Foundation
We Believe in…4 January 2026
05 01 26 Filed in: Sermons | The Nicene Creed
We Believe in…
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
January 4, 2026
Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: We become what we behold…and believe.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Happy new year! There’s nothing like new beginnings, and today we begin a new day, a new week, a new year…and a new sermon series. As I prayed about how to start 2026, I learned about an ancient creed that celebrated 1700 years…last year. The Nicene Creed is 1701 years old and whether you have it memorized or have no idea what a creed is, I believe this exploration of the basics of our faith will ground us in the good, beautiful, and true and equip us for a great year ahead.
Who are you? Years ago, I tried to summarize myself in as few words as possible. I think I can adequately describe myself as a spiritual pilgrim, artist, and entrepreneur. Upon further reflection, one additional word is necessary to convey my identity: papa!
Take a few moments to describe yourself. PAUSE
Who is God? What do you believe?
Tragically, many don’t really know, which has led to cults and false teachers through the centuries. It’s not uncommon to hitch your wagon to your favorite author, theologian, preacher, or online influencer. There are many myths about Christianity and fictitious scripture verses such as, “God helps those who help themselves” which is not in the Bible!
Although some call it a book, the Bible is really a library, a collection of 66 books. Despite Jesus’ prayers for unity in John 17, there are now over 40,000 Christian denominations in our world, most of whom would say the Bible is their authority, yet the interpretation and application of its timeless truths have created tremendous divisions, not the least of which is the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant camps.
A creed is “a summary statement of beliefs that unites Christians from all denominations and all generations.” It’s an overview of the Christian faith, coming from “credo” in Latin meaning “I believe.” Much like my summary of myself, a creed offers the highlights of the holy scriptures. Creeds connect us to the ancient roots of our faith. Some creeds are believed to date back to the apostles after Pentecost about two thousand years ago. Many of you know the Apostle’s Creed. Creeds that followed sought to clarify aspects of their predecessors. Describing God and summarizing thousands of pages is a daunting task, after all!
Last year, Pope Leo said,
In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the Church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy. This is expressed in the words of the Creed, “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven,” that were formulated 1700 years ago by the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical gathering in the history of Christianity.
All Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians believe the Nicene Creed…with one small exception, which we’ll address later in the series. So what does it say? What could all Christians possibly agree about?!
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Right about now you may be thinking, “Who cares about five paragraphs written 1701 years ago? How will that help me pay my Visa bill, get me a promotion at work, help me raise my kids, or ensure I don’t get the flu this winter?”
At our Christmas Eve services, I said we become what we behold. If we don’t know God, we can’t become like Him. If we don’t understand the basics of the faith, we don’t possess a reliable, useful, relevant faith.
One of the things that excites me about the Nicene Creed is how it clarifies closed-hand issues that are non-negotiable for anyone calling themselves a Christian. It illuminates what we have in common with followers of Jesus from other traditions. The family of God is quite diverse, not only in age and ethnicity but also in worship practices and what I like to call open-handed issues that are important but not essential to our faith. Some of those issues—the things which sadly divide Christians—include modes of baptism, the meaning of communion, and spiritual gifts.
For a bit of history, I want to take you back 1701 years to the town of Nicaea in modern-day Turkey. Between May and June 19, 325 AD, a council—a gathering of Christian leaders—was assembled Christians were wrestling with differences about the nature of Jesus, among other things, specifically the question was he created, a believe known as Arianism. That belief was condemned by the phrase
…true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father
There were other things clarified such as determining the date for Easter and various church laws called canons (not the war weapon!).
One of the influential members at the Council of Nicaea was an African from Alexandria, Egypt named Athanasius who was an outspoken critic of Arianism, that Jesus was created and, therefore, was not fully God. Based upon these scriptures (Isaiah 9:6, John 5-6, Philippians 2:5-13, Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:3), it was determined that
• Jesus Christ is “begotten, not made”
• He is “of the same essence” (homoousias) with the Father
• The Son is eternal, not created
As scholars and historians celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed last year, many lamented the fact that the town of Iznik, Turkey where the council occurred has no church today. Maybe it would be a good place to plant a new church!
