September 2024
Integrity & Rest, 15 September 2024
15 09 24 Filed in: Sermons | Words of Life: Jesus on the Ten Commandments
Integrity & Rest—Commandments 3-4
Words of Life: Jesus on God’s Top 10
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 8, 2024
Exodus 20:7-11
Series Big Idea: Jesus had much to say about God’s Top Ten list.
Big Idea: Our words—and actions—re-present God…and we need rest.
Last Sunday we began to look at Jesus’ response to God’s Top Ten list, the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and recorded for us in Exodus chapter 20 as well as in Deuteronomy 5. The first two dealt with faith and trust—no other gods and no idols. These are surprisingly challenging to follow with so many people and things vying for our attention, affection, and affluence.
Today we’re tackling two subjects—integrity and rest—which seem to be increasingly rare and, therefore, counter-cultural in our society today.
What’s your name? Do you know its origins? My name, Kirk, means “church dweller” which is rather prophetic, don’t you think?!
Your name might be the single word that gets your attention more than any other. Although many children today are named after celebrities, movie characters, or even brands, in biblical times one’s name was usually very significant. There are even examples of God changing someone’s name to better reflect their character or destiny, such as Abram to Abraham. The third commandment—not suggestion—says,
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7, NIV)
Some of you may recall it in the King James Version:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7, KJV)
Some have interpreted this to mean don’t swear or don’t use God’s name with a swear word. I keep waiting for someone to stub their toe and say, “Oh Buddha!” or “Oh Taylor Swift!"
If we are flippant about the name of the LORD, we violate this command. The abbreviation OMG seems to stem from such a remark, unless one is truly praying. Anytime we diminish the respect or personhood of God, we break this commandment. It could even convey we doubt who He says He is since the names of God reflect His character.
We are not to speak God’s name when taking an oath. Jesus said,
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37)
If only politicians could answer questions with a simple yes or no!!!
The third commandment can be translated “you shall not pronounce the name of the Lord.” As a result, Jews generally refuse to speak the original Hebrew name, Yahweh. It literally means, “I am who I am” or “He who causes to be,” reflecting God’s self-existent and eternal nature. Jews usually substitute the holy name Yahweh for Adonai (Lord) or HaShem (the Name).
We need to take God seriously, including the use of His name. You wouldn’t like your name slandered, the subject of gossip, misquoted, or associated with lies. If you call yourself a Christian, you need to re-present Jesus well. We’re not perfect, but when we sin, we need to own it and seek forgiveness. It’s an issue of integrity.
Our words matter, but the third commandment involves much more than speech. Followers of God take His name with them wherever they go. It’s like the speedster going 90 on I-75 with a Jesus bumper sticker on their car. It’s not a good reflection of God. Everywhere Christians go, they re-present Jesus to the world, for good or bad. The literal translation of this verse says we are not to carry the name of the LORD in vain. Jesus said,
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Mark 7:6, quoting Isaiah 29:13)
The high priest back in the day would carry on his breastplate the names of the sons of Israel and on his forehead the holy name of God. He was identified with God, and his actions were connected to God. The third commandment is about verbal blasphemy, but perhaps even more about the hypocrisy of our actions. To misquote Bon Jovi, some of us “give God a bad name,” and that’s not ok.
Now for what is probably the most radical of the ten commandments in our culture…
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (Exodus 20:8)
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (Exodus 20:9-10)
Why?
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11-12)
This is a command to rest.
The Hebrews had been slaves in Egypt, possibly working every day. Some of you know the feeling! It seems like the most common response when I ask people how they are doing is…busy! Everyone is so busy! I must admit things in Findlay are a little slower than in Toledo (I’m still not used to going 25 miles per hour on my commute which used to include a stretch of 50 mph!). But we are so busy…work, soccer, show choir, band practice, class, tutoring, volunteering, …throw in a few hours of social media and binge-watching tv and who has time to rest?
Since COVID, I’ve seen some small improvements. Meijer used to be open 24/7. Black Friday used to bleed into Thanksgiving, giving employees no rest.
In a moment, I want to hear from you and answer questions you may have. I’m not an expert in this, but I have learned a thing or two over the years. Here’s the radical challenge. Are you ready?
