Alston Road Church of Christ Podcast

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Troxel Ballou

Series: Technology and the Christian

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville

The world would be an untamed, chaotic, unsafe place if humans did not work fruitfully, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. There is no doubt in my mind that technology-whether a shovel or a phone-gives us tools that can better our ability to do this. And yet, if we do not use tools with wisdom and awareness, these tools can actually become burdensome idols that manipulate and control us. If we do not use technology mindfully, we can face many unintended consequences.

One of the biggest unintended consequences being talked about by both believers and unbelievers is distraction. Constant inundation to constantly flashing, updating, and changing screens is harming our ability to focus and think about deeper things for extended periods of time. Considering what Isaiah says about people who find his message too challenging to read and understand, that should seriously catch our attention. we talked in depth about this problem in the spring. But consider what Paul says in Ephesians 5:15-16. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15–16)

This morning I want to leave behind the challenge of being distracted in particular moments so we can look at scriptures-that warn us of what can happen when our lives are distracted by things that aren't always inherently wrong. I want us to think about how to make the best use of our time. Though this will help us think more carefully about the time we spend looking at screens, my hope is that these passages will help us think about our whole lives: how we use of time and whether our lives are focused on the one necessary thing.

We will look at four passages that speak of the dangers of unchecked distractions, and then we will reflect on the challenge of living focused lives that make the best use of our time. Note, this sermon was inspired by Christian author Tony Reinke's book, “12 Ways Your Phone Is changing You."

1. Unchecked Distractions Make the Gospel Unfruitful in Us (Mt. 13:7, 22)

“Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.” (Matt. 13:7 ESV) “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22 ESV)

The good news about God's Kingdom was being proclaimed. For thousands of years, promises had been made about what God's Kingdom was going to do. Angels, kings, prophets, and faithful longed to understand and see the fulfillment of what was promised. And now the biggest news this world could ever hear was being preached, and only a few people were really listening and understanding and doing anything about it.

Why? Jesus says let me illustrate with a common picture from what you see every day in the agricultural world. You throw seed on the ground and your plant starts coming up, but so do weeds and thorns all around it. The plant remains, but the thorns choke it so that it cannot bear any fruit. For many, that's exactly what's happening with them and the gospel. They hear the biggest news this world has ever heard and they are given the opportunity to participate in it and in bearing the righteous fruit we were made to bear, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful.

Cares and concerns. That sounds like the American life in the digital age of information. We are constantly inundated with a barrage of information and updates and research. Here's how to eat better, sleep better, exercise better. Here's what's going on in the Middle East and Inner Mongolia and Russia and the White House. You might be ruining your child forever if you fail to do this one crucial thing. The economy is good, no it's bad, no it's good. Click here if you want to see the 20 cutest cats in the world. The roof is leaking, there is mold in the closet, the laundry needs to be done, the lawn mowed, and the kids taken to their activities. Homework needs to get done and you need to get to work earlier tomorrow. You need to enroll in better health insurance and you're not saving enough for retirement. And oh, if you only had more money, all these problems would go away. I need to work more, I need a newer car, I need a bigger house and better phone. So much that seems urgent and important. All the while Jesus proclaims a Kingdom and an age to come where none of those caves will matter. But these things are thorns that choke us. We have little energy to listen, and certainly not enough to do anything about what little we hear. Unchecked cares, distractions, and the deception that money will solve it all and make us happy-these make Jesus' death, resurrection, and the reality of the Kingdom mean little to nothing in our lives.

2. Unchecked Distractions Cause Us to Forget about Judgment (Lk. 21:34-36)

Luke 21:34–36 ESV, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

There is no doubt that sinful living and drunkenness can weigh us down and cause us to forget the coming judgment, but Jesus refers again to the cares of this life. They can weigh us down so that the final day comes upon us suddenly like a trap. In Luke 17 Jesus warned that his coming would be like the day of the flood and the day fire rained down on Sodom-a day like any other. People are marrying, eating, drinking, buying, and selling. They were weighed down with the mundane every day cares of this life, and that day came like a trap, and there was no escape. You might say, "But won't it be sudden like a thief in the night for everyone?" In the timing, sure. But the key will be whether the timing will end up being a welcome surprise we have been anticipating each day, or a terrible shock that catches us off-guard and makes us sick to our stomachs. That day won't feel like that for those weighed down by sin alone, but also to those who knew, but stopped anticipating the day eagerly, became weighed down with the concerns and canes of this age and this world. Unchecked distractions cause us to forget about judgment.’

3. Unchecked Distractions Cause Us to Divide Our Commitment (1 Cor. 7:32-35)

The first two texts should wake us up, but these next two texts should blind our eyes with light. “I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:32-35 ESV)

At some point, I would like to give this text and its context fuller treatment, but I want you to notice a simple principle from this text: Paul is trying to ensure the Corinthians’ undivided devotion to the Lord. What could possibly cause the Corinthians to have divided interests? What could possibly distract them from being anxious about the Lord's cause? Their marriages. And Paul will urge later in this chapter that marriage should only be "in the Lord,” so he's not even saying that marriage to an unbeliever might distract us. He's just talking about marriage in general.

He's not saying someone can't get married, he's saying he doesn't recommend it and to only enter if you must with great caution. This must be confusing. God created marriage. Marriage is good, right? Yes and yes! In fact, one of the ways we show we trust and love the Lord is by how we love and respect and care for our spouse. And yet, though marriage is a gift of God that has spiritual responsibilities and implications, notice how Paul says concern about how to please our spouse is a worldly thing (vs. 33-34). Marriage is a wonderful gift of God that requires attention and care, but marriage doesn't outlast death and will not be restored in the resurrection. It is of this age and this world, not the age or world to come. Unchecked distractions - even our marriages-can cause us to lose our commitment.

4. Unchecked distractions close off communion with God (Luke 10:38-42).

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42 ESV)

Luke just finished telling us the parable of the Good Samaritan which emphasizes the need to show neighborly love and so fulfill the law of God. I believe this account shows us a dear woman anxiously toiling to fulfill this law in a way that distracts her from the first command- "You shall love the Lord your God..." Jesus has no home - he's traveling to Jerusalem. Martha graciously invites him into her home. Mary sits at his feet listening to his teaching while Martha is distracted with much serving. I imagine she may have been cooking for this crowd that came her way. Doesn't that blow your mind? Serving — a command of God — is spoken of as a distraction in this text.

