Colossians 3:12-17 . Membership Matters 1: Deepening our daily walk with Jesus

Colossians 3:12-17

Membership Matters 1: Deepening our daily walk with Jesus

Richard Schickel describes it as "A gentle film about somewhat alien beings, who entertain us by creating instead of destroying." --. Lawrence Toppman writes, "I decided long ago that I needed no further proof that animals have souls. But if I did need some, I could find it in March of the Penguins." Mike Ward writes, "It's refreshing to see a movie featuring animals where they don't talk and your kids can't get their likeness free with a Happy Meal."

It is something of a surprise that the international movie hit of the year, and according to the BBC, already the second most successful documentary ever, is a National Geographic wildlife documentary directed by a French biologist, Luc Jacquet. Made for less than £4.5m but already grossing £50m, it recounts an epic tale: the life cycle of the emperor penguin, the largest of the 17 species found in Antarctica. Every aspect of emperor penguin life is tough, for the bird is the southernmost species and breeds on the ice-bound Antarctic land mass. What it takes to do this is remarkable. At the end of the Antarctic summer, in March, the birds flop out of the Southern Ocean where they have been assiduously stuffing themselves, and begin a long walk to their mating grounds, up to 70 miles away. Thousands gradually come together, tramping over the ice in long single files like patrols of infantry.

But that's only the beginning. After courtship and pairing, the female bird produces a single egg, and then one of nature's great curtains comes down. A six-month night descends, and the temperature drops with it, to minus 60 and below. This is when the working mother bird departs. She has gone without food for so long - and the effort of producing the egg has been so great - that she must return to the sea to feed.

The task of incubating the egg, in the harshest conditions on earth, falls to the husband. When blizzards arrive, with 100 mph winds in a nightmare of frozen dark, their survival depends on huddling together in great groups to keep a minimum of warmth. Most survive, and so do their eggs, kept secure and warm in a skirt of abdominal skin just above their feet; and after 60 days of standing like this, the eggs hatch. The husband feeds the tiny chick at first with a milky substance, then eventually the mother returns to take over, recognising her partner by call.

The film is an extraordinary story of co-operation and endurance, and an inspiration to those who have seen it. It is also a remarkable natural illustration of what God has designed the Church to be. C.S. Lewis once wrote an essay on church membership, reminding us that the word "membership” is of Christian origin, but it has been taken over by the world and emptied of all its original meaning. Joining a church used to be an act of conformity in our society. You joined a church because everybody else did. Now the rules have changed and conformity is no longer a motivating factor.

In fact, George Gallup has found that the majority believe it is possible to be a "good Christian” without joining (or even attending) a local church. Membership is now increasingly, and rightly, an act of commitment. There are many analogies for a Christian disconnected from a church: A football player without a team; a soldier without a platoon; a tuba player without an orchestra; and a sheep without a flock.

But the most understandable (and biblical) picture is that of a child without a family. 1 Timothy 3:15 refers to the church as “... the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” That is because God does not want us growing up in isolation from each other so he created a spiritual family on Earth for us. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:19 “... you are members of God's very own family ... and you belong in God's household with every other Christian." A Christian without a church family is therefore like an orphan. While there is increasing mistrust in society for anything institutional, people are nevertheless longing for a sense of family and community. Take Cherubs, for example. In the first term of starting this afternoon parents and toddler group we have over 30 families regularly attending and we are thinking of expanding. And during Christmas week, over 1,600 people came through our doors with another 460 people visiting our websites. Christ Church is growing and with many new folk attending in the last year or two, we felt the need to teach a series on what it means to be a member of Christ’s Church.

There are also many others who have been attending Christ Church for years, even decades, but have yet to appreciate the value of being part of a Bible study group or to discover their God-given talents and use them in his service. And so this series is as much for them as it is for those new to the Christian faith.