Take 24 hours each week for nothing but joy and delight.
Sabbath or shabbat is a day without work of any kind. It’s a day to rest and be present with God. It is a holy day. Some of you may remember when most businesses were closed on Sunday…like Chick-fil-A still does. From a business perspective, I think they’re doing ok!
Sabbath is trusting God can do more with six days than you can with seven.
There are mountains of research showing the value of rest…stress reduction, improved sleep, mental clarity, emotional well-being, and increased productivity (sharpen the saw). Even the earth needs rest, which is why many farmers practice fallowing, leaving a field unplanted for a season.
The sabbath—originally Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown, now commonly Sunday because of the day of Jesus’ resurrection—is to be a holy day, a day set apart, a different day. Because my vocation involves work on Sunday, Saturday is my sabbath. With very few exceptions, I do not work on Saturday.
Am I tempted? Sometimes.
Do people understand? Most of the time.
Did I make an exception to speak at the men’s retreat last night? Yes.
Could my sermon use some polishing? You be the judge!
The purpose of the sabbath is not to be legalistic. The Pharisees were critical of Jesus, not for breaking the sabbath, but rather their interpretation of the sabbath. Jesus said,
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)
In other words, sabbath is not to be a burden, something on your checklist, or a religious activity to inspire pride. It’s a gift. It’s God saying, “Be still and know that I am God.” The joy of the LORD is to be our strength, and devoting 24 hours (not just one!) to delighting in our Creator and His creation is something we need. I can only imagine how quickly burnout, anxiety, and heart attacks would decline in our culture if we would simply begin our week with a day of rest.
Did you catch that? We often work in order to rest, but God rested on the seventh day, meaning Adam and Eve’s first full day of life was the sabbath. They worked after resting rather than the other way around.
Can I garden? If it brings you joy and delight.
Does it have to be Sunday? It’s not for me!
Sabbath is practiced around the world. When we were in Germany, we were told to do all shopping on Saturday since most every business is closed on Sunday. The entire nation has a day of rest (like maybe we used to in this country).
Israel shuts down during shabbat. It wouldn’t surprise me if only the ER was open.
One more thing…the penalty for breaking the sabbath in the Old Testament? Death by stoning (Exodus 31:14-15, Number 15:32-36)!!!
So What?
Our words—and actions—re-present God…and we need rest.
Words of Life: Jesus on God’s Top 10
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 8, 2024
Exodus 20:7-11
Series Big Idea: Jesus had much to say about God’s Top Ten list.
Big Idea: Our words—and actions—re-present God…and we need rest.
Last Sunday we began to look at Jesus’ response to God’s Top Ten list, the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and recorded for us in Exodus chapter 20 as well as in Deuteronomy 5. The first two dealt with faith and trust—no other gods and no idols. These are surprisingly challenging to follow with so many people and things vying for our attention, affection, and affluence.
Today we’re tackling two subjects—integrity and rest—which seem to be increasingly rare and, therefore, counter-cultural in our society today.
What’s your name? Do you know its origins? My name, Kirk, means “church dweller” which is rather prophetic, don’t you think?!
Your name might be the single word that gets your attention more than any other. Although many children today are named after celebrities, movie characters, or even brands, in biblical times one’s name was usually very significant. There are even examples of God changing someone’s name to better reflect their character or destiny, such as Abram to Abraham. The third commandment—not suggestion—says,
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7, NIV)
Some of you may recall it in the King James Version:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7, KJV)
Some have interpreted this to mean don’t swear or don’t use God’s name with a swear word. I keep waiting for someone to stub their toe and say, “Oh Buddha!” or “Oh Taylor Swift!"
If we are flippant about the name of the LORD, we violate this command. The abbreviation OMG seems to stem from such a remark, unless one is truly praying. Anytime we diminish the respect or personhood of God, we break this commandment. It could even convey we doubt who He says He is since the names of God reflect His character.
We are not to speak God’s name when taking an oath. Jesus said,
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37)
If only politicians could answer questions with a simple yes or no!!!