About 2000 years ago, Paul wrote these words to a church in modern day Turkey:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This is a portrait of every follower of Jesus, regardless of the church or denomination. We are all masterpieces, created in Jesus to do the good things God prepared for us to do before the foundation of the earth!
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4a)
A few verses later, Paul says of Jesus,
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-18)
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, (Ephesians 2:17-18)
We are one in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters in a global family of approximately 2.3 billion people on our planet of 8 billion souls.
So What?
As we begin the new year, I want to challenge you to reflect upon two questions:
Who are you? Who is God?
We will address the second question throughout this series, grounding you in the holy scriptures that have united Christians for two thousand years. We become what we behold…and believe.
Your task, then, is to determine who you are, who God has uniquely created you to be, and discover the good works He has created you to do. In a broad sense, this is clearly to love God and love others as yourself. But as we behold the LORD, we will gain clarity on how we are created in His image and the masterpiece we see in the mirror.
Theologian and author Leonard Sweet recently spoke of “a creed not just to recite, but to live. A confession not just of what we believe, but of who we are becoming.”
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
Amen.
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Creed
January 4, 2026
Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Series Big Idea: The ancient Nicene Creed offers a valuable summary of our faith.
Big Idea: We become what we behold…and believe.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10, 17-19
Happy new year! There’s nothing like new beginnings, and today we begin a new day, a new week, a new year…and a new sermon series. As I prayed about how to start 2026, I learned about an ancient creed that celebrated 1700 years…last year. The Nicene Creed is 1701 years old and whether you have it memorized or have no idea what a creed is, I believe this exploration of the basics of our faith will ground us in the good, beautiful, and true and equip us for a great year ahead.
Who are you? Years ago, I tried to summarize myself in as few words as possible. I think I can adequately describe myself as a spiritual pilgrim, artist, and entrepreneur. Upon further reflection, one additional word is necessary to convey my identity: papa!
Take a few moments to describe yourself. PAUSE
Who is God? What do you believe?
Tragically, many don’t really know, which has led to cults and false teachers through the centuries. It’s not uncommon to hitch your wagon to your favorite author, theologian, preacher, or online influencer. There are many myths about Christianity and fictitious scripture verses such as, “God helps those who help themselves” which is not in the Bible!
Although some call it a book, the Bible is really a library, a collection of 66 books. Despite Jesus’ prayers for unity in John 17, there are now over 40,000 Christian denominations in our world, most of whom would say the Bible is their authority, yet the interpretation and application of its timeless truths have created tremendous divisions, not the least of which is the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant camps.
A creed is “a summary statement of beliefs that unites Christians from all denominations and all generations.” It’s an overview of the Christian faith, coming from “credo” in Latin meaning “I believe.” Much like my summary of myself, a creed offers the highlights of the holy scriptures. Creeds connect us to the ancient roots of our faith. Some creeds are believed to date back to the apostles after Pentecost about two thousand years ago. Many of you know the Apostle’s Creed. Creeds that followed sought to clarify aspects of their predecessors. Describing God and summarizing thousands of pages is a daunting task, after all!
Last year, Pope Leo said,
In the unity of faith, proclaimed since the beginning of the Church, Christians have been called to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy. This is expressed in the words of the Creed, “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven,” that were formulated 1700 years ago by the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical gathering in the history of Christianity.
All Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians believe the Nicene Creed…with one small exception, which we’ll address later in the series. So what does it say? What could all Christians possibly agree about?!
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Right about now you may be thinking, “Who cares about five paragraphs written 1701 years ago? How will that help me pay my Visa bill, get me a promotion at work, help me raise my kids, or ensure I don’t get the flu this winter?”
At our Christmas Eve services, I said we become what we behold. If we don’t know God, we can’t become like Him. If we don’t understand the basics of the faith, we don’t possess a reliable, useful, relevant faith.
One of the things that excites me about the Nicene Creed is how it clarifies closed-hand issues that are non-negotiable for anyone calling themselves a Christian. It illuminates what we have in common with followers of Jesus from other traditions. The family of God is quite diverse, not only in age and ethnicity but also in worship practices and what I like to call open-handed issues that are important but not essential to our faith. Some of those issues—the things which sadly divide Christians—include modes of baptism, the meaning of communion, and spiritual gifts.