John Ortberg tells a story that illustrates our motive. “Let's call him Hank. He has attended church since he was a boy, and now he is in his sixties. He is known by everyone-but no one really knows him. He has difficulty loving his wife. His children cannot speak freely with him and feel no affection from him. He is not concerned for the poor, has little tolerance for those outside the church, and tends to judge harshly those who are inside. One day an elder in the church asks him, "Hank, are you happy?" Without smiling, he responds, "Yes." "Well, then," replies the elder, "tell your face." Hank's outside demeanour mirrors a deeper and much more tragic reality: Hank is not changing. He is not being transformed.

But here's what is most remarkable: Nobody in the church is surprised by this. No one will call an emergency meeting of the board of elders to consider this strange case of a person who isn't changing. No one really expects Hank to change, so no one is surprised when it doesn't happen. There are other expectations in the church. People expect Hank to attend services, read the Bible, say the creed, give money and do church work. But people do not expect that day by day, month by month, decade by decade, Hank will be more transformed into the likeness of Jesus. People do not expect him to become a more loving, joyful, winsome person. So they are not shocked when it doesn’t happen.”^{^[1]}

We believe that a member of Christ’s Church, and therefore of Christ Church, for the two are synonymous, is someone who is being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Its someone who agrees with and recognises:

The need for a daily walk with Jesus
The importance of participating in Sunday services
The value of being part of a small group Bible study
The privilege of serving in and through Christ’s Body
The responsibility of stewarding God’s resources
The opportunities to share Jesus with others

Easter is traditionally the time when people were baptised and confirmed remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus in our place. Easter is also when we encourage new members to express their commitment by joining our electoral roll so that they can participate in our annual Church Meeting and elect our elders.

This year we intend going one step further. We will be inviting everyone who considers themselves a member of Christ Church to put their name to a simple declaration that, with God’s help, we will covenant for the year ahead to have a daily walk with Jesus, participate regularly in Sunday services, be part of one of our small groups, find a place of service for an hour a week minimum, and confidentially but diligently steward the resources God has given us.

We believe this is how we can best grow as Christ followers together. How we can best express our desire to become more like Christ, and help one another to do the same. It is not going to be something legalistic but liberating. We will be saying that we believe in some values and stand by some principles. That membership matters. We are not going to create first and second class Christians. It will help us identify whether we are following Christ or need more time to take that step. All are and will remain welcome. It is not something new either. We practice it every week.

Every time we hold a communion service I invite you to come forward to receive the bread and the wine. Some do, some don’t. Remember the invitation? “We invite all who love the Lord Jesus Christ to meet around his table and if you do not yet regard yourself a Christian please still come forward, head bowed and receive a blessing.” And it that act, quietly and reverently, we all make a decision before God which is also public. So today, as we begin the series, our theme is quite appropriately, “Deepening our daily walk with Jesus”. Please turn with me to Colossians 3:12-17 and lets discover how we can deepen our daily walk with Jesus. Now there is much more in this passage than we have time for so please simply note three basic injunctions on how to follow Christ.

1. Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

2. Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

3. Let the name of Christ determine your actions (Colossians 3:17)

1. Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

Who or what is ruling your heart right now? What is the dominant issue in your heart? A close relationship that is going sour? The post-Christmas debt you are in? That sale item you covet? That decision you are dreading? Or is it the peace of Christ? What is ruling your heart right now? Is it guilt? Greed? Or grace?

If its guilt then until you confess your sin and repent of it, you will never experience the peace of Christ. If its greed, until you detox yourself from it, until you kick greed out of the driving seat, you will never experience the peace of Christ. But “as we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). So, is the peace of Christ ruling your heart? Well, how did you begin the day? That may give you a clue. Let me tell you how I begin my day. When I put my head on the pillow, for that is when the biblical day begins (Check out Genesis 1 of you don’t believe me), I commit the day that is about to begin to God. I talk to God. I ask God’s forgiveness for the sins I have committed during the day that’s gone. I thank him for his grace and love. I thank him for his protection when I sleep.