The third commandment can be translated “you shall not pronounce the name of the Lord.” As a result, Jews generally refuse to speak the original Hebrew name, Yahweh. It literally means, “I am who I am” or “He who causes to be,” reflecting God’s self-existent and eternal nature. Jews usually substitute the holy name Yahweh for Adonai (Lord) or HaShem (the Name).
We need to take God seriously, including the use of His name. You wouldn’t like your name slandered, the subject of gossip, misquoted, or associated with lies. If you call yourself a Christian, you need to re-present Jesus well. We’re not perfect, but when we sin, we need to own it and seek forgiveness. It’s an issue of integrity.
Our words matter, but the third commandment involves much more than speech. Followers of God take His name with them wherever they go. It’s like the speedster going 90 on I-75 with a Jesus bumper sticker on their car. It’s not a good reflection of God. Everywhere Christians go, they re-present Jesus to the world, for good or bad. The literal translation of this verse says we are not to carry the name of the LORD in vain. Jesus said,
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Mark 7:6, quoting Isaiah 29:13)
The high priest back in the day would carry on his breastplate the names of the sons of Israel and on his forehead the holy name of God. He was identified with God, and his actions were connected to God. The third commandment is about verbal blasphemy, but perhaps even more about the hypocrisy of our actions. To misquote Bon Jovi, some of us “give God a bad name,” and that’s not ok.
Now for what is probably the most radical of the ten commandments in our culture…
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (Exodus 20:8)
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (Exodus 20:9-10)
Why?
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11-12)
This is a command to rest.
The Hebrews had been slaves in Egypt, possibly working every day. Some of you know the feeling! It seems like the most common response when I ask people how they are doing is…busy! Everyone is so busy! I must admit things in Findlay are a little slower than in Toledo (I’m still not used to going 25 miles per hour on my commute which used to include a stretch of 50 mph!). But we are so busy…work, soccer, show choir, band practice, class, tutoring, volunteering, …throw in a few hours of social media and binge-watching tv and who has time to rest?
Since COVID, I’ve seen some small improvements. Meijer used to be open 24/7. Black Friday used to bleed into Thanksgiving, giving employees no rest.
In a moment, I want to hear from you and answer questions you may have. I’m not an expert in this, but I have learned a thing or two over the years. Here’s the radical challenge. Are you ready?
Take 24 hours each week for nothing but joy and delight.
Sabbath or shabbat is a day without work of any kind. It’s a day to rest and be present with God. It is a holy day. Some of you may remember when most businesses were closed on Sunday…like Chick-fil-A still does. From a business perspective, I think they’re doing ok!
Sabbath is trusting God can do more with six days than you can with seven.
There are mountains of research showing the value of rest…stress reduction, improved sleep, mental clarity, emotional well-being, and increased productivity (sharpen the saw). Even the earth needs rest, which is why many farmers practice fallowing, leaving a field unplanted for a season.
The sabbath—originally Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown, now commonly Sunday because of the day of Jesus’ resurrection—is to be a holy day, a day set apart, a different day. Because my vocation involves work on Sunday, Saturday is my sabbath. With very few exceptions, I do not work on Saturday.
Am I tempted? Sometimes.
Do people understand? Most of the time.
Did I make an exception to speak at the men’s retreat last night? Yes.
Could my sermon use some polishing? You be the judge!
The purpose of the sabbath is not to be legalistic. The Pharisees were critical of Jesus, not for breaking the sabbath, but rather their interpretation of the sabbath. Jesus said,
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)
In other words, sabbath is not to be a burden, something on your checklist, or a religious activity to inspire pride. It’s a gift. It’s God saying, “Be still and know that I am God.” The joy of the LORD is to be our strength, and devoting 24 hours (not just one!) to delighting in our Creator and His creation is something we need. I can only imagine how quickly burnout, anxiety, and heart attacks would decline in our culture if we would simply begin our week with a day of rest.
Did you catch that? We often work in order to rest, but God rested on the seventh day, meaning Adam and Eve’s first full day of life was the sabbath. They worked after resting rather than the other way around.
Can I garden? If it brings you joy and delight.
Does it have to be Sunday? It’s not for me!
Sabbath is practiced around the world. When we were in Germany, we were told to do all shopping on Saturday since most every business is closed on Sunday. The entire nation has a day of rest (like maybe we used to in this country).
