1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,920 I commit myself by God's grace and sufficiency to endeavor to glorify Jesus Christ by living 2 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,080 in obedience to His word. 3 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:22,940 I commit myself to regularly participate in community worship. 4 00:00:22,940 --> 00:00:30,160 I commit myself to avail myself of the biblical instruction provided through the church's 5 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,720 ministries. 6 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:39,120 I will develop my spiritual gifts and use them to serve others. 7 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:44,920 I will seek opportunities to fellowship with other believers through the church. 8 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:49,560 I will deepen my understanding of the gospel of God's grace and seek to demonstrate its 9 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,880 truth in my life. 10 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:56,880 I will grow in willingness and sensitivity to share Christ with others. 11 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,400 I will regularly and earnestly lift up the church's people, ministries, and leadership 12 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,400 in prayer. 13 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:08,800 I will participate faithfully in the financial support of the church, recognizing tithing 14 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,760 to be a principle that God blesses. 15 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,680 I will respect the leaders God has appointed and submit to their authority in matters of 16 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,840 faith, practice, and church life. 17 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:29,800 Perhaps those words sound somewhat familiar to you because what I've read is the proposed 18 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,400 covenant of membership that was mailed to the congregation last summer. 19 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:41,760 Some of you will recall that this proposed covenant generated discussion at the annual 20 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:50,120 meeting and a wide variety of opinions about it and was then tabled with no action at that 21 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,040 point. 22 00:01:53,040 --> 00:02:01,160 As a result of the discussion which I heard on that occasion, I decided that we needed 23 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:08,840 to reinforce the biblical support for the ideas of this covenant. 24 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:23,400 And so I created a series in the fall called Christ Church, The New Community. 25 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:30,320 And in order to defuse any emotional baggage around the covenants, I tried to disguise 26 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,200 what I was doing. 27 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:40,000 We talked about the new community of oneness, of order, the community of fellowship, Christ's 28 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:46,760 community as a church, a place of commitment, generosity, worship, prayer, thanksgiving, 29 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:47,760 and holiness. 30 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:58,320 All of those themes arise out of the proposed covenant that we talked about last summer. 31 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:04,040 I was troubled when near the end of the fall, one of my staff members came to me and said, 32 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:12,080 Gaylen, your messages are being greatly appreciated as information, but I don't sense that there's 33 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:19,360 any response of commitment in the congregation to what you're describing the church to be. 34 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:28,080 Well, that troubled me again because I recognize that there is a culture that has developed 35 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:37,480 in contemporary Christianity which has a deep appreciation for truth, but which believes 36 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:45,080 that there is no response entailed in knowing the truth. 37 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,760 The attitude seems to be, I can hear the word of God, but I don't have to do anything about 38 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,420 it. 39 00:03:51,420 --> 00:03:57,000 Just load me up with the Bible, and someday I will get around to applying it when I feel 40 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,760 like it. 41 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:05,200 But James tells us that it's impossible to rightly hear the word of God without being 42 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,680 a doer of it. 43 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:15,600 The goal of a sermon or a series of sermons for that matter is not merely to inform or 44 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:23,280 to inspire, but rather it is to transform. 45 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:28,640 We have many who sit in the pews of evangelical churches across America today who are experts 46 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:38,040 at evaluating sermons, taking lengthy notes on what they hear, and who enjoy the stirring 47 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,600 emotions of great music and preaching. 48 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:51,760 But they resist being challenged to apply what they hear to their lifestyles. 49 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:58,520 And so we come today to the end of this series on the church, which has extended beyond the 50 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:06,320 Christmas season, as we've talked heart to heart with Jesus, and we talk about this matter 51 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,400 of commitment. 52 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:14,040 What I hope is that we will understand that one cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ without 53 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:21,400 being a follower, and to be a follower requires commitment. 54 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:27,720 We turn today to John chapter 21, the fourth of the Gospels, where we see Jesus' last 55 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:33,880 words to His disciples. 56 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:39,120 John concludes without a great commission. 57 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:46,520 He brings his Gospel to a close without telling about Jesus' ascension to heaven. 58 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:53,840 Interestingly, he brings the narrative to a close with the record of a conversation 59 00:05:53,840 --> 00:06:00,160 between Jesus and Peter. 60 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,240 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 61 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:08,380 Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? 