Identity Crisis (pt 1): The Gospel Identity

THE GOSPEL IDENTITY

Introduction:

Chicken Prince:
An old Rabbi told a story:

A long time ago a King & Queen became concerned when their son told them he had realized he was a chicken
He began acting like a chicken
He even began living in the chicken coup and living off chicken feed

One day a wise man came and told the concerned parents he could cure the boy.
He walked out to the chicken coup
The Boy asked why he was there
The man replied, “Why are you here?”
“I’m a Chicken,” said the boy…
“I am too!” said the wise man… and with that he began hopping around the chicken yard and eat chicken-feed with gusto!
The Prince was convinced… a few days passed on like this

One morning, the wise man approached the prince One morning, the wise man approached the prince. "I am from a faraway land," he revealed. "In my homeland, chickens don't actually hop. They walk around like regular people."

"Really!" exclaimed the prince. "That must be a great place to be a chicken."

"Let's try it here," suggested the wise man, "Let's walk around."

The chicken prince readily agreed to his new friend's suggestion.

After a few days had passed, the now-upright wise man suggested to the now-upright chicken prince that they move inside the house because in another great metropolis, chickens didn't live in coops, they lived in stately palaces fit for princes. Again, the chicken prince agreed.

So the process continued. Shortly thereafter the wise man convinced the chicken prince that in another great land, chickens ate people food. Then came sitting at the table and enjoying human conversation. Within a short time, the chicken prince, although still maintaining that he was a chicken, began conducting himself exactly like a regular person.

Fortunately, most of us don't suffer from chicken complexes.
But here's a question we can all ask of ourselves: Am I limiting my potential because of my self-perception?

Could it be that our world is full of people in a similar identity crisis?
They were made to stand up like people and eat like people, but instead they live below their potential because they see themselves as chickens?

I believe we live in a world where a majority of people are in a perpetual identity crisis…
They don’t know who they are…
They don’t know why they were created
They search for meaning or settle for chicken lives when they were created for so much more

The word of God is going to invade our chicken coups this morning and remind us of who we are and what it means to live life More Abundantly…

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(1 Peter 2:9-10)
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Peter Sellers:
In The Mask Behind the Mask, biographer Peter Evans says that actor Peter Sellers played so many roles he sometimes was not sure of his own identity. Approached once by a fan who asked him, "Are you Peter Sellers?" Sellers answered briskly, "Not today," and walked away.
(-)
A lot of us do this…
We go through life and adapt to our environments…
We may not necessarily change our ideals, but we change how we present ourselves…
And sometimes we are even changed in the process…

(Exp: story of girl living in Ghetto going to nice school…2 different persona’s – survival mechanism – Who was she?)

“If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?” – Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club)

What do you think? Some would say “Yes”… some would say “No Way”… “I YAM WHAT I YAM” (Popeye)… are you?

Are you who you were created to be?

Is it possible that you’ve been trying to blend in with the world around you… or even the opposite – trying to stand out (be original) from the rest of the crowd, that you don’t know who you are at a core level?
…That you are defined by what’s around you or by what you believe is inside you, instead of who God made you?
(-)
Exp: watch in sand on beach – never seen a watch… what would you think it was? You wouldn’t know unless you knew the watchmaker or someone who could tell you about the watchmaker…

You can’t find purpose, meaning or identity in life for anything, without knowing the creator

Gen 1 Records that God Created Everything that exists
(-)
He Spoke to the Ground and said “Let the earth bring forth all manner of trees and plants”
(-)
- Water “Bring forth living creatures, after their kind”
- Same with land creatures
- Same with birds

Everything was created in it’s proper environment, from it’s proper source.