"One thing is necessary. "that strikes me. So many things are urgent and even important and even commanded by God. we talk so much about what we need: what we need to do, to eat, places we need to be, people we need, things we need to buy, and even commands of God we need to obey. But, really, just one thing is necessary.

Don't misunderstand Jesus. If we say we love God and we do not love those made in his image, we are a liar and the love of God is not in us. But if we" love" and serve his people and are distracted from their God, we have missed the boat. One thing is necessary. Mary chose the better portion — she chose to sit at the Lord's feet to listen to his teaching-and that will not be taken from her. In all our busyness and even service, are we humbly sitting down to quietly receive and enjoy the better portion?

If things as noble as loving our spouse and showing hospitality can distract us from the one necessary thing, how might unchecked commitments like school, sports, and hobbies affect our focus? If obedience to God's commands can distract us from the most imp, how might unchecked digital distractions and "commitments" be affecting our focus? Sometimes I fear we are distracted from fellowship with God and blinded to the gospel by far less important things than pleasing our spouse or using our gifts and opportunities to serve others. And if our distractions are unchecked and far less noble, not only will we find ourselves leaving behind the one necessary thing, we may find we are even so distracted that we don't give our marriages or the serving of others proper time either.

Why is it so challenging to remain focused?

We live in a scientific age that seeks out uniform black and white answers. We do this with our health-and fortunately, that's pretty innocent. There is no specific provable study that says a lot of soda, energy drinks, processed food, and desserts will give us cancer or cause a heart attack, and so society at large says, “I’ll eat as much of that as I want - it's legal, what's stopping me?" This was the mindset of the Corinthians when it came to spiritual matters. When the Corinthians considered their lives, their default question was, “Is it lawful?" And for that reason they were fools and their church was a mess. Notice how Paul teaches them to think. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.” (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23) 

When it came to how they were taking one another to court, eating food, and thinking of sexual relations, they thought, "All things are lawful for me," but Paul thought, "Yeah, but all things aren't helpful."

In the same way, it is challenging for us to not become distracted from the gospel, from judgment, from commitment and communion with God because our modern world has a lot that flashes that is not inherently wrong and most of us have enough free time and money to enjoy a lot of it. It's hard because we are raised in a world and church that — when it comes to partaking in these things — rarely teaches us to ask anything more than, "Is it lawful?" And so we fill our lives with lawful things that aren't inherently wrong and we become distracted from what is truly necessary.

We need to ask," what is lawful?" But we also need to ask, "What is helpful? What builds up? Will this dominate me? What is wise? What is best?" When we buy a home, a car, a phone, choose a job, choose a spouse, choose where to live, we need to ask, "What should we do?" Not, "What can we do?" Biblical fools only ask, "Can I afford it?" But the wise ask, "Should I buy this?" 

Note how Paul addresses how we think about time from the same perspective. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15–16 ESV) Biblical fools only ask, "Do we have enough time?" But the wise ask," Considering how evil the days are, considering what is most important, considering how easily we can be distracted, is this the best use of our time?"

God has recently forced us to ask ourselves, "Do we want to keep wasting so much of our lives in front of a screen?" Watching shows and movies or looking at our phones - these aren't inherently wrong things. In the right place they can be blessings. But let me be the first to admit that they haven't been in the right place for me. I keep spending hours upon hours and years upon years doing things that "aren't inherently wrong." I'm "not inherently wrong"-ing myself to distraction and death. And it keeps me from a meaningful prayer life, meaningful meditation, meaningful connections with you and unbelievers, and from our God. 

I keep trying to hold onto as many of my LED loves that entertain me while at the same time trying to live a purposeful life, and I'm not finding both goals to be possible. I'm loving one master and hating the other.

I don't want to wake up at 60 or 70 or 80 years old continuing to feel out of balance and guilty and full of regret for how much of my life I have given to a screen. I'm tired of how my fingers continually twitch for a phone or remote. I'm tired of my eyes, mind, and body being hijacked by screens. I want Christ to live in me, not the energy of something else.

When Israel left their harsh slave master in Egypt, God told them to rest on the 7th day. But you know how they heard that command? God offered rest, but they only saw a burden. I used to — and still do at times — read Ephesians 5:15-16 as a burden. But every time I cut some distraction from my life to make better use of my time, I keep finding that-though it is hard-my joy in the Lord increases.

In our group meetings today, let's ask, "How can we practically remove distractions from our lives to focus on what is most important?" share Scripture, wisdom, and experience. Based on our experience, we have found a few things to be helpful.

1. Give friends and family clearance to call us out.

2. Be humble - perfection hasn't been attained yet. Keep course correcting.

3. Media fasts are very helpful.

4. Cut off your hand, pluck out your eye. Sell all.

Series: 1 Samuel (The Coming King)

Service: Sun PM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville

As Saul, David, and the armies of Israel returned home from the decisive victory over Phil is tia, the crowds were roaring and the women were singing and dancing. All Israel had been in terrible fear, but God was with David and he slayed Goliath - enabling Israel to put the whole Philistine army to flight. But as they drew nearer to the city, the chorus of the women's victory song became dear, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

The women meant no criticism against Saul, but that's how he heard it. He was furious. "What more can David have but the Kingdom?" And from that day on, Saul eyed David.

The very next day, a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul. He was raving in his house while David played the lyre. In his rage and jealousy, he hurled his spear at David, but David evaded him twice.

But even when Saul was not afflicted by the spirit, he was not in his right mind. He saw the LORD was with David, but not him, so he removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. But Saul continued to hear of David's success in all his battles because of God's presence with David. Saul's jealousy grew into fearful awe. David meant him no wrong, but Saul only saw him as a threat. At this point, you can start to see clear parallels between the religious leaders in Jesus' day and Saul.