62 00:06:08,380 --> 00:06:11,900 He said to them, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 63 00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:17,080 He said to him, tend to my lambs. 64 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:22,760 He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? 65 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:26,380 He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 66 00:06:26,380 --> 00:06:31,060 He said to him, shepherd my sheep. 67 00:06:31,060 --> 00:06:38,000 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? 68 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:44,040 Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time, do you love me? 69 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,160 And he said to him, Lord, you know all things. 70 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,600 You know that I love you. 71 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,600 Jesus said to him, tend my sheep. 72 00:06:54,600 --> 00:07:01,980 Truly, truly, I say, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever 73 00:07:01,980 --> 00:07:04,000 you wished. 74 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:10,000 And when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you 75 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,920 and bring you where you do not wish to go. 76 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:19,860 Now this he said signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. 77 00:07:19,860 --> 00:07:26,480 And when he had spoken this, he said to them, to him, follow me. 78 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:32,560 Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also 79 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:38,240 had leaned back on his breast at the supper and said, Lord, who is the one who betrays 80 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:39,240 you? 81 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:45,760 Peter, therefore, seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? 82 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:51,480 Jesus said to him, if I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? 83 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,680 You follow me. 84 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,960 Thus ends the narrative of the gospel. 85 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:05,360 As John records it, he finishes his gospel with a few personal notes of his own. 86 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:11,740 This conversation between Jesus and Peter underscores the necessity of personal commitment 87 00:08:11,740 --> 00:08:17,440 to Christ's lordship if one is making a claim to be a disciple. 88 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:25,160 In fact, I think in this text, there are several lessons that we learn about commitment. 89 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:32,960 What Jesus expected of Peter and I believe of us as well. 90 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:39,800 The first lesson is this, that commitment is based on love, not law. 91 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:46,000 Commitment is based upon love, not law. 92 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,760 Peter had denied his lord three times. 93 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:56,360 He had been forgiven and restored to fellowship with Jesus on that first Easter. 94 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:01,640 But this conversation seems to parallel that incident. 95 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:09,640 Three times, Jesus now asks Peter to confirm his love. 96 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:20,800 And it is, in fact, loving affection that keeps commitment from becoming legalistic. 97 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:27,880 Jesus wanted Peter to know that whatever he was going to do in the future needed to be 98 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:34,520 based upon his love for him, not some demand. 99 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,400 So he said, Peter, do you love me? 100 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:45,320 Peter, do you have affection for me? 101 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:52,320 The commitment that Jesus wanted out of Peter had to be based upon that love. 102 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:59,160 And so Jesus causes Peter to affirm that love three times. 103 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:05,840 Commitment that is based upon law is commitment that is not very satisfying and usually doesn't 104 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:10,000 last too long. 105 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:19,720 The commitment that is based upon love is a commitment that lasts forever. 106 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:23,800 You husbands are to provide for your wives. 107 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:24,800 You're to protect your wives. 108 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:32,040 You're to nourish them, to care for their needs. 109 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,360 And you do that, I trust. 110 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,520 To the best of the ability that God gives you. 111 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,560 Now why do you keep that commitment? 112 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:48,000 A commitment that you spoke before God and the people in your wedding ceremony. 113 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,520 Why are you faithful to your wife? 114 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,640 Is it because of the law? 115 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,120 The law of the state says you have to take care of your family? 116 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:02,400 No, it is because you love your wife. 117 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,480 And it is that love that drives the commitment. 118 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:12,040 It is that love that your whole marriage is based upon. 119 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,760 You as parents care for your children. 120 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,800 Is it because the law demands that you take care of them? 121 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,600 It does. 122 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,640 Or is it because you have a deep affection for your offspring? 123 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,440 Well of course it's because of the love. 124 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:35,320 The point is that our Christian commitment likewise will never be satisfactory to us 125 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:40,080 if we see it as a matter of legalism. 126 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:46,480 If we see our commitment as simply a matter of law keeping instead of genuine and deep 127 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:51,800 affection for Jesus Christ. 128 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,920 Commitment must be based upon love, not law. 129 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,960 Secondly, I see this lesson. 