Grace in Tullahoma

Job 1:20-22 Worship Is An Experience!

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Summary

This sermon is based on Mark 14:1-9, in the series “Change the World.” This woman did what she could – her gift of costly nard in an alabaster flask was broken and poured out to prepare Jesus for his burial. But the disciples condemned her – scolded her for the extravagant gift. Is that how we view those who are extravagantly sold out to Christ? Through this text, we learn from her sacrifice and Jesus’ commendation to see how we are to live in extravagant devotion to God.

Mark 14:1-9

“A woman came” v. 3 (devoted)“They scolded her” vs. 4-5 (scolded)“She has done what she could” v. 8 (commended)

1. The woman came (She was devoted) vs. 3

She had an alabaster flask that contained pure nard and was very costly. It was an ointment used in preparation of the dead. The main point is the cost. The very costly nature is what brought about the disapproval in the room. This was a perfume that cost about an entire year’s salary.

*Axe body spray*

The monetary value (how much money it cost) was the least of the cost, though. This was likely a family heirloom passed down. It could have also been a dowry for her marriage or used on the occasion of her own death.

So, in many different ways, here’s what she’s doing…She poured away her future on the Savior. She was sacrificing her future and her present (social acceptability).

She broke the flask – a gesture of complete abandonment. This wasn’t an impulsive gesture. She decided on her own to do this. She wouldn’t have just gone to a place like this carrying this material. When she was alone, she made the decision to herself, “I am going to go there. I am going to do this.”

I wonder if Jesus said to himself the words of Psalm 23? “You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

The action of the woman was…Unique in its thoughtfulness…Costly in its bestowal…Timely in its provision.

2. They scolded her (She was scolded) vs. 4-5

It must be terrific to have read this story for the first time…what happened after her action? I wonder what they did…Did they bowed humbly? Did they jump up and down and started dancing around the room? – no. Anger? – “Why was the ointment wasted like that?” She should have been commended…she was doing what we all ought to be doing – but instead she was rebuked?

“The spirit of these narrow-minded fault-finders is unhappily only too common. Their followers and successors are to be found in every part of Christ’s visible church. There is never wanting a generation of people who decry what they call ‘extremes in religion,’ and are incessantly recommending what they term, ‘moderation’ in the service of Christ. If a man devotes his time, money, and affection to the pursuit of worldly things, they do not blame him. If he gives himself up to the service of money, pleasure or politics, they find no fault. But if the same man devotes himself and all he has to Christ, they can scarce to find words to express their sense of his folly. Saying, ‘He is beside himself. He is out of his mind. He’s an enthusiast. He’s a fanatic.” –J.C. Ryle

Don’t worry what people will think. Live in total abandonment for Jesus. Abandonment seems unsafe. The world says it isn’t smart. This is the safest and smartest abandonment there is, because it’s abandoning all things that won’t satisfy, that won’t save, that can never heal, fill, comfort…it’s abandoning for the only future you can be sure of and trust – it’s the only abandonment and sacrifice where you are letting go of something lesser to grab hold of something greater.

Total abandonment…all because Jesus is worthy.

And these are Jesus’ words to her action…to her abandonment of her past, present, and future…“She has done a beautiful thing to me.” – Oh, to hear those words from the mouth of Jesus

3. She did what she could (She was commended.) vs. 6-8

This is all God asks of us – to do what we can.

This is how God wor

When the Church Goes to Church – Acts 3:1-6

2 Timothy 3:1-9

Change the World – Barnabas

It’s one thing to study about how to live for God, but there’s something that captures us so much more when we see someone who actually lives it out. It’s good to study theology, but it’s better to live out your theology.

Hebrews 13:7 – Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Throughout this series, we are looking at how to be a world changer, so we’re going to look at people who changed the world, and we’re going to see what made them tick, what made them unique, what made them successful in what they did…and we’re looking at people that most of the time are overlooked in the Bible. We’re going to be looking at the unsung heroes of the Bible and how without them, the world would not have changed. And as we do this, we will see that we too can be world changers, because God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things, for His glory.

Tonight, we are looking at one of my favorite people in the Bible. We’re looking at Barnabas and what made him a world changer.