David was supposed to marry Saul's eldest daughter, but she was given to another man. But Saul heard that his younger daughter, Michal, loved David. So he devised a plan. He sent messengers to David, "Saul loves you and he wants you to be his son-in-law." David was perplexed. Saul tried to kill him, then gave his daughter to another man, now he wants David to be his son-in-law?" Who am I anyway that I should marry the king's daughter." We must remember: David has done great stuff, but he's still probably a teenager and considers himself to be a poor nobody. A lot of this has happened really, really quick.

So, Saul sent messengers again: provide me 100 foreskins of Philistines, then you can have my daughter. Saul thought the Philistines might kill him. But no, David and his men slew 200 Philistines and brought 200 foreskins to Saul. So David married Michal, but when Saul saw that the Lord was still with David and that Michal loved David, Saul became even more afraid of him. And they became enemies of each other.

Now, Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David. David and Jonathan had made a covenant with each other. Jonathan had even given David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt-symbolizing a giving up of his position to David.

David's success against the Philistines grew and grew, and so did Saul's paranoia. He finally took council with Jonathan and his servants — no more covert plans, it was time to kill David. But Jonathan went to Saul," what has David done against you? the Lord worked salvation through him and you are benefitting from his work, why would you sin against innocent blood?"

Saul listened and swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death. So David returned to playing the lyre for Saul. But war arose again and David struck the Philistines with a great blow. Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, so David played the lyre for him. Then Saul sought to strike David, but David fled and escaped to his home. Michal loved David, but she knew he couldn't stay. Saul's messengers were outside his home watching him. "David, if you do not escape tonight, you will be dead by the morning." David has to be wondering "what is going on, man?" He escaped out the window while Michal covered for him — putting an image under the blankets in the bed and telling the men he was sick.

David escaped to the prophet Samuel. when Saul discovered where David was, he sent messengers to take David. Except when the messengers arrived and saw Samuel and the company of prophets prophesying, the Spirit of God came on the messengers and they started prophesying. When Saul heard what happened, he sent more messengers and they prophesied. He sent a third group of messengers and they also prophesied. Saul was bound and determined to kill David. Neither David nor Samuel nor God will stand between him and his throne. So Saul went to get the job done himself. Except the spirit of God came upon Saul too! He stripped off his clothes and lay naked all that day and night-prophesying before Samuel.

This embarrassing delay gave David the opportunity to run to the only other person he could truly trust: Jonathan, son of Saul. "Surely not!" said Jonathan.." My father tells me everything — there's no way he wants to harm you! why would he hide this from me?" "Jonathan, your father knows of your love for me. I swear-there is only a step between me and death." Finally, Jonathan said, "I’ll do anything." David replied, "Our monthly feast with your father is tomorrow, and I never miss it, but this time I will skip it. Tell him I just went home for an annual celebration with my family and see how he reacts. Jonathan, you have cut a covenant with me, if I have sinned, kill me right now yourself."

Jonathan swore, "David, may this never be so. Lord, God of Israel, be a witness between us! if my father wants to harm you, I will tell you. Furthermore, I know that one day the LORD will cut off every one of your enemies - may he take vengeance on them! But David, whether I am alive or dead, you had better not stop showing your covenantal, loyal love to me and my house. "David swore to it. And so, David and Jonathan prepared a plan for Jonathan and David to meet so Jonathan could tell David if Saul really planned harm, against David, or if Saul was just having more bad "episodes!

The next day came and David was — as planned — missing from the monthly new moon feast with Saul, Jonathan, and Abner. Saul thought, "Surely he is just ceremonially unclean, surely," and he said nothing. But when David was missing the second day he said, "Jonathan, why hasn't the son of Jesse come yesterday or today?" So Jonathan said, "Oh, he has an annual feast with his family he asked to go to." And with that, Saul lost it. "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman — you think I don't know you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and the shame of your mother? As long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Bring him to me, he will surely die!” Jonathan was furious. "Why? what has David done?!" And Saul launched his spear and narrowly missed Jonathan. Jonathan left in anger and ate no food.

The next morning Jonathan went out into the field where David was to secretly give him the news. When they knew none of Saul's minions were around, David and Jonathan fell on each other and wept, but David wept all the more. Then Jonathan said, "Go in peace. We have sworn that the Lord is between my offspring and your offspring forever.” And with that, David fled. And it was years before he ever had any peace again.

SUBMITTING TO 1 SAMUEL 18-20

So much happens in this episode, but I believe it has been carefully crafted to show us the devastating grip of sin through Saul and the beautiful comfort of steadfast love through Jonathan. It shows us how we actually destroy ourselves by fighting for ourselves, but we find love and security when everything around us falls when we selflessly love those we are committed to. Let’s take it one step at a time. This text teaches us to...

1. Beware of Satan's grip.

2. It’s not about you or me, but God's will and God's kingdom.

3. Embody self-giving, steadfast, covenant love (not contract)

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville

It is no small secret in my family that you want to avoid being behind me in line or even associated with me at all when we go to the ice creams shop. I can tend to be slow to order at restaurants, but there is something about selecting ice cream that paralyzes me. There are so many delicious-looking choices-aren't there?!" Dark chocolate with brownies, or creamy vanilla with cookie dough? Or buttered pecan. No! Chocolate oreo. Ah, but that is so sweet, and the toppings take away from the favor of the ice cream. I should just get chocolate. But that does have graham cracker and chocolate in it... and no one these days gets ice cream without toppings." I inevitably end up with one scoop of something I like and one scoop of something I didn't really want but couldn't stand not having.

Clearly, I have an unhealthy obsession with food. I have a fear that I am going to miss out on the perfect ice cream experience. I have major FOMO for icecream. But, you know, that's not the only area of my life where I am like that. In fact, I think it is part of Adam and Eve in us. And it is a dangerous fear that can get us killed. But there is a way to combat this with different desires, with a different FOMO. In Philippians 3, Paul tells us of the disciplined race he is in and of his intense focus to know Christ, be perfected, and attain the resurrection of the dead. He tells us how he developed a Homo- if you will-of the goal and prize God has called us to.

To see this in the right light though, we need to see the whole text. Notice verses 1-6.