Israel shuts down during shabbat. It wouldn’t surprise me if only the ER was open.
One more thing…the penalty for breaking the sabbath in the Old Testament? Death by stoning (Exodus 31:14-15, Number 15:32-36)!!!
So What?
Our words—and actions—re-present God…and we need rest.
Faith and Trust, 8 September 2024
12 09 24 Filed in: Sermons | Words of Life: Jesus on the Ten Commandments
Faith and Trust—Commandments 1-2
Words of Life: Jesus on God’s Top 10
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 8, 2024
Exodus 20:1-6
Series Big Idea: Jesus had much to say about God’s Top Ten list.
Big Idea: God is God…and we’re not!
Today on our fall kickoff Sunday we’re starting a new series looking at the Ten Commandments…through the eyes of Jesus.
Context is critical whenever we examine the scriptures. Many of you know the story of the Exodus. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, Moses went to Pharaoh repeatedly and said, “Let my people go.” After ten plagues, Pharaoh relented and the people took what should’ve been a short journey to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the place known as Israel today. Because of the disobedience of the people, the journey that could’ve been completed in a matter of weeks took forty years! Can you imagine a 40-year road trip…without a car…in the desert? Many [some] of you haven’t even lived 40 years!
During the journey, God invites Moses to Mt. Sinai for a forty-day visit that included the presentation of the Ten Commandments inscribed on two stone tablets. These formed the basis for their lifestyle and society and have great relevance for us thousands of years later. God’s top ten was first introduced in the 20th chapter of Exodus and repeated in Deuteronomy chapter five. We’re going to look at two commandments each week in this series. Let’s dive in:
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exodus 20:1-2)
This sets the scene perfectly. God has been good and faithful to the people, despite their whining, complaining, and rebellion.
The two most important questions in the world may be
- Who are you?
- Who is God?
They are not the same question, though some people act like it! God has given us a library of 66 books to reveal Himself to us. If I could describe Him in one word, it would be love. He is not a weak, frail grandpa in a rocking chair, nor is He a mean, hateful Creator out to get you. He’s a good, good Father who loves His children and wants nothing more than an intimate relationship with us. He loves you, and has gone to great lengths to prove that, most notably sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, paying the penalty of our sin and pride. This is the Creator of the universe, and although He owes us nothing, His grace, mercy, and forgiveness are simply wonderful. His first command states,
“You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
A god is anything that receives your attention, affection, allegiance, your worship. Everyone worships. It may not involve a gathering with songs and a sermon, but we devote ourselves to things, we are influenced by people, we give our time, talents, and treasures to our gods. It could be sports, politics, their career, even their family.
I believe most people worship themselves, doing whatever is necessary to ensure their comfort, happiness, and pleasure. Money, sex, and power are three universal gods. This may be the most difficult command to obey. The greatest threat is the person I see in the mirror. Here’s the big idea: God is God and we’re not!
Hopefully this isn’t news to any of you, though I’ve met a few people in my life who might disagree! Today many are angry with God or disappointed with God. That’s ok, because in each instance there is an awareness of God. There is a relationship with God. As we saw in the series on the Psalms, we can be real with God. What’s not ok is placing ourselves above God, telling Him what is right or just. There’s a fine line between questioning and judging. We can ask “why” or “what are you up to,” but condemning God declares we are god, we know best, we are wiser than the Almighty and that’s a precarious place to be. It also violates the first of the ten commandments.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
You cannot serve both God and money, God and pleasure, God and power, God and hobbies, God and…anything or anyone else. Jesus said a few verses later,
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
The context of “these things’ is food and clothes and the things of this world.
When we pray
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
we are declaring God’s will, God’s plan, God’s instructions, God’s desires are more important than our happiness, pleasure, power, or comfort. This is a radical slap in the face to the American Dream, family, which is why true Christians live the ultimate alternative lifestyle. We are not to live like everybody else. If you follow Jesus, you have no rights, you become a slave, you die to yourself, your pride, your dreams. Try putting that on a billboard or bumper sticker! But here’s the great thing: God’s ways are always better than our own. Daddy knows best. He can be trusted. He’s not out to get you. He’s out to love you. The path is not always easy, but it is filled with contentment and joy.
