given me everything I need there's nothing that's not the way whoever would be great among you. Must be the servant.

It says that whoever would be first among you. Must consider them selves a slave doll.

for even the son of man

him not to be served. But the sir. And give his life as a ransom. remaining

in what world does it make sense that Jesus the son of man would come and serve. And then we would just order room service. And be sir.

Jesus invites Us in his way of life invites us into his kingdom. He says the world is all about upward mobility and power and achievement and success and domination and Power in the Kingdom your set free from that rattray.

You want to be great in the world you go one way you want to be great in the Kingdom. It's easy. Jesus said sir

love surrender

That scares you. You're hearing him, right? And that part of you that is scared. Is the part of you that still really really needs the gospel to set you free. and the good news is it well. Because we are in no way have to be ashamed of the gospel because it is the very power of God for salvation.

for everyone who believes