No Confidence in the Flesh (3:1-6)

The Bible often speaks of "the flesh" in different symbolic ways. Based on the context, flesh here takes the meaning of human strength, accomplishments, and identity-the ability to gain something by human might. Human might versus God's right. "Flesh" also has a little double meaning here with circumcision. Some put confidence in human work-like cutting off some flesh.

And Paul tells these Philippians: you rejoice in and put confidence in the Lord. Why? Because there are all sorts of people who rejoice and put confidence in the flesh. They are always putting confidence in what they have done and can do. They are going around undermining people's confidence in the Lord by circumcising and mutilating their flesh to give them confidence that now they are the real deal-now they really are part of God's people and will inherit his promises. Paul says, "I want you to know in advance that you are the real deal, you are already "circumcised," you worship God by the Spirit, you glory in Christ. You don't need any extra human accomplishments or "flesh!”

In fact, Paul says he has all sorts of ways he could take confidence in his own human identity and accomplish­ments — but he does not rejoice in or take confidence in them one bit. In fact, if anyone could point to who they were and what they had done to have confidence that they were part of God's people, it would be Paul. He was circumcised the 8th day like a good Israelite; he was more Hebrew than any Hebrew around,' he was

a Pharisee; he was so zealous for God that he persecuted the church and you'd be hard-pressed to find any sin on him with the law. But Paul says, “I put no confidence in that stuff. It doesn't matter.” In fact, he takes it one step further. Notice verses 7-11.

Christ Is Everything, All Else Is Rubbish (3:7-11)

Let this text sink in deep. Not only does Paul not take confidence in his human identity or accomplishments, but he also counts every single perceived gain or good thing he has as rubbish, as a lost. Why? To know Jesus has surpassing worth. In fact, he feels as though he has lost everything in the pursuit of knowing Christ Jesus. It didn't matter what stood in the way, he was happy to be rid of it to know Jesus and share in his sufferings.

Keep in mind, Paul is referencing his identity, nationality, righteousness, his life's work, and everything he owned here. No small thing. This is his life. This is who he is. And notice how he describes it all in verse 8'. rubbish.. Some translations say," garbage," "filth," and "dung." The NET says this word was often used as a vulgar term for fecal matter and that there was probably some shock valve in Paul's use of this word. He wants everyone to understand: anything that stands between me and knowing Jesus, being declared righteous by faith in him, being transformed, sharing in his sufferings, and attaining the resurrection frown the dead is garbage, filth, rubbish, fecal matter to me. He will do anything and lose anything to know Jesus and gain the prize. He has a fear of missing out on knowing Jesus. He has a fear of missing out on the prize, the resurrection. So you know what else he does? Notice verses 12-16.

Forget the Past, Strain Forward (3:12-16)

One of the most annoying things to see in football is when a guy thinks he has everyone beat, so he starts a celebratory slow trot to the endzone. It's my favorite when someone actually catches up with him and unexpectedly takes him out before he gets there.

The apostle Paul, who so many are intimidated by because of his intense devotion never says, "I have been perfected," or "I have the prize in the bag." He doesn't slow trot. For Paul, his past had terrible evils. It had great righteousness. It had wonderful joys. But he forgot it all so he could strain ahead. He was never, ever satisfied.

What Should You Do About This? (3:17-4:1)

1. Imitate Paul and others like him (3:17).

As Paul listed all the things he could take confidence in, we must recognize that at one point in his life these would have been valuable to him and devastating to lose. And yet he looked at this life and called it loss", "rubbish," "fecal matter," because he learned to see far greater value in Jesus, and he feared missing out on knowing him.

What do we fear missing out on? Let's be honest about where we are at this morning. Paul wrote this to the Philippians for a reason-they needed to learn this. When Jesus comes to us and asks for more of us-what do we fear we will lose? What do we fear we will miss out on?

There is so much to miss out on, isn't there? One of the subtle, insidious dangers of not just having wealth but living in a culture of wealth, liberty, and opportunity is we are surrounded by a mindset of endless possibilities. And everything we want is just within reach. We see the lives, experiences, families, friends, and experiences of others and we know that if we just know enough and work hard enough that this experience, this life, this possession, this accomplishment can be ours. That's the American Dream, right? The pursuit of happiness. I fear missing out on a happy life. I fear not having enough resources to meet my desires and accumulate happy experiences.

The result is that my fear of missing out becomes my master, my treasure, while I count Jesus Christ as rubbish. We try serving two masters and we begin to despise the good one. And yet, Paul says knowing Christ has surpassing worth. If we want to be motivated to serve just one master, we need to be able to see his surpassing worth.

So, let’s remember the surpassing worth of this Jesus. Though we don’t want to admit it, through our sin we have dishonored our Creator, made ourselves less than human, and made others the same too. We have received God’s gifts, spit in his face, and demanded more. But Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count his equality with God as worth holding onto because he feared not getting to have you. So, this Jesus emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, and was humbly executed on a cross for you. He did it so you could have life. He did it so you could see what real living looks like. He did it so we could see how much he loves us. He lost everything so we would rip our eyes off of everything we fear losing. He lost everything so we would choose to lose everything and instead choose him. He emptied himself because we - Jesus and the church - belong together.

What stands in the way of us and knowing and seeing the surpassing worth of Jesus? What do we - like Paul - need to count as garbage? Nothing is too small.

Let’s not only imitate Paul’s counting of everything as trash but let’s also imitate his humble endurance. Let’s not slow trot or think we have already gained the prize. We can have confidence in salvation by grace through faith without being so foolish as to declare to ourselves "Well done, good and faithful servant" before the time. If we do that, we very well may hear instead, “Depart from me, I don’t know who you are or where you come from.” What you and I did a day or year ago is in the past — whether sin or righteousness — is in the past. Let’s stop letting our sin depress us so we don’t focus our eyes and strain forward. Let’s stop letting our righteousness continue putting us in the Lazyboy. Those who are mature, Paul says, think this way. They continue living life on the cross counting all as loss for the prize.

2. Recognize enemies of the cross for who they are (3:18-19).

When I think of enemies of the cross, I think of persecutors who ridicule Christians and policymakers who work against us. But Paul tells us with tears about enemies because they are far more subtle and pervasive than this." Their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."