Jesus said to his friend Martha,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
That’s God talk right there! He told his friend Philip,
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9b)
Jesus is 100% God and 100% human, a mystery known as the hypostatic union. The book of Hebrews declares,
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)
If Jesus wasn’t fully God, worshiping him would violate the first commandment!
At one point the devil confronted Jesus while he was fasting for forty days in the wilderness.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:8-10)
No other gods…but Jesus is God. There is one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a mystery known as the Trinity. Now let’s look at the second commandment.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:4)
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:5-6)
We could do an entire sermon series on these three verses! For thousands of years, people have been creating idols, worshipping objects rather than God. Some worship the sun or nature while others worship objects carved in wood or stone. Examples can be found in virtually every corner of the globe.
We are not to worship other gods, or objects. To many USAmericans, the second commandment might seem irrelevant. We don’t build idols. We don’t worship other gods. Right?
Years ago, a woman from India was visiting with a pastor here in the States and remarked about how we have so many idols. The pastor was rather confused since most Hindus recognize multiple deities. The woman said, “You build these huge monuments to consumerism and spend billions of dollars buying products” referring to shopping malls. Then she said, “You construct temples of worship to athletes” referring to sports stadiums. If we define worship as that which gains our attention, love, or admiration, she makes a good point!
Jesus summarized not only the first two commandments, not only God’s entire Top Ten list, but the complete Bible when he said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
So What?
God is God…and we’re not! Every day we are tempted to be in control, to do things our way, to love things rather than people, to bring glory to ourselves. Our God is greater and stronger and wiser and more powerful than any god, object, ideology, philosophy, religion, political party, athlete, movie star, social media influencer, or celebrity. He must be the one—the only one—we worship.
Words of Life: Jesus on God’s Top 10
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 8, 2024
Exodus 20:1-6
Series Big Idea: Jesus had much to say about God’s Top Ten list.
Big Idea: God is God…and we’re not!
Today on our fall kickoff Sunday we’re starting a new series looking at the Ten Commandments…through the eyes of Jesus.
Context is critical whenever we examine the scriptures. Many of you know the story of the Exodus. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, Moses went to Pharaoh repeatedly and said, “Let my people go.” After ten plagues, Pharaoh relented and the people took what should’ve been a short journey to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the place known as Israel today. Because of the disobedience of the people, the journey that could’ve been completed in a matter of weeks took forty years! Can you imagine a 40-year road trip…without a car…in the desert? Many [some] of you haven’t even lived 40 years!
During the journey, God invites Moses to Mt. Sinai for a forty-day visit that included the presentation of the Ten Commandments inscribed on two stone tablets. These formed the basis for their lifestyle and society and have great relevance for us thousands of years later. God’s top ten was first introduced in the 20th chapter of Exodus and repeated in Deuteronomy chapter five. We’re going to look at two commandments each week in this series. Let’s dive in:
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exodus 20:1-2)
This sets the scene perfectly. God has been good and faithful to the people, despite their whining, complaining, and rebellion.
The two most important questions in the world may be
- Who are you?
- Who is God?
They are not the same question, though some people act like it! God has given us a library of 66 books to reveal Himself to us. If I could describe Him in one word, it would be love. He is not a weak, frail grandpa in a rocking chair, nor is He a mean, hateful Creator out to get you. He’s a good, good Father who loves His children and wants nothing more than an intimate relationship with us. He loves you, and has gone to great lengths to prove that, most notably sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, paying the penalty of our sin and pride. This is the Creator of the universe, and although He owes us nothing, His grace, mercy, and forgiveness are simply wonderful. His first command states,
“You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
A god is anything that receives your attention, affection, allegiance, your worship. Everyone worships. It may not involve a gathering with songs and a sermon, but we devote ourselves to things, we are influenced by people, we give our time, talents, and treasures to our gods. It could be sports, politics, their career, even their family.
I believe most people worship themselves, doing whatever is necessary to ensure their comfort, happiness, and pleasure. Money, sex, and power are three universal gods. This may be the most difficult command to obey. The greatest threat is the person I see in the mirror. Here’s the big idea: God is God and we’re not!