And I give the day ahead to God. And I usually close with the words Jesus probably prayed every night like other Jewish children, “Into your hands I commend my spirit”. That’s how I begin my day - at peace with God. Begin every day with Jesus. Then when I wake up, I start the day with prayer, I make myself a cup of tea and I go downstairs and spend half an hour in quiet uninterrupted solitude with my Bible, a daily reading plan and variety of devotional resources. Our household gets kind of stressful from 7:30am so I aim to be finished before then. What is ruling in your heart?

What have you done since you got up? Did you have a nice long shower, brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on clean clothes, have a quiet time and then a wholesome healthy breakfast surrounded by a smiling happy family? Or did you grab what your wore yesterday or leave on what you slept in, grab a quick coffee standing up, bark at the family, kick the dog on the way out and speed to get here? What is ruling your heart right now? Guilt? Greed? Grace? The peace of Christ is not something mystical. Its something practical and real. Look at the preceding verses in Colossians 3 for here we see how the peace of Christ can rule our hearts in community.

“as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

I can see you put on your clothes this morning but what about the character of Jesus? We need to consciously and deliberately clothe ourselves in the qualities and attributes of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, on a daily basis, if his peace is to rule our hearts.

So from tomorrow, when you have your shower, pray that God would clean you on the inside as well as the outside. And as you put on your clothes, ask Him to clothe you with compassion, with kindness, with humility, gentleness and patience, and then as you tighten your belt, remember the words, “over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together.” Begin your day with Jesus. Every day with Jesus. If you want to deepen your daily walk with Jesus, Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

2. Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

What is shaping your mind? Is it the Times or Telegraph editor? Is it the BBC controller? Is it your boss or your spouse or the latest business guru? Is it pornography? Or it it the Word of God? The word of Christ? We are what we eat. We are what we fill our minds with. We are what we give our minds to. Do you want to be wise? Then let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly. How can I do that?

By making the reading, the studying, memorising, meditating and application of God’s Word your highest daily priority, your ultimate life goal. Why must I allow the word of God to shape my mind? Because “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16).

That is why I read my Bible every day. Why I follow a systematic plan that enables me to read the Bible once every year. It’s why I have a copy of the Bible on my personal organiser. Why I put a memory verse on the weekly church e-news. This is why the study of the Word of Christ shapes and controls everything we do as a Church. Our mission statement, our five main purposes, our goals, our five year plan are determined not by the Church of England, not by the Vicar but by the Word of God.

Our Sunday Clubs for children are for teaching the Bible. Our FUEL group for teenagers is for teaching God’s Word. Our small groups for adults are bible study groups. Our CBSI groups are bible study groups. The hymns and songs we sing on Sundays are biblical in content. Why?

Because, as Dick Lucas points out, “Genuine Christian praise is not primarily a vehicle for the expression of spiritual aspirations and experiences, so much as a celebration of God’s mighty acts in Christ.” [2] With “gratitude in your hearts to God.”

If you want to deepen your daily walk with Jesus,

Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

3. Let the name of Christ determine your actions (Col. 3:17)

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).

Let’s think for a moment about what it means to do everything in Jesus’ name.[3] In Paul’s day, a name wasn’t just something to call a person. A name signified the whole person - a person’s character. When Paul says do everything in Jesus’ name, he’s saying act consistently with Jesus’ character - act the same way Jesus would do if he were in our place. What is so striking is how comprehensive Paul’s statement is “Whatever you do” he says. Then in case we miss how broad that is, he adds, “in word or deed.” And if anyone is still looking for loopholes, he says, “do it all in the name of Jesus”. Of course, this isn’t something we attempt in our own strength. We don’t just do things for Jesus in his name - as if he were far away, like a spectator watching while we act on stage. When we become Christians, Jesus takes up residence within us. We do life with him, in a partnership, not as a performance.

In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said to his friends, “I am with you always”. He is indeed here, with us, in us, right now. The heart of spiritual life is to do everything with Jesus, in his name - the way he would do it in our place - knowing he is actually present. What would happen if you were to spend an entire day doing everything in Jesus’ name? Let’s start with the morning.

Waking. If someone were to observe you waking up, would they say it was pretty much like seeing Jesus wake up?

