Tabernacle

When was the last time you went out of your way to help someone?  How costly was it?  We tend to evaluate our willingness to help in terms of how much it will cost us in time and/or money.  We also have to account for the potential loss of our comfort and safety.  All of the sudden, we can list plenty of reasons why we shouldn’t help someone in need.  But what if God was calling you to help, despite the cost and risk?  If we consider ourselves disciples of Jesus, then we must follow Him wherever He leads, no matter what the cost or the risk.

Is your Gospel bold or bland?  The challenge for the Church is make sure we keep from becoming bored with the Gospel and from boring others with it as well.  It is a life-changing, world-transforming, eternity-impacting message for the nations, our neighbors, and for ourselves.  Do you know what it is?  Do you preach it to others?  Do you preach it to yourself?

I like having Google Maps or Waze on when I’m travelling.  Any GPS app will do when we need directions.  But I get nervous when I don’t have the larger map in my head.  Instead of just relying on the app to tell me where to go one turn at a time, I also like having the big picture.  Paul gives us the big picture as he wraps up his doctrinal discussion in Romans.  Do you know what the big picture looks like?

Today we are concluding our survey from Luke’s perspective of Jesus’ ministry

before, during, and after Easter.  Jesus rose for our justification, but He ascended to Heaven to reign over all things.  We can trust Him to rule well and to bring heaven and earth to their promised, glorious restoration!  Reminding us of God’s Word this morning is Rev. Andy Wood from Blacksburg, where he serves as the campus pastor for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at VT.  Please welcome him!

Here we are, Easter morning!  This is a great day in the life of the Church, THE great day in the life of the Church.  Why?  Easter is the capstone of Christianity.  Without it, the whole structure falls apart.  “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:7).  And if Christ has been raised, then there is a King on high who reigns over all things according to His wisdom and is bringing the universe to its appointed destiny.  How does Easter affect you?

One of the things that confirms the Bible’s divine authorship is its honesty.  It cannot be classified as propaganda, spinning and twisting the facts to advance human agendas.  The Bible isn’t afraid of raw questions: “Why do the wicked prosper?”  “Why do the innocent suffer?”  It isn’t afraid to expose our presumption and confusion.  All along the way to the cross, people presumed upon Jesus and were confused when He didn’t do what they expected.  But He knew what He was doing all along.  He still does.

There seems to be a resurgence of television shows that involve some form of time travel.  This really shouldn't surprise us because all of us have moments in our past that we wish we could have done differently.  This is true for us as a people and for us individually.  However, consider this.  Jesus is God.  He is the One who created time.  And yet, He chose to humble Himself by entering time and space.  He willingly submitted Himself to the these limitations.  Why?  Not to correct His past mistakes and not to change His future.  Rather, Jesus came to pay the penalty for our past mistakes and to change our futures forever.

The Gospel is God’s welcome to us.  The Kingdom of God is not barricaded, guarded against foreigners.  God’s house is not in a gated community, designed to keep out the undesirables.  Heaven is a party, and the Host welcomes all!  Jesus welcomes us in and He calls us to spread the invitation far and wide.  When was the last time you felt the wonder of God’s welcome?  When was the last time you shared that welcome with someone else?

How is your conscience?  Is it healthy?  Is it clear?  It can be tough enough to keep a clear conscience, but did you know that God says we also need to be

conscious of the conscience of our brother or sister?  As we all grow in Christ, we want our conscience to align more and more with God’s Law so that we can be free from man-made laws and can together glorify the One who made all things good.

The second Sunday of March has graced our church calendar 15 times so far.  And by His grace this colony of the kingdom will see many more.  What of it?  What difference does this church make?  Not that everything needs to be measured, but we do want our colony to have a positive, tangible effect on our community.  Perhaps the greatest measurement is how Tabernacle is affecting you.  How is God at work in your life through His most principle means, the church?  Are you receiving more of the grace and truth of Jesus?