For a bit of history, I want to take you back 1701 years to the town of Nicaea in modern-day Turkey. Between May and June 19, 325 AD, a council—a gathering of Christian leaders—was assembled Christians were wrestling with differences about the nature of Jesus, among other things, specifically the question was he created, a believe known as Arianism. That belief was condemned by the phrase
…true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father
There were other things clarified such as determining the date for Easter and various church laws called canons (not the war weapon!).
One of the influential members at the Council of Nicaea was an African from Alexandria, Egypt named Athanasius who was an outspoken critic of Arianism, that Jesus was created and, therefore, was not fully God. Based upon these scriptures (Isaiah 9:6, John 5-6, Philippians 2:5-13, Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:3), it was determined that
• Jesus Christ is “begotten, not made”
• He is “of the same essence” (homoousias) with the Father
• The Son is eternal, not created
As scholars and historians celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed last year, many lamented the fact that the town of Iznik, Turkey where the council occurred has no church today. Maybe it would be a good place to plant a new church!
About 2000 years ago, Paul wrote these words to a church in modern day Turkey:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
This is a portrait of every follower of Jesus, regardless of the church or denomination. We are all masterpieces, created in Jesus to do the good things God prepared for us to do before the foundation of the earth!
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4a)
A few verses later, Paul says of Jesus,
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-18)
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, (Ephesians 2:17-18)
We are one in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters in a global family of approximately 2.3 billion people on our planet of 8 billion souls.
So What?
As we begin the new year, I want to challenge you to reflect upon two questions:
Who are you? Who is God?
We will address the second question throughout this series, grounding you in the holy scriptures that have united Christians for two thousand years. We become what we behold…and believe.
Your task, then, is to determine who you are, who God has uniquely created you to be, and discover the good works He has created you to do. In a broad sense, this is clearly to love God and love others as yourself. But as we behold the LORD, we will gain clarity on how we are created in His image and the masterpiece we see in the mirror.
Theologian and author Leonard Sweet recently spoke of “a creed not just to recite, but to live. A confession not just of what we believe, but of who we are becoming.”
You were made by God, for God, and for God’s glory.
Amen.
The Rich Young Ruler, 21 February 2021
The Rich Young Ruler
Series—Mark: The Real Jesus
Mark 10:17-31
Series Big Idea: Mark’s gospel is the most concise biography of Jesus.
Big Idea: Following Jesus involves total surrender, not just a one-time prayer.
Nearly four years ago we began a series called Mark, the Real Jesus. We’ve been going verse-by-verse through the shortest of the gospels or “good news,” the four biographies of Jesus that include Matthew, Luke, and John. The purpose of the series is to know Jesus…not just know about him, but to know him, to have a relationship with him, to become like him by the power of the Holy Spirit we talked about last Sunday.
Before we look at today’s text in Mark chapter ten, we’re going to go back—way back—to the second book of the Bible. In Exodus chapter twenty, God delivers His Top Ten List, the Ten Commandments. How many of them can you name?
And God spoke all these words: (Exodus 20:1)
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)
“You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
That’s the first one: no other gods. What is most important to you? Who is most important to you? What is the foundation of your life? What or who truly matters most?
“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, (Exodus 20:5)
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:6)
The second one is no idols. We often think of idols as religious statues, but it’s anything we love and worship more than God. Notice God makes incredible promises concerning these commands. He gives us great freedom, but there are consequences to both obedience and disobedience.
If you’re keeping score, the rest involve misusing the name of the LORD, sabbath, honoring one’s parents, and the “shall nots” of murder, adultery, stealing, false testimony, and coveting.
Today, though, our focus will be on the first two commandments as we look at the gospel of Mark.
Are you rich? Whether you feel like it or not, most of you are rich. Sure, we are all rich in God’s love, but I mean financially rich. You’ve heard of the one-percent, those wealthy Americans who are frequently demonized in the media (despite many create jobs and opportunities for others as business owners). To be in the top one percent in the USA, you need to earn about $500,000 a year. For the record, that is NOT me!!!
To be in the top one percent in the world, you need to earn about $60,000 a year. If you earn $45,000, you are in the top two percent, and if you only earn $38,000, you are in the top three percent of the richest people in the world. If you earn only $19,000 a year, you’re in the top ten percent.
