Sermon Audio
May
the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your
sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. AMEN.
“Are
you ready for some football?” This
iconic song and statement means one thing, sports are starting back up! Whether
it is football, the coming of the playoffs in baseball as well as the beginning
of school, it is certain that we will watch commercials advertising the sports
and showing the stars of the different sports.
Currently the NCAA is in talks to pay college athletes for using their
likeness on posters and other advertising, because kids look up to these
athletes and see them as the model and example.
But the reality and question we here in the church need to address is,
who do we look to as an example?
Clearly,
there are probably three distinct groups that we look to in our daily
lives. They include our parents, our
teachers and even the professionals that we pay lots of money to go and see, or
sit in our living rooms and dedicate our Saturday’s and Sunday afternoons to
watch on television. But what do these
three groups provide as a model for us?
Certainly
our parents are clear examples of people we want to emulate. Recently there was a clear expression of why
we look to parents to emulate by a mother who was diagnosed with cancer. But her cancer as well as the situation
wasn’t normal. She found out she had
cancer after she learned she was pregnant.
Instead of sacrificing the child, which would have been publically
acceptable, she chose to carry the child to term, allow the cancer to continue
to grow along with her child in the womb and ultimately give birth at full
term, before she began treatment for the cancer. This woman now has been told she has less
than a year to enjoy and bond with the child she would not sacrifice giving
life too. Why would we not use her as
our example?
Or
teachers who not only teach our children, but model for our children more
during their waking hours than even parents do.
They not only are expected to provide discipline, compassion and even
provide for them, but teach our children how to read, write and do
arithmetic. But even teachers model
something above and beyond. Remember
both Columbine and especially Newton, Massachusetts. There were stories told of a teacher who hid
her students in the cabinets and told the gunman they were gone and sacrificed
herself, in order to save the students she loved and cared for. We have seen the impact of those tragedies,
both by our redesigning our schools here in Goodland and refitting them to
protect our children. Why would we not
use teachers like this woman as role models for our children?
We
also not only see the professionals who play the sports, but how the media
portrays them or in some cases crucifies them and their beliefs. Having lived in Niagara Falls, New York, I
watched Jim Kelly quarterback the Buffalo Bills. But now Jim Kelly no longer on the radar or in
the cross hairs of the media, fights for his life with cancer. Yet he continues to hold his firm convictions
not only as a parent but also as an advocate for children with mental and
physical challenges. Tim Tebow closer to
home for us, former quarterback of the Bronco’s received more scrutiny than
most for not only his upbringing, but especially his faith in God and
willingness and desire to show it both on and off the field. Why would we not want to follow the model of
those who show their faith willingly and in some cases to their downfall?
No
matter who your own personal example may be, each and every person has
character traits that can both attract praise as well as criticism. Yet as Christians, members of Emmanuel and
especially members of the church, we have to ask ourselves the most serious
question, who do we look up to as our example?
The
simple answer should be Jesus Christ. Jesus
Christ modelled for all of humanity not only the desire to do the Father’s
will, but the willingness to sacrifice Himself because of His great love for
us. If you could have had a conversation
with Paul after he had written this letter to the Corinthians, he would have
plainly stated Jesus Christ was the person we need to look to most as an
example for our daily lives. Years ago
the “WWJD”
bracelets and key rings were the rage, but have fallen out of constant
circulation. But the reality remains, we
as Christians not only can ask but look to Jesus Christ, what He was willing to
do for all of mankind and know He is the best example for us today.
Paul
in his letters always pointed and had his ultimate centering in and upon Jesus
Christ. Prior to his personal experience
of being blinded on the road to Emmaus, Paul persecuted the underground church
that followed the teachings of Jesus Christ.
But after encountering Jesus Christ, Paul preached tirelessly, through
the night in order for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached and
proclaimed. Paul confessed he was not
the perfect example, but Jesus Christ was and came to set us free. Paul was not afraid to point to Jesus and we
can daily look to Jesus Christ as not only our ‘true North’, but our example
for each of us.
Ultimately
as the church, we can and do point to Jesus Christ as the perfect example. We see His likeness in our stained glass
window above the altar. Yet the reality
remains, we even have examples here among us today that emulate and model for
each of us a clear measure of sacrifice.
Whether it is the mother that speaks on behalf of and represents a departed
son and continues his legacy of service in the community and making the world a
better place. Or the sacrifice many families
in our community daily make of taking care of their loved ones, as they see
them diminish and ultimately go to meet their maker. Or even those who watch as their children who
should have grown up and had families of their own, now have to be cared for by
the very parents who gave them life. We
have examples right here among us where Jesus Christ is clearly visible and present
in action and deed by the people we call brothers and sisters in Christ.
Clearly
this is where we can see and individually lay claim to the example given us by
Jesus Christ and know that Paul was true and correct when he said, “God
is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be
able to endure it.”
We each
know people who are in need of being introduced to Jesus Christ and we as the
church have the opportunity not only to introduce them, but continue to model
for them who our example is in Jesus Christ.
Recently, I saw the movie “God is not Dead” and was struck by
not only the profound opportunity, but clear impact one person can have upon
countless lives. But it was not the
philosophy professor, nor the young man that defied everyone he held dear to
defend Jesus, but it was the Pastor that for me that emulated the example we
need. Though he had the best laid plans
for vacation, God used him and orchestrated the greatest opportunity and
element of seeing and being an example and shoulder to cry on by many of the
characters in the movie. While he knelt
at the side of the Philosophy professor, he truly understood Who his example
was in Jesus Christ and what he needed to do for this man he had just met, but
had been counseling people that were impacted by him. It wasn’t make the man comfortable, but offer
him the opportunity to confess Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It crystalized for me what we need to be challenged
to do as Christians, but also the church, not just be willing, but clearly be
open to point to the Man Jesus Christ in all of our opportunities that daily
present themselves.
We
need to daily point to and introduce others to the perfect example we have that
is found in Jesus Christ. We need to be
challenged to not only emulate Jesus Christ, but be His emissaries here in the
church, and also and especially in our community. And when our ‘perfect plans’ are changed, see
it as our being used to not only give greatest glory to God, but used for His
Glory. For “God is faithful” and we can
point to Jesus Christ as our perfect example for all of mankind that we daily
encounter, including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this
morning. AMEN.
Save as PDF
Check out
Pastor on the Prairie (ProtP)
Subscribe to ProtP