The cross is the place where we see that real life and glory is emptying ourselves for others and for the God of Heaven. But we need to see enemies of this way of thinking and living or else we will unknowingly become them. Do you know who enemies of the cross are? Those who buy a dozen donuts and eat them all. Those who stuff their cart on Black Friday with every sale item because they can't miss out. Those who can't stop clicking and adding to their basket every beautiful, better thing they see. Those who yell at customer service agents-because their stuff arrived two days late. They feed their sexual appetite with whatever they can get their eyes on. They can't stop thinking about more square footage and better stuff to fill it with. They obsess over every ice cream experience because their belly, their appetite can't miss out. (Solve their hunger with a fork and a bottle; with binges and credit cards.

We need to identify the life that is at enmity with the cross — life against Jesus’ self-giving love — or else we will become or remain the enemy ourselves.

3. Be steadfast because of your citizenship and the hope it carries (3:20-4:1).

The Philippians had a tremendous privilege: Philippi was considered a colony of Rome and its people were considered Roman citizens. Philippi was called “Little Rome” in the past. It wasn’t Rome. They didn’t live in Rome. And yet they were a little pocket of Roman culture. And they knew that if any enemy came against them, they would be protected with the full force of Roman authority.

Paul tells these Christians to make a clear distinction: they are not enemies of the cross whose end is destruction, they are citizens of Heaven whose future is a transformation into the likeness of Jesus’ glorious body. Like the Philippians, we do not live in heaven, but that is where our citizenship is. We are a little colony representing the authority and culture of heaven right here on earth. And we must be steadfast because if our citizenship is in heaven, we have absolute confidence that salvation will come for us from heaven. And that future transformation of our bodies, that future salvation from heaven, that opportunity to hear “well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master,” that future opportunity to see and know Christ forever — that is worth losing everything for. 

There is so much glamor and glitz that distracts us. There is so much we fear missing out on. What a shame if that FOMO would take our eyes off of Jesus so that we miss out on that day. Brothers and sisters, do not consider yourselves as having attained the prize. Count all as garbage so you can know Jesus more and share in his sufferings. If we don’t, we will eternally regret it. As Dee Bowman has often said, “If you miss heaven, you just missed everything there is.”

Series: 1 Samuel (The Coming King)

Service: Sun PM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville

There are some days when we can be excited about the progress of Christian culture in the world. There are more resources than ever to help more people in less-reached places to read and understand God's word. There are many going out to do good in God's name-sacrificing their comfort and their lives to serve people in Jesus' name.

And then there are days when darkness and depravity seems impossibly strong and immovable. Those are the days when you go to places like Houston, L.A., New York, Shanghai, Mumbai and find that there is virtually no knowledge of or respect for God. No one in power considers him, and the commoners have hardly heard of him. Those dark days come when we hear of the awful injustices against humanity taking place against Chinese minorities, when we hear of extreme poverty in South America, the drug and opioid crisis here and elsewhere, and the insane levels of abortion across the world. Those days come, and they darken even more when I see sin in myself, and complacency in Christians about God, his word, and his world.

As we look at this situation and consider what God has promised to do in the world, we can feel numb and discouraged. We can feel afraid. And it can make us want to just... take a nap. Hide. Forget about the enemy. Stay in a safe place.

The Story (1 Samuel 17)

I believe this is similar to how the armies of Israel felt when they were fighting the Philistines and Goliath of Gath stepped to the front of the line. It wasn't enough that they had felt suffocated by the Philistines for decades or that they felt insanely outnumbered. When Goliath stepped out, they knew they were finished. He was over nine feet tall and he was a hulk of a man. He wore a bronze helmet and was covered by a coat of mail that weighed 125 lbs alone. He had bronze armor on his legs, a javelin, a sword, and a shield-bearer to go out before him. He carried a spear with an iron head that weighed 15lbs.

Israel was drawn up in battle on one hill, the Philistines on another hill, and a valley lay between them. And when Goliath stepped onto the line he bellowed out, "Why have you come to fight? I am a Philistine, you are servants of Saul — choose a man who can come down and fight me. If he prevails and kills me, we will be your servants. If I prevail and kill him, you will be our servants." No thanks, said Israel. When Saul and all Israel heard this, they were dismayed.

Note: when Saul heard-the king who was head and shoulders taller than anyone in Israel, the man who charged into battle against Nahash the Ammonite because God's Spirit was with him- he was afraid and dared not fight Goliath. He knows the Lord is not with him. It is sad. This is what happens when we stop obeying God. Without God, the strongest, tallest, wisest, richest of us is reduced to nothing but fear and trembling. For forty days this Goliath came out and taunted the armies of Israel. And for forty days, no man dared step forward.

At this time David was splitting his time between caring for his father's sheep and serving Saul. David's three older brothers were on the line fighting. David's father instructed David to bring his brothers some grain, bread, and cheeses. So David left the sheep with a keeper and went to the camp of Israel. When he arrived, the armies were drawing up once again for battle. He left the provisions and ran to the ranks to greet his brothers. As he spoke with his brothers, the Philistine champion - Goliath-came out and bellowed the same taunt and the same invitation, "Choose a man to fight me!" And the men of Israel ran.

Later, the men were talking about Goliath around David. "Have you seen him? He has come to defy and taunt Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him. He will give him his daughter and his father's house will be free from taxes." David overheard and I love how he responded. "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach of Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" His response is a great reminder: this Goliath may be fearsome, but Israel's armies represent the living God.

Well, Eliab didn't like this. "Who have you left those few sheep with? I know you have presumption and evil in your heart. You just want to see the battle." The reality is that Eliab doesn't like how David's expression of faith makes them look. Doesn't David realize he needs to get in line and tremble in fear with the rest of them? Eliab doesn't like his brother insinuating that maybe they don't have the faith they should have.