Most of us are rich compared to the rest of the world. With blessings comes responsibility…and temptation.
We’re in the tenth chapter of Mark, beginning at verse 17.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)
This guy sounds sincere. He runs to Jesus, falls on his knees, proclaims him to be a good teacher, and asks what it takes to inherit eternal life.
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. (Mark 10:18)
Maybe the man realized Jesus was God!
Think for a moment about Jesus’ statement. If only God is good, we’re not. Sure, compared to some people we might be good, but we all sin. We are all deserving of eternal punishment for our wicked deeds. None of us is perfect, which is God’s standard for goodness, found only in Jesus, the sinless one.
You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:19)
These are commandments 6-9 if you’re keeping score, plus “don’t defraud,” and then 5. He skips 1-4 and 10…for now!
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” (Mark 10:20)
That’s a pretty bold statement, but the man didn’t list all ten. Like us, he was self-deceived. He overestimated his goodness after Jesus told him only God is good.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)
I always missed the first sentence. Jesus loved him. Jesus loves sinners. It’s out of love that Jesus addresses the commandments related to God first. no idols, and covetousness or greed.
N.T. Wright notes,
When Jesus says ‘You will have treasure in heaven’, he doesn’t mean that the young man must go to heaven to get it; he means that God will keep it stored up for him until the time when, in the Age to Come, all is revealed. The reason you have money in the bank is not so that you can spend it in the bank but so that you can take it out and spend it somewhere else. The reason you have treasure in heaven, God’s storehouse, is so that you can enjoy it in the Age to Come when God brings heaven and earth together at last. And ‘eternal life’, as most translations put it, doesn’t mean ‘life in a timeless, otherworldly dimension’, but ‘the life of the Age to Come’ (the word ‘eternal’ translates a word which means ‘belonging to the Age’).
(Mark for Everyone, Westminster John Knox Press)
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark 10:22)
The rich, young ruler had good feelings for God, but loved wealth more. It’s important to remember most of us have great wealth, too. The world says that’s good, but it can become an obstacle. Do you possess money or does your money possess you?
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23)
I’ve seen a number of people lately writing about downsizing and eliminating clutter in our lives. The more we have, the more we must work to protect, insure, store, and steward. Some in our church family are homeless, which is not a popular or comfortable position to be in, but there are certainly benefits to its simplicity.
As I said, sometimes we demonize the rich, as if their success is somehow evil. Perhaps it’s actually envy that leads to such criticisms.
One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in Proverbs 30. It reads,
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)
Do you recall someone teaching his friends to pray for daily bread? It’s in Jesus’ model we call the LORD’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3). It’s taken from these words by Agur son of Jakeh, a wise man indeed.
The rich are tempted to feel secure in their wealth and ignore God.
The poor are tempted to steal and dishonor God.
We are to pray for daily bread.
Back to Jesus,
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:24-25)
That’s a sobering statement, especially for USAmericans. We often think of the kingdom of God as a disembodied heaven, but rather it’s here on earth where God rules. Jesus taught us to pray for his kingdom to come now, on earth as it is in heaven. We don’t walk on streets of gold, but the Age to Come is emerging here and now, like a baby chick with its beak sticking through the egg shell, as N.T. Wright says. We are in-between.
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” (Mark 10:26)
Many in Jesus’ day thought wealth was a sign of God’s favor and blessing, and that a place in the Age to Come could be purchased somehow. If the rich can’t get in, who can?
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)
Many of you have heard that expression, “All things are possible with God.” But look at the context. It’s about salvation. It’s about the rich entering the kingdom of God. We are saved by grace. It’s a gift. Praise God we have hope because of Jesus, his death, and resurrection!
Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:28)
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31)
What a promise! This life—eighty years or so, on average—is so short compared to eternity. Why are we so attached to the cares of this world when it’s all so temporary? God’s kingdom is not of this world. It’s the upside-down kingdom. Jesus is saying anything we sacrifice for him will be worth it, both in the present age and in the age to come. He is inviting them—and us—to put away our idols and greed and follow him with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength. There’s a price to pay for following Jesus, but it’s worth it.