So we find this basic truth in life that…(RECAP)
(-)
Everything must remain connected to it’s source, or else it dies

- You take a plant/ Tree out of the earth and see how long it lives
- Fish outta water?
- Try to make a horse live in the water or in the air… won’t work.
- Everything must remain connected to it’s source of life/ environment to survive

Everything else is made after “Their Kind,” but God makes man in His image

When He creates man, he shapes him out of the earth
(-)
But man is not alive until God breathes, then man becomes a living soul

So our Source of life/ Original environment was the Spirit of God

The moment that soul was Separated from God because of sin, it began to die.
(-)
You can’t experience true life until you come back in contact with the source

You can’t find your identity or your life’s meaning apart from the source

And if you want Real Life, You Gotta stay connected to the Source
(-)
As Paul said in Acts “For in him we live, move and have our being”

Introduction: the wonder of being human
(-)
Who are you? How did you get that identity? What are you here for?
We don’t see dogs or turtles or fish or squirrels or birds or dolphins or chimpanzees ever losing one night's sleep pondering those questions.
We ask these questions.
Only humans kill themselves and kill others when they don't get true and satisfying answers to these questions.

We don’t often find such resoundingly clear answers to all three questions in such a small space as we do in this text this morning. Who am I?
How did I get this identity?
What's it for -- Why am I here – What is my purpose?

So let's take a deep breath this morning
Let’s go back to the beginning as it were –
For the next 2 weeks, Let’s go down to the rock bottom foundational questions of life…
And listen to the Word of God and wonder and stand in awe of what He has to say about these three things.
(-)
Who are you?

Keep in mind that Peter is identifying Christ-followers.
This is who you are if you are a Christ-follower.
This is how you got your Gospel Identity.
This is what you are here for and your reason for living...
…a reason you will never find outside of God

First, in Verse 9, he gives 4 ways of describing your identity, answering the question of who you are.
These are not different Identities necessarily, but Different parts of your identity in Christ that make up the whole.
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These 4:
Family
Ambassadors
Servants
Apprentices
*Today we’ll cover 2 of these…
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In our text today, 1 Pet. 2:9,10, Peter tells the church…
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1. You are a chosen people. The “called out ones” (FAMILY)

We understand that this is a corporate identity.
He's talking about the church -- the true Israel.

Israel was often referred to as the chosen people.
There was no reason the people of Israel should be chosen.
Actually, they didn’t even exist when God chose them to be his people.
His choice began with one man: Abraham.
And through Abraham he began the process of creating a people who were to be his children.
They were family both because they had a common heritage and because God chose them to be family.

Here in this scripture, Peter is saying that the identity of family is no longer exclusive to the Israelites.
All those who have been given new life through Christ are born into the family of God.

This is a common theme throughout the New Testament…
(-)
“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
Eph. 3:6

You are part of that chosen family!

The Church is a Chosen People/ Family –
We are a new family with God as Father.

Scripture says that Christ is our brother, and that we are co-heirs of the same Father.
We have the same status before God as does Christ.
Even though we do not share the same divine nature as Christ, we, like adopted children, have the same place in His family.
God loves us like he loves Christ and has given us everything we need, because we are His children. (Heb 2:11-17; Rom. 8:16-17)

How does a family act?
Consider all of the One Anothers…
All the New Testament writers refer often to what we are to do to or for ‘one another.’ This concept of ‘one anothering’ is a central feature of New Testament ecclesiology, yet one which receives little attention in contemporary academic discussions.
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* be at peace with one another, forgiving, agreeing, humble, accepting, forbearing, living in harmony and greeting with love
* do not judge, lie or grumble
* show hospitality to one another
* confess your sins to one another
* be kind to one another, concerned, devoted, serving and doing good
* instruct and teach one another
* admonish, exhort and stir up one another
* comfort and encourage one another

Reflection questions
1. Which do you think you (as a church and as an individual) are good at?
2. Which do you think you (as a church and as an individual) are not very good at?
3. What stops you (as a church and as an individual) doing more ‘one anothering’?

This isn’t stuff you need to strive and work toward…
If you struggle in any of these areas you don’t need to try & change behavior…
Like we talked about in our last series, we need to aim for our beliefs (About Who God Is & who We Are in Christ)
These are identity issues.
When you understand your identity from a Gospel perspective, behavior will come naturally!