But David's talk of how he would go fight the Philistine landed him before Saul. "Listen, kid, you can't fight him. You are a youth, but he has been a man of war from his youth." But David insisted. "I used to keep sheep. If a lion or bear came and took a sheep from the flock, I chased it down, struck it, and delivered the sheep. And if he arose against me, I would grab him by the beard, strike him, and kill him. I have killed lions and bears that came against the flock, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be no different, for he has come against the flock, the armies of the living God."

And you have to give Saul a little credit. If David loses, they could become the servants of the Philistines. But he said, "Go, and the LORD be with you!" And he threw a bunch of his armor on David. But David refused the armor and the sword, opting to go with his wooden staff, five smooth stones, and a sling.

As David approached the monstrous and fully armed Philistine, the Philistine mocked him. He was just a handsome little teenager. "Am I a dog? Have you come to play fetch with that stick in your hand? Come here-let me feed your corpse to the animals."

But David looked at him with confidence. "You come with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have insulted. The Lord will give me victory over you and I'll cut off your head, then I'll feed all your corpses to the animals so that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh saves not with sword and spear. The battle is the Lord's."

And with that they ran at each other, David slung a stone, it sunk into Goliath's head, and he fell down dead on the spot. He won with a sling and a stone. Then he cut off Goliath's head with his own sword. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they didn't honor the agreement to become Israel's servants, they just turned tail and ran. The armies of Israel and Judah had been trembling before, but now they arose with a shout and pursued the Philistines all the way back home.

Living in Submission to 1 Samuel 17

Anyone with eyes and a brain knew there was no way David was going to win this fight with a sling and a stone. And yet, by trusting in the Lord, David put the whole army to flight. Impossible battles are no new thing, and the impossibility of God's Kingdom winning out against the domain of darkness feels very real today. How can we bring our lives into submission to this text as we consider the war we are engaged in today?

1. Be concerned about the reputation of God's people for the sake of God's name.

All Saul and his army could see was an army and an enemy they were afraid of. All they saw was, "Their guys are stronger than ours, we are outmatched." It's logical. It's science. We would be stupid to argue with that. But David looked beyond this one battle and saw something more. He saw the armies of the living God cowering before a sinner. He saw a giant boasting of his might and of his gods, and the hosts of Yahweh believing that threat. He saw the nations realizing that Israel's fear meant there was no God in Israel after all. He saw the enemy insulting God's people and God's name and he wouldn't put up with it for one minute longer. "Who is he that he should defy the armies of the living God?" It was time-not to fight for David's honor but for God's. It was time to take away the reproach of Israel.

No one else stood up because they didn't mind losing this battle if it meant saving their lives. They were more concerned about saving their lives because they didn't care about the impact this battle had on the name of Israel and her God.

When we decide to give up because we are discouraged, when we decide to remain silent about the gospel and about true righteousness, when we choose sin instead of God, divorce instead of faithfulness, we are saying, "Hey, I don't mind sitting this one out. It is my choice and I will deal with the consequences." But in reality, we are too dim to recognize that we are playing on a much larger cosmic stage. It's not just about my life or yours and the fate of our personal souls - it's about the honor of God's name in the world. Do we not realize whose uniform we are wearing! God is light and we wear the armor of light. What we do and don't do reflects on his name.

We must adopt this perspective because eventually we will do enough dumb things that we feel our honor and even our lives aren't worth fighting for any longer. But if we develop a respect for God's name, we will find that motivate us to get up and do what we were called to do with the faith that he will sustain us somehow for the honor of his own name.

2. Love the shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.

David may seem like a scrawny teenager, but his love for his father's sheep and his Father's people and his faith in God made him into a man's man. Possibly my all-time favorite text in 1 Samuel is David's rationalization to Saul for why he can fight the Philistine. “Saul, you don't understand, when a lion or bear takes one of my father's sheep, it's go time. I chase them down, deliver the sheep, and if it turns against me, I grab its beard and kill it with my bare hands. This Philistine has come against the armies of God, so it's go time." As I read that I think, “We need a king like that." We need a king who will leave the safety of the flock and risk his own life to rescue God's people. We don't need a hireling who runs when the enemy comes. We need a king who will not rest until he has established justice in the earth. We need a shepherd-king who will lay down his life for his Father's sheep.

The reality is that snatching the lamb from the wolf, executing justice, slaying the evildoer-it's not something you do from a high tower in heaven. You put your own life at risk.

Thank God for David, but thank God more for the one he points to-Jesus Christ. When the hour of darkness came he did not say, "Father, save me from this hour," but instead, “For this purpose I have come." When the hour of darkness came, he brought judgment upon the god, the uncircumcised giant of this world by being lifted up on the cross. It was only through his own death that he destroyed the one who had power over death.

Thank God for Jesus. And may we - children and adults, teachers and shepherds- go and do likewise.

3. Be energized by our king's representative victory over the champion of the enemy.

Goliath's challenge was simple. l'll represent the Philistines, choose someone to represent Israel. Whoever wins this one fight wins the battle. All Israel fled before Goliath and the Philistine army in fear-none of them was fit to represent Israel against the enemy. But once David had cut off Goliath's head, the enemies fled and all Israel and Judah rose with a shout to cut them down. David's victory was not one simple skirmish-it was the decisive, representative victory of all Israel over all Philistia. Philistia knew it. Israel knew it. Goliath's armor and sword did nothing; it didn't matter how many swords Philistine had, they saw God was with them, the battle was their's, and the enemy wouldn't be able to touch them.

It was promised in Genesis 3 and Romans 16 that we, the children of woman would crush Satan and his offspring under our feet. Aren't you thankful that we didn't have to lead the charge in that fight? Jesus alone could take on the champion. We fear losing our lives-both to miss out on good things and to die altogether. Humans tremble before sin, Satan, and death. But Jesus was obedient unto death so that through death he might destroy Satan who has power over death (Hebrews 2:14). Through the cross and the resurrection he disarmed all rulers and authorities in heaven and earth and put them to open shame (Colossians 2:15). This victory is not Jesus' alone, it is the representative victory of God's children over the snake and his offspring; the representative victory over all rulers and champions against God and his people.

And you know what this needs to lead to? Jesus' representative victory should release us from fear of the enemy and of death. It should energize us to go out and fight the enemy with the power of the truth of the gospel and to confront what is wrong in this world with our gifts and with Christ-like self-giving love. It should release us from the fear of what might happen if we lost everything for God and his Kingdom.