Hopefully this isn’t news to any of you, though I’ve met a few people in my life who might disagree! Today many are angry with God or disappointed with God. That’s ok, because in each instance there is an awareness of God. There is a relationship with God. As we saw in the series on the Psalms, we can be real with God. What’s not ok is placing ourselves above God, telling Him what is right or just. There’s a fine line between questioning and judging. We can ask “why” or “what are you up to,” but condemning God declares we are god, we know best, we are wiser than the Almighty and that’s a precarious place to be. It also violates the first of the ten commandments.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
You cannot serve both God and money, God and pleasure, God and power, God and hobbies, God and…anything or anyone else. Jesus said a few verses later,
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
The context of “these things’ is food and clothes and the things of this world.
When we pray
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
we are declaring God’s will, God’s plan, God’s instructions, God’s desires are more important than our happiness, pleasure, power, or comfort. This is a radical slap in the face to the American Dream, family, which is why true Christians live the ultimate alternative lifestyle. We are not to live like everybody else. If you follow Jesus, you have no rights, you become a slave, you die to yourself, your pride, your dreams. Try putting that on a billboard or bumper sticker! But here’s the great thing: God’s ways are always better than our own. Daddy knows best. He can be trusted. He’s not out to get you. He’s out to love you. The path is not always easy, but it is filled with contentment and joy.
Jesus said to his friend Martha,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
That’s God talk right there! He told his friend Philip,
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9b)
Jesus is 100% God and 100% human, a mystery known as the hypostatic union. The book of Hebrews declares,
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)
If Jesus wasn’t fully God, worshiping him would violate the first commandment!
At one point the devil confronted Jesus while he was fasting for forty days in the wilderness.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:8-10)
No other gods…but Jesus is God. There is one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a mystery known as the Trinity. Now let’s look at the second commandment.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:4)
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:5-6)
We could do an entire sermon series on these three verses! For thousands of years, people have been creating idols, worshipping objects rather than God. Some worship the sun or nature while others worship objects carved in wood or stone. Examples can be found in virtually every corner of the globe.
We are not to worship other gods, or objects. To many USAmericans, the second commandment might seem irrelevant. We don’t build idols. We don’t worship other gods. Right?
Years ago, a woman from India was visiting with a pastor here in the States and remarked about how we have so many idols. The pastor was rather confused since most Hindus recognize multiple deities. The woman said, “You build these huge monuments to consumerism and spend billions of dollars buying products” referring to shopping malls. Then she said, “You construct temples of worship to athletes” referring to sports stadiums. If we define worship as that which gains our attention, love, or admiration, she makes a good point!
Jesus summarized not only the first two commandments, not only God’s entire Top Ten list, but the complete Bible when he said,
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
So What?
God is God…and we’re not! Every day we are tempted to be in control, to do things our way, to love things rather than people, to bring glory to ourselves. Our God is greater and stronger and wiser and more powerful than any god, object, ideology, philosophy, religion, political party, athlete, movie star, social media influencer, or celebrity. He must be the one—the only one—we worship.
Work, 1 September 2024
01 09 24 Filed in: Sermons
For the LORD: Finding Purpose in Your Work
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 1, 2024
Matthew 25:31-46; Colossians 3:23-25
Big Idea: Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-25
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Tell your neighbor.
How many of you actually became that? Around 50% to 70% of college graduates work in jobs directly related to their field of study. Students, that doesn’t mean your degree will be useless, but you might be doing something different twenty years from now than you expect today.
That’s certainly my situation! In high school, my plan was to be a professional musician. I went to business school to avoid becoming a starving artist. Today I’m a pastor! Go figure! By the way, I’m delighted to serve as your pastor, even though it was not in my imagination when I was in college.
On this Labor Day weekend, we’re talking about work and the Bible has a lot to say about it.
To many, work is a bad word. It’s a four-letter word! It conjures up images of an angry boss, low pay, dangerous conditions, or long hours. The first thing I want you to understand is work was God’s idea and we will work in heaven.
“Work in heaven? Are you kidding me? I thought heaven was going to be wonderful?”
One definition of work states, “Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.” The opposite of that would be…social media!
