GracePointe Church of Christ in Elizabethtown, PA

The true gospel is the story of God’s work in our world that saves and brings together every nation and tribe and people and tongue.  The gospel story pleases God, and many false gospels are aimed to supplement the simple and strange good news of Jesus, and please a particular group of people.  In the case of Galatia, it was a group who wanted to uphold a holy and traditional Jewish right of passage for boys. Paul urges us to watch our gospel lest it be transformed into a different gospel that prevents our relationship with God. 

Philippians 2:5-11 

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

The church at Laodicea is completely blasted by Christ for their apathy and lack of any meaningful work.  Jesus actually sees them much differently than they see themselves and shows them that unless they actually invite Jesus to come in among them, they really have no connection to Christ.  This serves as a warning for Christians who deceive themselves and think they are doing the work of Christ but are in fact apathetic and worthless to Jesus.  The invitation is to repent and spend some time with Christ.  

The church in Philadelphia is commended by Christ for their loyalty and dedication to him. Surrounded by all the pomp and circumstance of the Roman Empire, the call of Jesus is to stay connected to him through the daily routines of church life and devotion, thus the call to “hold on” to what they have so they can be rewarded by Christ. 

The Church at Thyatira has one of the best commendation statements given to the churches in Asia Minor, but they also are tolerating a false prophetess among their members.  Yet, Jesus doesn’t call them to create something new, but to seek repentance and hold tight to their faith.  Jesus will judge the church members who participate in sin harshly, but that is no reason to break or split. 

Stripped away of all the pomp and prestige of economic and social well-being, the church at Smyrna is an example of staying faithful when it costs us something, even our lives.  

The church in Ephesus is combatting cultural syncretism but is wearing down in the fight, Jesus asks them to remember their “first love” and live their priorities so they can be a faithful witness of their Lord. 

Some practical ways for the church to live out our discernment: Stay away from sexual sin, control our bodies, do not harm or cheat a fellow believer, love one another deeply, live a quiet and purposeful life. (From 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)  

Life is full of decisions, some of which we tend to make in a moment with little repercussions on the rest of our life (or the lives of those around us).  But some decisions are much more involved and how do we know if God is approving of our decision or not?  How do we know if our choices are in line with what God wants? In this sermon, we will explore ways to grow in discernment and seek the great over the good. Applied to our lives as Christians, the activity of discernment is fundamentally about distinguishing what leads us closer to God and God’s will for us.

There is a practicality that extends beyond our personal goodness or “being good” we must be a Kingdom that “brings good...” Notice that God is the source of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation - for us to FIGHT!  This takes discernment, especially in our current culture.