130 00:11:59,960 --> 00:12:05,960 Commitment precedes assignment in Christ's continuing work. 131 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,040 It doesn't follow it. 132 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,880 Commitment has to precede our assignment in the work of Jesus Christ. 133 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:14,960 It doesn't follow it. 134 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:20,040 Some people have the idea, Lord you show me what my assignment is and then I'll decide 135 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,560 if I want to commit to it. 136 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:27,800 It doesn't work that way. 137 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:34,600 Commitment has to precede our assignment to the work of Jesus Christ. 138 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:40,320 Are you struggling today to know where you fit in to God's plan and what he wants you 139 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,080 to be doing in this world? 140 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,080 That's normal. 141 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,360 We all go through periods like that in life. 142 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:52,000 Sometimes we get us settled for one period and then the Lord makes us uncomfortable and 143 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:58,400 our nest is not like it used to be and we decide well now Lord what are you trying to 144 00:12:58,400 --> 00:12:59,400 say? 145 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:00,400 Where am I supposed to fit in? 146 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:06,280 And we go through a process again of evaluating and deciding this is God's assignment for 147 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:07,280 me. 148 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:14,120 But I can tell you from my own personal experience that before God will ever give us our assignment, 149 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:21,280 there has to be commitment to him as our Lord. 150 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:30,640 Commitment that says Lord whatever my assignment is I will do that. 151 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:36,360 Commitment has to precede our assignment in Christ's work, not follow it. 152 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:40,960 Jesus had a place for Peter. 153 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,760 For Peter who had blown it, do you ever feel like you've blown it? 154 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,800 That you've failed the Lord? 155 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:53,140 I think every Christian has spells like that. 156 00:13:53,140 --> 00:13:58,640 Sometimes we haven't blown it and somehow we have the guilties anyway. 157 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:07,160 And sometimes like Peter we have genuinely blown it as Peter did when he denied his Lord. 158 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:14,760 The neat thing is that Jesus came to him again and said do you love me Peter? 159 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,680 Because Jesus had more for Peter to do. 160 00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:23,960 Even when you and I have blown it, God has something more for us to do down the line. 161 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,320 But we must come to that place of commitment first. 162 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,800 And say Lord you know that I love you. 163 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,360 That is my commitment. 164 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,360 I love you. 165 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:44,120 So Jesus said to Peter feed my sheep, tend my lambs, shepherd my flock. 166 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:50,520 None of us can be useful to Jesus Christ and his work until we have committed. 167 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,200 Until we have said Lord take my life. 168 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,200 Take my life. 169 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,200 Take everything I am. 170 00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,200 I give it to you. 171 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,520 I consecrate it to you. 172 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:11,240 When there is that sense of dedication and loyalty, then our will will be engaged and 173 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,840 we will say Lord whatever it is, I am willing. 174 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:20,160 Have you come to that point in your life? 175 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:25,280 Someone here today may be struggling with going into the ministry. 176 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:29,920 God has talked to you about that and you have resisted it. 177 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:34,960 The problem is that the commitment hasn't been there. 178 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:40,800 You see when the commitment is there first then whatever Jesus brings to us will be wonderful. 179 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:49,280 Whatever the sacrifice may be entailed, it is acceptable because our commitment is to 180 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,400 him and we love him. 181 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,600 We love him. 182 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,460 Commitment is based upon love. 183 00:15:57,460 --> 00:16:02,240 Commitment precedes our usefulness to God in his work. 184 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:07,080 And think of the privilege that you and I have to be a part of what Jesus Christ is 185 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,640 doing in the world. 186 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:13,760 Believe me, if you are a child of God you have a place in it somewhere. 187 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:19,760 God has something for you to be and to do as a part of his overall plan in the world 188 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:23,800 right now today. 189 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:29,000 Before we can discover the joy of what that place is, we must decide to put everything 190 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:35,680 in the altar to hold nothing back and to declare Jesus Christ Lord of all. 191 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:41,040 And that is my plea today to all of us. 192 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:45,920 There is a third lesson about commitment that I see in this conversation between Jesus and 193 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:46,920 Peter. 194 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:55,720 It is that commitment to Christ means commitment to his church, not to one's own goals. 195 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,880 Peter, do you love me? 196 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,160 Lord, you know that I love you. 197 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:06,120 But Peter, go out and do your own thing. 198 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:10,560 And Peter, go out and realize your dreams. 