The reason I know we work in heaven is because there was work before Adam and Even disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit in the first pages of the Bible, an event we call the Fall. What was their work?
So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. (Genesis 2:19-20a, NLT)
I know naming animals might not sound like an awful job, but it certainly fits the definition of work. It might not describe toil. There’s a difference.
There will be work in heaven, but not toil. Toil is work which involves drudgery, pain, fatigue, and/or exhaustion. It entered our world as a result of the Fall, punishment for sin. God said to Adam,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19, NLT)
That’s toil. If that describes your work, I’m sorry, though it surely has a purpose…even if it’s to get you to search for a better job!
We all work. We might not receive a paycheck for our work. We might have to pay others—such as universities—in order to accomplish our work! We may be underpaid for our work. But we all work. Here’s the big idea:
Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Paul wrote to a church in modern day Turkey and said,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:23-25, NIV)
Wow! There’s a lot there. But I want to you see the context. The previous verse says,
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. (Colossians 4:22, NIV)
Paul is not promoting slavery—and this was not identical to the slavery in this country—but was saying even their work should be done for the LORD. Let’s go back—or forward—to verse 23.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
Whatever you do. Work for the LORD. Play for the LORD. Study for the LORD. Vacation for the LORD! Eat ice cream for the LORD! There’s no moment when a follower of Jesus is to take a break from God. We are to pray without ceasing. We are pick up our cross daily and follow Christ.
You were made by God.
You were made for God.
You were made for God’s glory. This includes your labor.
Many years ago, my mentor, Dieter Zander, introduced me to a small book read by millions. Sales are unknown because it’s been in the public domain for centuries, continuously in print for over 300 years and now available in many languages. Nicholas Herman took the religious name “Lawrence of the Resurrection” when he joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites monastery in Paris where he worked in the kitchen and later repaired sandals. The book Practicing the Presence of God is a collection of his writings while doing menial tasks, all for the glory of God. He said,
We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.
He was devoted to loving God through his work. Work as worship. He understood what it means to “pray without ceasing.”
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.
Surely it was that conversation with God that centered him, brought him into alignment with his Creator, and oriented his life to serving God rather than humans. To quote our own pastor David Welker,
If God has a claim on your life, he has a claim on your work. - David Welker
I wonder what would happen if we washed dishes for God, mowed the lawn for God, went to class for God, rested on the Sabbath for God, taught children for God, played music for God, ate and drank for God, …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
I’m afraid too often we do things for ourselves. We work for a paycheck, volunteer for recognition, go through the motions to please others, …
I’m not saying settle in an abusive situation, but I am saying ultimately “it is the Lord Christ you are serving” each day, including our work. Actually, I’m not saying it. Paul said it!
Jesus once told a story about the sheep and the goats, timely during this county fair weekend!
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-33)
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36)
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-39)
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
The verses that follow tell the opposite story, that of those who did not serve the needy, concluding
…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45)
So What?
God is with us peeling potatoes. He is the one we are serving when we volunteer at City Mission. He’s the one watching us when we go back to work or school on Tuesday.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
How would you behave if God was next to you this week? He is! He’s watching. Others are watching. They’re paying attention to our attitude, our effort, our concern for others, our language, and our character. How are we doing?
One More Thing
Shortly after beginning a part-time job as music director at a church, I went to my dad to ask his forgiveness. He asked, “For what?” I said, “I used to think real Christians were pastors and you worked in the marketplace. I now realize it would be just as wrong for you to become a pastor as it would be for me to enter the marketplace. We are called to different things.”
It’s not about one job being more spiritual or special, but obeying God and working for the LORD, whether it’s as a musician, a student, in business, or as a pastor. For the LORD!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 1, 2024
Matthew 25:31-46; Colossians 3:23-25
Big Idea: Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-25
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Tell your neighbor.
How many of you actually became that? Around 50% to 70% of college graduates work in jobs directly related to their field of study. Students, that doesn’t mean your degree will be useless, but you might be doing something different twenty years from now than you expect today.
That’s certainly my situation! In high school, my plan was to be a professional musician. I went to business school to avoid becoming a starving artist. Today I’m a pastor! Go figure! By the way, I’m delighted to serve as your pastor, even though it was not in my imagination when I was in college.