1. He had godly character.

Barnabas was an encourager.

Acts 4:36 – Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus…

Imagine how much of an encouragement he must have been to be named Son of Encouragement.

* anecdote about nicknames *

Barnabas was generous.

Acts 4:37 – …sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

This is pure generosity…no strings attached…expecting nothing in return. We know this because of what happens right after. You see Ananias and Sapphira give while lying and pocketing some of the money and God strikes them dead. It deepens our appreciation for the character of Barnabas, seeing that. Our generosity often is not like Barnabas. We give with expectation of reward. We should give freely.

Barnabas was willing and eager to extend grace.

We see him extend grace towards Paul. He was the only one willing to receive Paul after his conversion and was the one who persuaded the apostles.

Acts 9:26-28 – 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

We see him extend grace towards Mark, who was the cause of Paul and Barnabas ending their partnership.

Acts 15:36-40 – 36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

But look at Mark and Paul later…after Barnabas, and I think because Barnabas had spent time helping mentor Mark as he helped mentor Paul. Paul writes this to Timothy years after the what we just read.

2 Tim 4:11 – Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

When you realize the extent to which you’ve been forgiven, then the extent to which you forgive expands. When you experience true immeasurable grace, you must be willing to extend grace. We see this with Barnabas, and we can and should embody this as well.

Barnabas cared about people.

Acts 11:22-24 – 22 The report of t

2 Timothy 2:20-26

Change the World – Rahab

Have you ever felt so dirty and icky that you can’t do anything? Like when you’re sweating really bad…you know you stink, so you don’t want to get too close to anyone. You are soaking wet, so you don’t want to sit on the couch or get on your bed. You just feel “eh,” so you don’t want to do anything but clean off. Or, if your hands are dirty. When your hands are dirty, it really hinders almost anything you do. You don’t want to touch anything or do anything until your hands are clean.

Do you ever feel that way in your life? You feel like you’re too dirty…you’re too stained…you’re too broken to ever be close to God…to ever be used by God…to ever be whole and clean and well and good.

Tonight we’re going to look at a lady who felt like this…who Was like this…and we’re going to see where we fit in this amazing and beautiful picture of grace

Joshua 2; 6:20-25

1. No one is too dirty to come to God

As a father came home from his work he saw his little daughter who had been playing in the mud. He said to her, “Honey, you’re pretty dirty.” In her childish way she replied, “Yes, I know daddy, but I’m prettier clean.”

When we think of God as our Father, we realize the love He has for His children. I don’t care how dirty my kids are, I will love them and draw them near…now I love them enough to be willing to hose them down to get all the dirt off…but I love them just as much with the dirt. It’s the same with God. Jesus taught this beautifully in the parable of the prodigal son. The son was filthy as a pig, and the father went running towards him to embrace him.

We see this so clearly in this story of Rahab.

This affects how we relate to God. Rahab was a prostitute. This isn’t an occupation you just stumble upon. This woman has some DEEP issues and stains and pain and wounds. Rahab was a gentile. She was not a part of God’s chosen people. She was a part of people who were enemies of God.

Rahab the gentile prostitute…was spared and became an Israelite (6:25). She shouldn’t have been spared and she should have been killed, both because her people were enemies of God’s people, and because of her sexual sin (Leviticus 20). We see the character of God revealed in the story of Rahab. Just like when God revealed it to Moses.

Exodus 34:5-8 – 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

God is just in destroying His enemies, but He is also merciful and gracious. Rahab deserved God’s justice…so why would God spare this woman and give her a future? – Because He is merciful and gracious. No one is too dirty to come to God. There is no pit too deep where the grace of God is not deeper. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Why was Rahab saved? – God’s grace. That’s the only reason we’re saved. God is under no obligation to be gracious. I want you to think about this…God hasn’t even offered salvation for the angels who have fallen.

2 Peter 2:4 – For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment

God would be perfectly just in not offering any of us salvation, just like He is with the angels. So, why has he offered us salvation? Purely by His grace.

How was Rahab saved? – Her faith

Hebrews 11:30-31 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the pro