199 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,840 Peter, go out and be all that you can be. 200 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,400 That isn't what Jesus said. 201 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:25,680 Jesus said, Peter, if you love me, then I want you to look after my work in the world. 202 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:32,120 I want you to be involved with my sheep, my flock, my church, to use the term given to 203 00:17:32,120 --> 00:17:34,120 it as the New Testament progresses. 204 00:17:34,120 --> 00:17:40,560 Peter, if you really love me, then I want you to plug in. 205 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:48,960 I want you to do what my will is in ministering in the church. 206 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:53,560 Peter's affirmation of love and devotion was to be demonstrated, you see, by his commitment 207 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:55,360 to the flock of God. 208 00:17:55,360 --> 00:18:00,840 And my sheep feed and shepherd them. 209 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:09,680 It truly is impossible to love Jesus Christ without loving his flock. 210 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:15,760 I hear people who say, I think in a joking way, well, I love the Lord, but it's Christians. 211 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,760 I can't stand. 212 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:24,280 And I guess all of us can smile at that and we identify with it a little bit because sometimes 213 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,880 Christians are hard to love. 214 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:35,560 But my point is that we can't genuinely, devotedly love Jesus Christ without committing ourselves 215 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:42,080 to what Jesus committed himself to, the church. 216 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:46,600 For Jesus loved the church and gave himself for it. 217 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,440 Can we do any less than that? 218 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:55,200 Do we understand how precious the flock is to him? 219 00:18:55,200 --> 00:19:02,760 Do we understand the depth of his love and his commitment to us? 220 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:14,360 How can we then claim to love Jesus and be careless about his people, his church? 221 00:19:14,360 --> 00:19:19,080 The kind of Christianity that says, I love Jesus and serve him, but forget about the 222 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,840 church is a fraud. 223 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:29,400 It's not genuine biblical Christianity, which says, I love Jesus Christ and because he loves 224 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:31,680 the church, I love the church. 225 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:40,080 And because he gave himself for the church, I give myself for his people as well. 226 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,640 And then the final lesson that I want to point out this morning in this conversation at the 227 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:51,000 close of John's Gospel is this, that commitment means submitting to Christ's lordship, not 228 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:55,160 questioning it. 229 00:19:55,160 --> 00:20:02,000 Commitment means submitting, not questioning the lordship of Jesus Christ. 230 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:07,840 You remember when Peter first heard those two words, follow me? 231 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:13,520 He was a fisherman over by the Sea of Galilee. 232 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:19,400 And now Jesus has another conversation at the end of his earthly ministry with Peter. 233 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:27,400 And again, these same two words come to his ears, follow me, follow me. 234 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:33,520 Those are words of command and lordship, follow me. 235 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,520 Notice what Peter does. 236 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:43,040 He turns around and he sees John and he says, Lord, what about him? 237 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:47,880 Jesus says, Peter, that's none of your business. 238 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,800 That's my business. 239 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,440 You follow me. 240 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:57,040 You see, true commitment submits to Christ's lordship. 241 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:02,320 It doesn't question it for oneself or for others. 242 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:10,280 True commitment is obeying the command of Jesus Christ, follow me. 243 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:20,200 We live in a generation to whom Jesus again addresses the question, do you love me? 244 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:26,480 He comes to us today with that same question, do you have affection for me? 245 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:33,480 And I'm just sure that 99% of us here this morning with Peter would say, Lord, I do love 246 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:34,480 you. 247 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:37,360 Lord, you know my heart. 248 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:38,920 You know all things. 249 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,640 I do love you. 250 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:51,040 So Jesus, as he did really with Peter, says, then demonstrate it. 251 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:57,360 Accept your responsibility in my continuing work on the earth and the church and follow 252 00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:03,040 me wherever I lead you. 253 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,760 Are you willing to demonstrate and to certify your love for Jesus? 254 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:14,360 Remember, commitment is based upon love, not law. 255 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:19,400 Remember commitment has to precede our understanding of what the assignment is. 256 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:24,040 It doesn't follow it, it precedes it. 257 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:34,360 Remember that commitment must be to the church of Jesus Christ as to him, not to ourselves. 258 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:44,120 That means submitting to his Lordship, not throwing up questions. 259 00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:48,600 As I listened to the various viewpoints expressed at the annual meeting regarding the proposed 260 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,520 covenant, I was frankly astonished. 