Each of these is really just preaching our Gospel identity to each other in tangible expressions.

(Something we all need to understand: We don’t do things to gain an Identity, earn God’s favor, or feel better about ourselves or prove ourselves to others…

We live these things because we have our identity,
We have Already earned God’s favor,
And because of that we don’t need to prove ourselves to anyone else (because God is Glorious!)

Our words and actions do not lead to an identity, they flow from an identity…

(-)
EXP: Paul’s Correctives in scripture Who God Is – Who We Are – What We Should Do…

To be Children of God means we are His offspring – His Kids - who bear His image (John 8:31-47)

In this passage Jesus is saying that you know you are a child of God if we love Jesus and hear his Words.

See also: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” [John 1:11-13]
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Anchor’s Family Identity Statement:
Family – We are all children of God who care for each other as a family.
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God has always desired a people–an earthly family–who would live in such a way that the world would know what he is like. Jesus said that those who live in his ways and obey his Father are truly his family. Through Jesus we believe we are Children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As family we see it as our obligation to personally care for the needs of one another (-) – both physically and spiritually. We disciple, nurture and hold each other accountable to this Covenant life together. We do this through regular celebration gatherings and consistent involvement in a DNA group.
(Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16)
(-)
So, what does it mean for the Church to be the Family of God?

This family is not based on race or gender, age or social standing!
The chosen family is not descended from racial lines here on the earth that we are familiar with…
The chosen family is a new people from all the peoples -- all the colors and cultures – all walks of life, who are now foreigners and strangers among in the world.

See verse 11, "Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers . . ."

What gives us our identity is not color or culture… we aren’t Christians by name, or by social standing…
But by who we identify with….
(-)
{The Colts finally won a super-bowl a while back!!!!
I remember seeing a news report on the internet…
(T-shirts… “We Did It!”…
What did you do?
You didn’t catch a TD Pass from Peyton Manning.
Tony Dungie doesn’t even know your name.
What did you do?

But the problem was I didn’t see the beauty of that statement.
And the statement was:
“Hey, We Did It because of who We Identify with.”
You did it, but you didn’t do it!
You got victory, but it wasn’t something you earned, but something that was earned for you.
This is the heart of the Gospel.
We aren’t great on our own…
We did nothing to deserve being called God’s Children
That was something that was done for us…By Jesus Christ
Now we are God’s family because we’ve identified with him,
By giving our lives to Him in faith…
By being baptized in His name…
By receiving His Spirit into our lives

Out from all the cultures & walks of life, we have been chosen as a family…
We leave our old identities behind, and walk in our new Identity…
(-)
Paul in Philippians: I count it all but DUNG!
Philipians 3:4-11:
(-)
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
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But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them dung, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, (-) not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

To me this is one of the single greatest exposes for finding your true gospel identity…
(-)
He essentially says “I lost myself to my self and my past-to be found in Christ!
When he says this– He’s talking about the good things in his past, but this goes for the BAD as well…
(-)
Those things in your past you’re holding onto…
Those things you can’t forgive yourself for…
Those things you can’t let go of…
They feel like they have a hold on you…
Other people may know about them…
They may judge you…
You may feel like they are an inseparable part of who you are…
You may see yourself through the lens of the past…
BUT when you come to Christ and give him your whole life and take on his name, the old realities don’t have any jurisdiction over you and your identity any more…
You are a new creation… all the bad of the past…all the good of the past is gone!
You are a new creation in Christ

What do we bring to the table when we sit down w/ the family of God?
Nothing!
(-)
The Bible Says in Isaiah, “All our righteousness is like filthy rags…” dirty diapers!