On this Labor Day weekend, we’re talking about work and the Bible has a lot to say about it.
To many, work is a bad word. It’s a four-letter word! It conjures up images of an angry boss, low pay, dangerous conditions, or long hours. The first thing I want you to understand is work was God’s idea and we will work in heaven.
“Work in heaven? Are you kidding me? I thought heaven was going to be wonderful?”
One definition of work states, “Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.” The opposite of that would be…social media!
The reason I know we work in heaven is because there was work before Adam and Even disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit in the first pages of the Bible, an event we call the Fall. What was their work?
So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. (Genesis 2:19-20a, NLT)
I know naming animals might not sound like an awful job, but it certainly fits the definition of work. It might not describe toil. There’s a difference.
There will be work in heaven, but not toil. Toil is work which involves drudgery, pain, fatigue, and/or exhaustion. It entered our world as a result of the Fall, punishment for sin. God said to Adam,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19, NLT)
That’s toil. If that describes your work, I’m sorry, though it surely has a purpose…even if it’s to get you to search for a better job!
We all work. We might not receive a paycheck for our work. We might have to pay others—such as universities—in order to accomplish our work! We may be underpaid for our work. But we all work. Here’s the big idea:
Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Paul wrote to a church in modern day Turkey and said,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:23-25, NIV)
Wow! There’s a lot there. But I want to you see the context. The previous verse says,
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. (Colossians 4:22, NIV)
Paul is not promoting slavery—and this was not identical to the slavery in this country—but was saying even their work should be done for the LORD. Let’s go back—or forward—to verse 23.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
Whatever you do. Work for the LORD. Play for the LORD. Study for the LORD. Vacation for the LORD! Eat ice cream for the LORD! There’s no moment when a follower of Jesus is to take a break from God. We are to pray without ceasing. We are pick up our cross daily and follow Christ.
You were made by God.
You were made for God.
You were made for God’s glory. This includes your labor.
Many years ago, my mentor, Dieter Zander, introduced me to a small book read by millions. Sales are unknown because it’s been in the public domain for centuries, continuously in print for over 300 years and now available in many languages. Nicholas Herman took the religious name “Lawrence of the Resurrection” when he joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites monastery in Paris where he worked in the kitchen and later repaired sandals. The book Practicing the Presence of God is a collection of his writings while doing menial tasks, all for the glory of God. He said,
We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.
He was devoted to loving God through his work. Work as worship. He understood what it means to “pray without ceasing.”
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.
Surely it was that conversation with God that centered him, brought him into alignment with his Creator, and oriented his life to serving God rather than humans. To quote our own pastor David Welker,
If God has a claim on your life, he has a claim on your work. - David Welker
I wonder what would happen if we washed dishes for God, mowed the lawn for God, went to class for God, rested on the Sabbath for God, taught children for God, played music for God, ate and drank for God, …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
I’m afraid too often we do things for ourselves. We work for a paycheck, volunteer for recognition, go through the motions to please others, …
I’m not saying settle in an abusive situation, but I am saying ultimately “it is the Lord Christ you are serving” each day, including our work. Actually, I’m not saying it. Paul said it!
Jesus once told a story about the sheep and the goats, timely during this county fair weekend!
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-33)
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36)
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-39)
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
The verses that follow tell the opposite story, that of those who did not serve the needy, concluding
…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45)
So What?
God is with us peeling potatoes. He is the one we are serving when we volunteer at City Mission. He’s the one watching us when we go back to work or school on Tuesday.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
How would you behave if God was next to you this week? He is! He’s watching. Others are watching. They’re paying attention to our attitude, our effort, our concern for others, our language, and our character. How are we doing?
One More Thing
Shortly after beginning a part-time job as music director at a church, I went to my dad to ask his forgiveness. He asked, “For what?” I said, “I used to think real Christians were pastors and you worked in the marketplace. I now realize it would be just as wrong for you to become a pastor as it would be for me to enter the marketplace. We are called to different things.”
It’s not about one job being more spiritual or special, but obeying God and working for the LORD, whether it’s as a musician, a student, in business, or as a pastor. For the LORD!