261 00:22:53,520 --> 00:23:01,200 I sat right here on the platform and while not trying to summarize all of the views expressed 262 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:07,600 nor to question the sincerity of anyone who partook in that conversation, the underlying 263 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:16,600 message that I heard that day with my imperfect, admittedly, ears was this. 264 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:28,480 We like everything the covenant says, but don't ask us to commit ourselves to it. 265 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:35,120 We believe that what it says is what the Bible says, but please, it's legalistic to say I 266 00:23:35,120 --> 00:23:38,520 have to commit myself to it. 267 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:47,640 And you know it is, if that commitment isn't out of love. 268 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:53,880 In the proposal last summer, the elders suggested that we sign the covenant indicating that 269 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:58,960 that was our commitment, and whether that will be the case in the future, I don't know, 270 00:23:58,960 --> 00:23:59,960 I doubt it. 271 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:06,840 But it was interesting to hear some of the comments about signing the church covenant. 272 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:14,480 You know in our culture today we signify our commitment by our signature. 273 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,160 Isn't that why we sign legal documents? 274 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:23,760 We're committing ourselves to this piece of property, so we sign the deed. 275 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:30,280 We commit ourselves to pay the bill on the credit card, and so we sign the credit slip. 276 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:35,200 We say this letter expresses what I want to say, so we sign it committing ourselves to 277 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,520 the content of it. 278 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:41,920 We write out a check for a certain amount to the company, and we sign it saying I'm 279 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:47,360 committed that there are funds in my account to pay for this. 280 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:52,640 We receive packages from the UPS by signing a signature, and yet when it comes to the 281 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:57,960 work of Jesus Christ and committing ourselves to it, we're not willing to sign a piece 282 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:09,960 of paper. 283 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:18,400 Some anonymous author has captured the essence of commitment in words entitled, The Fellowship 284 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,760 of the Unashamed. 285 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:27,360 I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. 286 00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:30,440 I have Holy Spirit power. 287 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,280 The die has been cast. 288 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:34,840 I have stepped over the line. 289 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,960 I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. 290 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:43,960 I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. 291 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:50,280 My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. 292 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:58,880 I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless 293 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:08,480 dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. 294 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:17,400 I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. 295 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:24,400 I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. 296 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:32,840 I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by 297 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:34,920 power. 298 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,040 My pace is set. 299 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:38,360 My gate is fast. 300 00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:40,000 My goal is heaven. 301 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:41,240 My road is narrow. 302 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:42,480 My way is rough. 303 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:44,880 My companions few. 304 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:46,760 My guide reliable. 305 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:51,320 My mission clear. 306 00:26:51,320 --> 00:27:02,280 I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. 307 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:09,320 I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate 308 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:17,000 at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. 309 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:23,200 I will not give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I have preached up, prayed up, paid 310 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,280 up, steward up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. 311 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:30,640 I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. 312 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:41,720 I must go until he returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until he comes. 313 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:47,340 And when he comes to get his own, he will have no problem recognizing me. 314 00:27:47,340 --> 00:27:51,920 My colors will be clear." 315 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:57,640 How well that person has captured the essence of the idea of commitment to Jesus Christ. 316 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:05,080 I want to tell you something, that commitment is what gives joy to living. 317 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:14,240 John doesn't even give us a smile from Peter as he concludes this gospel. 318 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:21,400 He doesn't tell us how Peter responded to this conversation when Jesus said to him, 319 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:28,160 what is that to you, you follow me Peter. 320 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,360 But we know how Peter responded. 321 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:36,280 We know from the other accounts of the gospels and the book of Acts that Peter heard what 322 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:37,280 Jesus said. 323 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:45,020 And on that day, on that day, in that conversation, he committed himself to the Lordship of Jesus 324 00:28:45,020 --> 00:28:53,040 Christ, and he was never the same again. 325 00:28:53,040 --> 00:29:04,240 This man who was aggressive and yet afraid to own the name of Jesus later was willing 326 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:13,280 to stand humbly and powerful before thousands of people and proclaim his faith in Christ. 327 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:18,040 He was willing to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. 