So What?
Is money evil? No. Money is a tool used for centuries, a means of exchange. It can be used for good or bad.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)
The love of money is dangerous. It is one of the most common idols in our culture. Most of us want more. In fact, one millionaire was asked how much money was enough and he replied, “Just a little bit more.” That’s because money will never truly satisfy, especially if your goal is to hoard it.
Contrast that with generosity. I remember hearing a wise man years ago say his goal was to make as much money as possible and keep as little as necessary for himself. He delighted in giving.
During my five years here at First Alliance I’ve seen many examples of radical generosity. God has blessed us with some wealthy members, and although I don’t see who gives what, I know our budget is met through men and women who are good stewards of their wealth, making eternal investments through their tithes—ten percent-and offerings week after week. But I’ve heard stories of anonymous homeless people giving generously, too. The best way to destroy the money monster—the greed machine, the idol of wealth—is generosity. Giving is a gift. Paul instructed the church in Corinth,
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Do you want to be loved by God? Give! This isn’t a fundraising pitch, but an encouragement to share your wealth, invest your money, be generous. To those of you with little financial wealth, give something! If ten percent seems too much, start with one percent. Columbus takes seven percent! The federal government takes even more! What if you took a faith-filled risk and sowed some seeds, upped your giving, made a wild investment in God’s work, or simply began the godly discipline of generosity? Remember, everything we have belongs to God, not just ten percent.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
We can see from today’s text how money easily becomes an idol. It becomes more important than God. In fact, I believe the reason Christianity has been in decline in the western world for decades isn’t politics or technology or education, but simply wealth. We don’t need God. We have doctors when we’re sick, heaters when we’re cold (until we lose power!), iPhones when we’re lonely, and entertainment when we’re bored. Who needs God? Who has time for God?
It’s amazing how different things are in the developing world. When they are sick, they pray. For many, there is no plan B. For our brothers and sisters around the world without religious freedom, they have no power or rights, but they trust completely on God. Many of us are so comfortable that truly pursuing God seems like work or an obligation rather than a privilege to commune with the Creator of the universe!
Is God first in your life? What idols are between you and God? It might be money, but it could be your career, family, hobbies, or even religion. Anything more important to you than God is a sinful idol. Period. Those are God’s words…Old and New Testament!
Consider these words from the book of Hebrews:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Think about that for a moment. If we have God, what more do we really need? True contentment can only be found in God in the first place.
Listen to Paul’s instructions to Timothy:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (2Timothy 3:1-5)
If this doesn’t sound like our country, I don’t know what does. But we’re called to be different! We’re called to follow Jesus, not the world. We’re called to live lives of contentment, peace, faith, hope, and love. We’re called to fully rely on God, not our 401k or bank account.
Conclusion
No other Gods. No idols. No covetousness or greed. Perhaps that’s why Jesus said the greatest commandment was:
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)
May it be said of each of us, “In God We Trust,” not the money upon which it is stated.
What is your foundation? What or who is your God. What is your first love?
We can build our lives on the stock market, but it can crash.
We can build our lives on a dream home, but a storm can destroy it.
We can build our lives on a career, but it can be lost in a pandemic.
“Build My Life”
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You can watch this video and others at the First Alliance Church Video Library here.
Series—Mark: The Real Jesus
Mark 10:17-31
Series Big Idea: Mark’s gospel is the most concise biography of Jesus.
Big Idea: Following Jesus involves total surrender, not just a one-time prayer.
Nearly four years ago we began a series called Mark, the Real Jesus. We’ve been going verse-by-verse through the shortest of the gospels or “good news,” the four biographies of Jesus that include Matthew, Luke, and John. The purpose of the series is to know Jesus…not just know about him, but to know him, to have a relationship with him, to become like him by the power of the Holy Spirit we talked about last Sunday.
Before we look at today’s text in Mark chapter ten, we’re going to go back—way back—to the second book of the Bible. In Exodus chapter twenty, God delivers His Top Ten List, the Ten Commandments. How many of them can you name?
And God spoke all these words: (Exodus 20:1)
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)
“You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
That’s the first one: no other gods. What is most important to you? Who is most important to you? What is the foundation of your life? What or who truly matters most?
