• The things we were discussing in church pre-pandemic all of the sudden became reality instead of hypothetical
  • Churches were accused of many things as they were caught up in the mix of nationwide disease of many kinds
  • Persecuted about attendance, racism, ideology, and even their very nature—churches had to respond
  • Much of the church went with the flow to make Jesus a self-help guru: a cheapened Christ at best
  • The historical church had taken a further downturn
  • The church had little response to the riots, gender issues, economy, theological debate, scandal, etc
  • Much has happened since the beginning of the pandemic, and we should not desire to go back to what was. God calls us to remember, not go back
  • Life was good back then, though less vibrant
  • We have gained many people with joy, and lost several with sorrow
  • All the topics of the last 5 years come to nothing without devotion–so let us end this 5 year arc strong
  • Revelation 5:1-14
  • Acknowledging our need for devotion is entirely different from meaning it, especially in our world of instant gratification and mechanical efficiency
  • Today, Jesus’ offer of living and eternal and satisfying water is more meaningful than ever
  • A lack of meaning is more than unsustainable and unprofitable–it is evil
  • Being devoted and sacrificial without God leads to being dark and confused and lost in mutual misery
  • People seek beauty and function without God, but those efforts are hollow and misdirected and finite to their bitter end
  • God is a threat to nations and peoples who seek to build their own systems apart from Him. Pagans are no worse than us with our abortion and gender and family tendencies to glorify and empower evil
  • God is the central point for all good things past, as well as future. Knowing the God of the Bible is the only thing that truly matters. Nothing else good matters without Him
  • We cannot take the label of “good” by cherrypicking our best hits or even by our dedication to the true God
  • Not one is good but our Father in Heaven
  • Mark 10:18, Proverbs 3:5-6
  • How can one claim devotion to God if it doesn’t translate into holistic action in life? All generations have their own ways of weakness 
  • Isaiah 58:1-14
  • It’s not enough to do the minimum, but to be fully devoted because of your full affection for God
  • James 1:22-27, 2:14-25
  • Becoming vigilant is not accomplished by putting on the gear of a soldier, but it’s his affection for his cause that drives him to train and succeed and stand courageously
  • 1 Samuel 17:21-50
  • Consider David, who–fueled by his affection for God and His honor–runs out to challenge a living monstrosity of death
  • Is this us? Or do we claim ignorance of this type and level of devotion?
  • We have many plain examples of devotion, love, and dedication–even in God’s created nature. Even animals know better than us
  • Generation after generation in Israel feared man over God. The spies, or the armies, or the kings, or the pharisees–most lacked the devotion of even a young boy with godly zeal
  • Matthew 18:1-5
  • A simple mix of love and respect is what builds this devotion. It’s simple enough for a child to enact
  • Amidst all the failures of Man, we also have a remnant of faithful men and women who are truly devoted to God
  • Romans 1:21-22
  • It’s not a split second decision to become disordered, but a systematic series of seemingly small choices
  • We are so disordered as a culture, that we challenge virtuosity ourselves
  • At one point, Man loved God with complete affection and devotion; why should this not happen again amongst His people?
  • All those who were God’s people  and went astray did many things to follow God–but they would not die for Him. Would you?
  • Jesus Christ was the Worthy Lamb because he followed God in life, and into death, in every moment. He took up the mantle of the Head of Man–victorious. He’s worthy of love and respect
  • Isaiah 53:4-6
  • He is worthy to be our bridegroom, and to fall in love with him with our whole heart
  • This war can finally be finished because of Jesus. He was worthy to open to the scroll. And through him we have healing from all our sin and solutions to all the questions and quandaries of the world
  • Romans 8:1-39
  • All things we aspire to work on should be fed from our love of God. Nothing is because of who we are, what position we hold, or anything else–but because of who God is
  • We should read God’s Word because we love Him, and He has reached down from the heavens to show Himself to us, call us to Him, and lead us to the Light of the World
  • How can we NOT do as much as we can to love Him back?
  • We all need help with this, as finite and fallen creatures. We need help to look beyond all the distractions and drop all the baggage. More next week…

SEASON PLAYLIST

MEET THE PASTORS

SERMON ARCHIVE