328 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:23,360 He was willing to undergo persecution for the cause of Christ, and ultimately if tradition 329 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:31,320 is correct, Peter was willing to die on a cross, insisting that it be put upside down 330 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:38,560 because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. 331 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:44,080 It is that same kind of commitment that will make a difference in our world today. 332 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:51,280 It is that same kind of commitment that will fill our lives with a joyful purpose knowing 333 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:58,440 that we serve a Savior who is worth it all. 334 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:06,240 Justin who was a Christian philosopher and martyr ultimately wrote to the Emperor Antonius 335 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:11,520 Pius in the second century, these words. 336 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,360 He was defending Christians. 337 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:22,100 He says, Before we rejoiced in uncleanness, but now we love only chastity. 338 00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:29,160 We used to practice magic arts, but have now dedicated ourselves to the true and unbegotten 339 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:30,880 God. 340 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:37,200 We used to love money and possessions more than anything, but now we share what we have 341 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:40,440 and give to all those in need. 342 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,800 We used to hate each other and kill one another. 343 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:51,900 We would not eat with those of different races, but now since the manifestation of Christ 344 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:59,360 we love our enemies and pray for those who hate us without just cause. 345 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:07,080 In our world today there is so little distinction between Christians and non-Christians. 346 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:14,040 Surveys of attitudes and lifestyle practices show time and time again in the United States 347 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:21,280 that the difference between Christians and those who claim not Jesus Christ is minutiae. 348 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:22,280 It is small. 349 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:28,120 It is insignificant. 350 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:36,040 What we need today is a fresh infusion of commitment to Christ that is based on love, 351 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:43,920 that is willing to say, Lord, whatever you assign me in your work, that I will do, which 352 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:50,640 will not question the Lordship of Christ, and which says, Lord, I love you and I love 353 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:58,200 your work in the world, and I give myself wholly to you. 354 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:07,960 Would you pray with me? 355 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:20,440 May the Spirit of God motivate each of us in the deepest part of our beings to be able 356 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:31,880 to respond to God the Holy Spirit in surrender to the Lordship of Christ. 357 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:36,520 Where we have been resistant to that Lordship, where we have questioned it, where we have 358 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:46,460 said no, may we come to those very areas this morning and say, Jesus, you have your way. 359 00:32:46,460 --> 00:32:49,560 You take my life. 360 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:57,680 Let it be consecrated wholly, fully, solely to you. 361 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:03,320 Lord, make this the prayer of our hearts. 362 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:14,840 In Jesus' name, amen. 363 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:43,760 Thank the Lord. 364 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:57,880 We have another verse or two to sing, but I wonder if some of you would like to join 365 00:33:57,880 --> 00:33:59,520 me here at the front in prayer. 366 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:06,040 And not just be a time of commitment for you, but saying afresh to Jesus Christ, Lord, you 367 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:07,760 know I love you. 368 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:10,320 You know I love you. 369 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:16,720 And every issue in my heart that has been between your Lordship and my life I remove. 370 00:34:16,720 --> 00:34:21,680 And I give myself without reservation to you this morning. 371 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:27,800 I invite you to come as all of us sing together. 372 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:51,080 Take my hand, it is thine own. 373 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:59,480 It shall be thy will. 374 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:11,000 It shall be thy will. 375 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:27,160 Take my silver and my gold. 376 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:43,960 Take my intellect and words. 377 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:57,960 It shall be thy will. 378 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:03,160 Lord, help us to see today that not only the assignment that you have in your perfect will 379 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:10,440 for our lives, but the vision that you have for our church depends upon our commitment, 380 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:15,000 our commitment in advance. 381 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:22,400 Thank you for what you have done in our hearts, culminating for some here today in a fresh 382 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:28,760 commitment to your Lordship. 383 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:34,040 We pray that you will be pleased to take the pieces of our lives, the gifts that you have 384 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:44,040 given to us, our talents, and to fashion those pieces in a way that we would become your 385 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:51,320 instruments within the walls of this church and outside its walls in our community and 386 00:36:51,320 --> 00:37:03,400 around the world to be the flock of God and to see your kingdom advance. 387 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:09,480 We thank you that the power of the Holy Spirit is ours, and so we ask that we may be filled 388 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:20,360 afresh with your Spirit in our lives, in our relationships at home, at work, in the church, 389 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:29,040 in the world, that others may see Jesus in us and our lives will be distinct and different. 390 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:36,720 And we too will be a part of the fellowship of the unashamed committed. 391 00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:59,440 Amen.