“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, (Exodus 20:5)
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:6)
The second one is no idols. We often think of idols as religious statues, but it’s anything we love and worship more than God. Notice God makes incredible promises concerning these commands. He gives us great freedom, but there are consequences to both obedience and disobedience.
If you’re keeping score, the rest involve misusing the name of the LORD, sabbath, honoring one’s parents, and the “shall nots” of murder, adultery, stealing, false testimony, and coveting.
Today, though, our focus will be on the first two commandments as we look at the gospel of Mark.
Are you rich? Whether you feel like it or not, most of you are rich. Sure, we are all rich in God’s love, but I mean financially rich. You’ve heard of the one-percent, those wealthy Americans who are frequently demonized in the media (despite many create jobs and opportunities for others as business owners). To be in the top one percent in the USA, you need to earn about $500,000 a year. For the record, that is NOT me!!!
To be in the top one percent in the world, you need to earn about $60,000 a year. If you earn $45,000, you are in the top two percent, and if you only earn $38,000, you are in the top three percent of the richest people in the world. If you earn only $19,000 a year, you’re in the top ten percent.
Most of us are rich compared to the rest of the world. With blessings comes responsibility…and temptation.
We’re in the tenth chapter of Mark, beginning at verse 17.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)
This guy sounds sincere. He runs to Jesus, falls on his knees, proclaims him to be a good teacher, and asks what it takes to inherit eternal life.
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. (Mark 10:18)
Maybe the man realized Jesus was God!
Think for a moment about Jesus’ statement. If only God is good, we’re not. Sure, compared to some people we might be good, but we all sin. We are all deserving of eternal punishment for our wicked deeds. None of us is perfect, which is God’s standard for goodness, found only in Jesus, the sinless one.
You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:19)
These are commandments 6-9 if you’re keeping score, plus “don’t defraud,” and then 5. He skips 1-4 and 10…for now!
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” (Mark 10:20)
That’s a pretty bold statement, but the man didn’t list all ten. Like us, he was self-deceived. He overestimated his goodness after Jesus told him only God is good.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)
I always missed the first sentence. Jesus loved him. Jesus loves sinners. It’s out of love that Jesus addresses the commandments related to God first. no idols, and covetousness or greed.
N.T. Wright notes,
When Jesus says ‘You will have treasure in heaven’, he doesn’t mean that the young man must go to heaven to get it; he means that God will keep it stored up for him until the time when, in the Age to Come, all is revealed. The reason you have money in the bank is not so that you can spend it in the bank but so that you can take it out and spend it somewhere else. The reason you have treasure in heaven, God’s storehouse, is so that you can enjoy it in the Age to Come when God brings heaven and earth together at last. And ‘eternal life’, as most translations put it, doesn’t mean ‘life in a timeless, otherworldly dimension’, but ‘the life of the Age to Come’ (the word ‘eternal’ translates a word which means ‘belonging to the Age’).
(Mark for Everyone, Westminster John Knox Press)
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Mark 10:22)
The rich, young ruler had good feelings for God, but loved wealth more. It’s important to remember most of us have great wealth, too. The world says that’s good, but it can become an obstacle. Do you possess money or does your money possess you?
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23)
I’ve seen a number of people lately writing about downsizing and eliminating clutter in our lives. The more we have, the more we must work to protect, insure, store, and steward. Some in our church family are homeless, which is not a popular or comfortable position to be in, but there are certainly benefits to its simplicity.
As I said, sometimes we demonize the rich, as if their success is somehow evil. Perhaps it’s actually envy that leads to such criticisms.
One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in Proverbs 30. It reads,
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)
Do you recall someone teaching his friends to pray for daily bread? It’s in Jesus’ model we call the LORD’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:3). It’s taken from these words by Agur son of Jakeh, a wise man indeed.
The rich are tempted to feel secure in their wealth and ignore God.
The poor are tempted to steal and dishonor God.
We are to pray for daily bread.
Back to Jesus,
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:24-25)
That’s a sobering statement, especially for USAmericans. We often think of the kingdom of God as a disembodied heaven, but rather it’s here on earth where God rules. Jesus taught us to pray for his kingdom to come now, on earth as it is in heaven. We don’t walk on streets of gold, but the Age to Come is emerging here and now, like a baby chick with its beak sticking through the egg shell, as N.T. Wright says. We are in-between.