Breakfast. What would it mean to eat breakfast in Jesus’ name? Maybe it means you’d actually eat breakfast. Would that affect the amount of gratitude you feel or the pace at which you eat?

What about Driving? What would it look like to drive in Jesus’ name? If you could actually see Jesus in the passenger seat next to you, would he look nervous? Would you drive any slower than normal?

Working. How about your work? Whether you work in an office, work at home, go to school, or are retired, how might your daily work be different if you were to do it in Jesus’ name?

Watching TV. How would you watch TV in Jesus’ name? Do you think he would only watch nature programmes?

Worrying. A huge part of an ordinary day consists of concerns and worries. Scientists have actually identified a gene - labelled SLCA64 that can predispose people to worry. Now that you know that, how many of you are worried you might have it?

Household Tasks. What would it mean to vacuum the carpet or pay bills in Jesus name? Would you pay them ahead of time, just in time or wait for the red final warning reminder?

Shopping. How would you shop in Jesus’ name? Would you buy different things? Fewer things? Healthier things? - if he were present?

Relationships. Think about your family, friends and neighbours. Paul says, whatever you do “in word or deed” should be done in Jesus’ name. Think about the words you have spoken already today. If you only uttered words in Jesus’ name, how many would you want to take back? Need to take it back?

Sleep. What does it mean to go to sleep in Jesus’ name? For a start it probably means going to bed earlier. Most of us apparently do not get enough sleep. For some of us the most spiritual thing we can do is go to bed earlier tonight. I’ve yet to be convinced that anything on TV after 10:30pm is essential viewing, educationally entertainingly or edifying. The Bible teaches that sleep is actually a gift of God. Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

As I mentioned earlier - I end and begin the day in prayer, asking his forgiveness for the wrong I have done, thanking him for the day that is over, giving over to him the day ahead and inviting Jesus to be with me when I wake up. In Jesus name. Living in Jesus’ name is like the manna God gave the Israelites in the desert - it comes in one-day doses. We can only live in Jesus’ name one day at a time. If I’m going to learn to spend a day with Jesus, it has to be this moment, this breath, this day. For this day is all I have. For the most part it won’t involve doing new things or more than I do now, just doing them in new ways - in Jesus’ name. Remember God isn't interested in your spiritual life. God is simply interested in you. You and your life - every part of it. That means every moment is an opportunity to do life in Jesus' name.

If you want to deepen your daily walk with Jesus,

Let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Colossians 3:15)

Let the Word of Christ shape your mind (Colossians 3:16)

Let the name of Christ determine your actions (Colossians 3:17)

The joy of membership in Christ’s Body is that we do not journey alone. We journey with Jesus and one another. This membership course at Christ Church is therefore no more and no less than a series on membership of Christ’s Church. Dick Lucas points out,

“It is the name of Jesus that unites... All whom Christ has accepted we will accept; all who are not satisfied with Christ alone will not be satisfied with us.”[4]

We deepen our daily walk with Jesus, as we let the peace of Christ rule our hearts. As we let the Word of Christ shape our minds. As we let the name of Christ determine our actions one day at a time. Lets covenant to walk together, in the words of Colossians 3, “as members of Christ’s body”, in this community, “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved.” Lets pray.

Homework

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).

Here is an experiment for putting Colossians 3:15-17 into practice.
This week:

1. Memorize Paul's words in Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

2. Think about what it would mean for you to live the ordinary moments of your life as if Jesus were in your place. How would you do each of the following activities in Jesus' name?

Waking up

Greeting those you see first in the morning

Eating

Driving

Working outside the home or caring for children while at home

Shopping

Watching TV

Doing household tasks

Reading the paper

Going to sleep

3. Try it out. Focus on Jesus' presence with you as you go through the seemingly inconsequential moments of your day. Keep it simple; continually direct your thoughts back to him: ask for his help or his guidance, or simply share your heart with him.

4. Keep on track of how the journey goes. If you don't already have a journal, I recommend you start one so that you can keep a running list of observations throughout this series. And share your insights and experiences with your group if you are in one. And if not find a partner who will walk with you through the series.