They have hate, but we have Jesus' love.

They have sin, but we have grace through Jesus.

They have rulers and authorities, but we have the king of kings.

They have deception, but we have truth.

They have guns, but we have the empty tomb.

They have numbers, but we represent the living God.

Let us represent him honorably.

Let us not cower back in fear, let us use our gifts and opportunities boldly for his glory, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self- control." (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)

“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14 ESV)

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: John Kilgore

Series: Technology and the Christian

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville

I was in my junior year when I came close to being expelled from high school. I was acquaintances with a young man who was Jewish. I always heard his friends making light-hearted jokes about how they didn't like Jews, and he would always laugh along and chime in with the jokes. There was a private online social forum we had started using recently at our school. Forums were new to us, but we enjoyed joking around and interacting on there. Then I got the bright idea to joke with this acquaintance using the same joke that had been made about his Jewishness in person many, many times. I don't know how many days it took for someone to notice it, but when it was noticed, I was quickly escorted to the principal's office.

I can't explain how humiliating it felt for all these people who knew me personally to read what I wrote online and feel like they had me pegged. No amount of explaining that "No, I don't actually hate Jews," and "It's the same joke he always laughs at in person" was sufficient. Even if I didn’t mean it, it was wrong to say. It didn't matter that this was a private forum that few could see. It didn't matter who others had previously perceived me to be; it didn't matter that I actually thought this guy was pretty cool; my words online told everyone clearly: Scott Kercheville hates Jews. Even worse, I had been known across the school as the Christian who wanted to preach. Some Christian I looked like!

When the principal said he should expel me, but was considering a two-week suspension, I was shocked. I thought it was unfair. Why didn’t anyone understand my innocent intentions? By the way, this principal knew me well.

Our screens are powerful tools and can be used for much good, but they also carry great dangers for Christians who are called to be the light of the world. Not only can our thumbs use phones and remotes to cause us to see and hear helpful and harmful things,  our thumbs can type things that impact others more than we can possibly know. This morning I want to consider how Scripture teaches us about the influence of our words on others and how it teaches us about other's influence on us. This is not a tirade against technology, but a warning from Scripture about how to take great care with this powerful tool we have in our hands.

... What You Type

Jesus taught that we will be judged by our words (Matthew 12:36-37), and that includes what we type. One thing we must remember about communicating via screens is that somehow screens emboldens us. We can become detached from the intensity of our words, the values they represent and how they affect others. Because of that, I think it is helpful to remember the sins we can commit with both our mouths and our thumbs.

First, we need to put away anger and slander. “On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”  (Col. 3:6–8 ESV)

I think we have all been there. Someone says or does something outrageous, and it occurs to us to pull out our phones and rant about it. We spread the report online. It feels good to get that off our chest. We may even feel like we did the right thing: we are standing up against rude and evil people. And yet, ranting online is not only foolish, it often comes from a heart of anger and results in slander — because, let’s be honest, the facts can get pretty sloppy when we are talking about emotional and controversial stories. And it can be harder than we realize to control who sees what we say. Trust me — I have actually stumbled across criticisms about my preaching on social media from people who didn’t realize that I could see their comments (ha!).

This can be tough because we may feel social media is how we can stop sin. We may feel that, if I don’t say something about the evil I see, I am allowing sin to run rampant. Though it is possible to post in a wise, godly way, our posts against sin often result in more sin. Whether the facts get sloppy or we use social media to vent our anger - sin lurks here. People may identify the continual raging against people online as “trolling,” but the Bible identifies it as wrath, slander, and stirring up strife. We must put this behavior away. As Christian author Tony Reinke put it, “We must have eyes to see through the hollow accusation that our silence is a passivity that allows sin to run unchecked.” (12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, pg. 170)

Second, we need to take care against causing division in the church over the opinions and harsh judgments we post.

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Rom. 14:1–4 ESV)

The church in Rome had all sorts of different people with different opinions —just as we do. We are all leaving behind old world views to see the world from the new truth we have learned in Christ. We all hold to one body, Spirit, faith, baptism, hope, Lord and Father. And yet, we still have some differences in opinion and practice. One person is convicted that they must not eat or drink something, and another eats and drinks the same thing in honor of the Lord. And you know what Paul says we need to do about that? Nothing. Verse 1: don’t quarrel, argue about it. Drop the subject. Why? We will all stand or fall before our own master. And God didn’t bring us together to argue over differences.

If that was true of opinions about food, drink, and days then, it is true today. We all serve the same Lord; yet, we are all from many backgrounds and places and opinions. Because of that, we need to be careful about what we say, post, tweet, and message. The people we are supposed to be worshipping with see what we post. We must recognize that what we post on social media is displayed before this family. And, even if it is not immoral but just unwise or not careful, these posts affect people in this church. Especially those who are newer or weaker in the faith.

We are white, black, hispanic, asian, and more. Some of us voted for Trump, some voted for Clinton, some voted for Johnson, and some didn't vote at all. Some of us were born in the United States, but many in this church immigrated here (brothers and sisters, please be very careful if you decide to discuss illegal immigration online. That is a sensitive topic for good reason, and social social media is a dangerous place to discuss it). Some of us are rich, some are poor. Some of us have college degrees, some work hard in other ways. Some of us put our kids in school, others homeschool. Some of us vaccinate, some don't. And none of those things changes our standing with the Lord. And yet, these differences can make it challenging for us to get along at times, can't they?

We make unity here even more challenging when we post harsh or judgmental things about people who disagree with us. Do we not remember that those those Republicans or Democrats, those public-schoolers or homeschoolers, and those immigrants or native-borns are the ones we are sitting next to on Sundays and Wednesdays? "Do not for the sake of food," gun rights, and political opinions "destroy the work of God.”  (Romans 14:20) "The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God." (Romans 14:22).