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” (Mark 10:26)
Many in Jesus’ day thought wealth was a sign of God’s favor and blessing, and that a place in the Age to Come could be purchased somehow. If the rich can’t get in, who can?
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)
Many of you have heard that expression, “All things are possible with God.” But look at the context. It’s about salvation. It’s about the rich entering the kingdom of God. We are saved by grace. It’s a gift. Praise God we have hope because of Jesus, his death, and resurrection!
Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:28)
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:29-31)
What a promise! This life—eighty years or so, on average—is so short compared to eternity. Why are we so attached to the cares of this world when it’s all so temporary? God’s kingdom is not of this world. It’s the upside-down kingdom. Jesus is saying anything we sacrifice for him will be worth it, both in the present age and in the age to come. He is inviting them—and us—to put away our idols and greed and follow him with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength. There’s a price to pay for following Jesus, but it’s worth it.
So What?
Is money evil? No. Money is a tool used for centuries, a means of exchange. It can be used for good or bad.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)
The love of money is dangerous. It is one of the most common idols in our culture. Most of us want more. In fact, one millionaire was asked how much money was enough and he replied, “Just a little bit more.” That’s because money will never truly satisfy, especially if your goal is to hoard it.
Contrast that with generosity. I remember hearing a wise man years ago say his goal was to make as much money as possible and keep as little as necessary for himself. He delighted in giving.
During my five years here at First Alliance I’ve seen many examples of radical generosity. God has blessed us with some wealthy members, and although I don’t see who gives what, I know our budget is met through men and women who are good stewards of their wealth, making eternal investments through their tithes—ten percent-and offerings week after week. But I’ve heard stories of anonymous homeless people giving generously, too. The best way to destroy the money monster—the greed machine, the idol of wealth—is generosity. Giving is a gift. Paul instructed the church in Corinth,
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Do you want to be loved by God? Give! This isn’t a fundraising pitch, but an encouragement to share your wealth, invest your money, be generous. To those of you with little financial wealth, give something! If ten percent seems too much, start with one percent. Columbus takes seven percent! The federal government takes even more! What if you took a faith-filled risk and sowed some seeds, upped your giving, made a wild investment in God’s work, or simply began the godly discipline of generosity? Remember, everything we have belongs to God, not just ten percent.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
We can see from today’s text how money easily becomes an idol. It becomes more important than God. In fact, I believe the reason Christianity has been in decline in the western world for decades isn’t politics or technology or education, but simply wealth. We don’t need God. We have doctors when we’re sick, heaters when we’re cold (until we lose power!), iPhones when we’re lonely, and entertainment when we’re bored. Who needs God? Who has time for God?
It’s amazing how different things are in the developing world. When they are sick, they pray. For many, there is no plan B. For our brothers and sisters around the world without religious freedom, they have no power or rights, but they trust completely on God. Many of us are so comfortable that truly pursuing God seems like work or an obligation rather than a privilege to commune with the Creator of the universe!
Is God first in your life? What idols are between you and God? It might be money, but it could be your career, family, hobbies, or even religion. Anything more important to you than God is a sinful idol. Period. Those are God’s words…Old and New Testament!
Consider these words from the book of Hebrews:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Think about that for a moment. If we have God, what more do we really need? True contentment can only be found in God in the first place.
Listen to Paul’s instructions to Timothy:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (2Timothy 3:1-5)
If this doesn’t sound like our country, I don’t know what does. But we’re called to be different! We’re called to follow Jesus, not the world. We’re called to live lives of contentment, peace, faith, hope, and love. We’re called to fully rely on God, not our 401k or bank account.
Conclusion
No other Gods. No idols. No covetousness or greed. Perhaps that’s why Jesus said the greatest commandment was:
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)
May it be said of each of us, “In God We Trust,” not the money upon which it is stated.
What is your foundation? What or who is your God. What is your first love?
We can build our lives on the stock market, but it can crash.
We can build our lives on a dream home, but a storm can destroy it.
We can build our lives on a career, but it can be lost in a pandemic.
“Build My Life”
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