This doesn't mean we can't ever post about any of these things, but it does mean we should think seriously before we do. So much is posted in haste! Let me boldly make a request. We are entering another intense political season. Our worldly friends are going to rally, support, bicker, and fight. Let's avoid these discussions online. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself” (Prov. 26:4 ESV) There really are important and controversial discussions we need to have — but face to face the place where we can hear tone and see facial expressions. Let's not post in haste about how we love or hate various candidates. These hasty posts can divide us with Christians who think otherwise. Hasty posts about gun control or immigration laws only start internet trash fires that dim our light before the world. Social media gives every person a pulpit, and not many of us should be teachers, brothers and sisters. And the church here is watching that foolishness play out online. Though, I would urge this church to not be hyper-critical of things we read online that we disagree with. If we are going to use social media, thick skin is required.

Now, a couple of “what ifs?” What if I am really upset about a controversial topic and I really want to post about it? Jesus teaches us to go to our closets and pray, “Our Father who is in heaven, make your name to be seen as holy, make your kingdom come, cause your will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” If that isn’t enough, we could consider purchasing a journal before venting our emotions to the internet.

What if — spur of the moment emotions aside — we feel like we are sitting on something really important? Contrary to what it may seem like, there is an appropriate time to post about things - even if people disagree with it. But we need to put what we say through some Scripture-based tests so those important posts come out in the most effective way.

1. Does it pass the "truth test”? Exodus 23:1 says, “You shall not spread a false report.” We need to know: virtually all news sources —  major or minor, conservative or liberal — have their slant. On controversial topics, they will rarely be balanced. They will almost always emphasize details that promote their argument and leave out details against their argument. Balanced stories that don’t make shocking, controversial claims don’t usually get people mad and so they don’t get attention or make money. GIFs that attempt to win a religious or political debate rarely present the full story. We need to ask - is what I am about to spread actually true? Is it the whole story?
2. Does it pass the “slowness test”? "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." (James 1:19) Let it sit for a few days and ask yourself at the end - is this really that important? Most of the time, I find it isn't.
3. Does it pass the "helpfulness test”? “All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful." (1 Corinthians 10:23) A lot of things are true and lawful to do, but will this actually help people? Or, will this result in a fruitless discussion?
4. Does it pass the “love and grace test”? Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupting speech come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." It may be important, true, and helpful, but can we say it in a loving way that gives grace to our hearers? Will God’s Spirit in us be grieved when he hears what we say?

Remember,  “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Prov. 18:2 ESV) If we miss the mark, don’t be offended if someone comes to you and says, “Hey, can I talk to you about that post from the other day?” I had to learn that lesson in a really painful way as a teenager, but it was a very valuable lesson to learn. So, let’s be receptive when we caution one another about what we say online.

... Where You Go

With our thumbs, eyes, and ears, we also need to be careful where we go, what we watch, and what we listen to; for, Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” It’s funny — I read that verse and I know we all agree with it. But the moment I start to actually apply it to a subject like this, I know I sound like a fear-monger with a doomsday chart. That’s how Satan wants it to be. He and his forces would love nothing more than to convince us that they never prowl on social media, television, or in news articles. And yet, terrible dangers rest in our pockets and hang on our walls. Pornography is terribly seductive, but I’m not even trying to talk about that this morning.

Notice 2 Corinthians 11:14-15. “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” We must shed a light on the seductive, addictive, and destructive forces of pornography. But we are being naive if we think that's the only way Satan gets us through our screens. 

Paul says that Satan dresses himself as an angel of light. His servants are dressed as servants of righteousness. Most of us know the overt forms of evil when we see them, but Satan and his forces can be far more subtle. They can come in the form of friends posting their thoughts, life, snaps, and videos online. Do we catch it when their flawed worldview on work, time, money, fashion, and relationships shine through? 

In the survey I sent out this spring, I was surprised by one result: a number of people said social media has connected them with people they stated they shouldn’t be connected with. This is one thing for us to be aware of with our kids — they don’t see the same things we see on social media because they have different platforms and different friends. I rarely see more than pictures and posts from Christian friends, but their friends are mostly teenagers. They spend all day with them, and if they have social media, they spend all evening with them too. They are constantly being shown what the world looks like from the perspectives of inexperienced, non-Christian peers. And again, it is the subtle flaws in their friends’ worldviews that can be most dangerous.

Satan’s forces dress as light. They can also come in the form of movies telling us to stand up for ourselves and fight, TV shows telling us what family should be, news outlets telling us what government should do, music telling us what love and sex should look like, and even religious articles telling us how to understand the Bible.

The shifts seem innocent. As we see all our friends on social media taking big vacations, we can start to think, “when is it my turn?” instead of rejoicing with them. As every family in TV shows has a nice 2-story home and a new outfit for all 150 episodes we can start to think, “that's how life is supposed to be” and look down on what we have.

I have said it, and maybe you have too: "that kind of stuff doesn't bother or affect me."

And yet Paul disagrees. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33) Why is it that that we can be so easily deceived into thinking that the company we keep on screen doesn't affect us? Maybe we are already so deep in it that we can’t see how blinded we already are. We don’t realize how worldly our perspective has already become. Our religion, relationships, and politics have already been compromised.

I’m not suggesting that the only wise approach is to never get on social media, listen to music, watch TV, or read religious articles. If we consume media wisely, they could have a place in enjoying God's blessings and in great learning. But using them wisely requires moderation and eyes alert to see Satan's lies. Using them wisely requires being bold enough to avert our eyes or turn stuff off.

God has given us numerous blessings. I love how our phones can be used as tools that connect us in amazing ways. When Ruth was in NICU, friends who heard about our situation from Facebook prayed for, encouraged, and even served us. I enjoy watching an occasional baseball game, show, or movie with Ashley and my daughters. I love the resources our screens give us to learn about the world and even about God’s word. But these screens must be used righteously as tools. Like fire and water, they are beautiful and they are dangerous. Let us own our tools and honor God with them.

Series: 1 Samuel (The Coming King)

Service: Sun PM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville

"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

Applications

1. God has anointed his future king; wait for him.

2. Look on the heart as God does.

3. God's servants serve the current powers while waiting for the kingdom

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: John Kilgore

Series: N/A

Service: Sun AM

Type: Sermon

Speaker: Scott Kercheville