All our accomplishments

All our wealth

All our allegiances

All our family names

All our titles
(You might have more degrees than DR FAHRENHEIT…)
All of that is the old you… it means nothing…
(-)
*God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called

The past means nothing…

Because you’ve taken on a family name that is above all other names in the earth

Because you’ve taken on a new citizenship… Jesus is your King, not Obama

Because your wealth & status are not measured by materialistic gain or temporary happiness

Because it’s not about what you have ever done or will ever do, it’s ALL about what He did for you on the Cross and now you’re called worthy and given a new identity in Him
(-)
Paul says it this way (Old things have passed away, look, ALL things have become new)

Christ-followers are color-blind… when we see other Christians of different ethnic backgrounds, we shouldn’t see a White or Asian or Black…etc. Christian… we should see our brother & sister.

When we see Christians from different age brackets we shouldn’t see immature young Christians or useless old Christians, but young impressionable brothers and sisters who bear God’s image and share my same heritage, and honorable experienced & wise brothers & sisters/ mothers & fathers who can impart great insight to us and are deserving of great love and care because of their state and their own walk …etc.

When I see Poor or Homeless Christians… what do I see? A brother/ sister in need? Do I see God’s image in them?

What about Rich Christians? Do I despise them? Do I see my brother who God has prospered for His own purposes?

Whenever you run into an issue with other Christians, think about how you’re viewing them… Do you see them as family?
(-)
Maybe you didn’t have the best family growing up
Real family…the way it should be…real family forgives…
Real family doesn’t take each other to court…
Real family doesn’t eat each other for dinner
Real family doesn’t cut each other’s lives off when they get angry or hurt at one another…
Real family finds a way to reconcile!

If you get angry, forgive!
If you feel hatred rising up in you, choose love!
(*take a step of love and the feelings will follow)
If you want to cut someone off, reconcile
If you want to destroy, repair
If you want to wound, heal
If you want to walk away, walk toward them…

Live out of love and otherness, not temporary emotions and self-centeredness disguised as self-preservation…
Trust God to preserve you and defend you and avenge you…
Your job is to love without reserve and show grace & mercy as Christ has shown you…

This comes a lot more natural to a family than it does to a church because we haven’t realized our identity… the fact that we are a family.
(We may know it, but there’s a disconnect between our mind and our heart!)

That's why this amazing phrase is crucial for you; you are part of the "chosen family" because the family is made up of individuals who have been called out -- from all the races, families and walks of life.
So your first identity is that you are part of the Chosen Family of God.

You have been adopted by God!

Not because of your race -- or for any other qualification – Still you are His sons & daughters

Who am I? Say “I am a son/daughter of God.”

I do not know why.
It was nothing in me of value above other humans.
I did not earn it or merit it, or meet any conditions to get it.
It was God’s grace alone that allowed me access into this family
I stand in awe of it.
I tremble with joy at it.
I bow and accept it.
I long to be faithful to its purpose.
I am His.

If I act like someone who is not a son/ daughter of God…
If I fail to treat the church like my family…
If I fail to see those in my community as brothers and sisters in
Christ I’m acting out of Character…

You need to get that identity deep into your heart!
You need to let it soak in past your brain
You need to let it invade your heart…
You need to look in the mirror and see a child of God surrounded by a family who love you
You need to let that identity inform your actions and attitudes and decision-making process…

*Discussion Followed...

Our Dreams

Church can get boring. Jesus never really did. He was fun. His message was simple. He told stories even children could understand, yet somehow The most intellectual people were still challenged by him. He was the only one of his kind and his message changed the world. We dream to put that simple message back into the audio-range of people who want to hear it. There are plenty who are interested in him, and even curious about Christian spirituality, who would never go to a "church." That's why we are here. We believe it is God's purpose to bring change to lives and culture by the simplicity of His Gospel. This Gospel is not a man-made, dry & boring, traditional religion. This Gospel is the message of his saving love for all mankind that was exhibited in the life of Jesus, and is now echoed through the lives of his followers. We want to peel away any beliefs, ideals, or traditions of man that tend to make this gospel more complex than we believe it was meant to be. We want to find the Christ in Christ-ianity. We want to celebrate him and his powerful work just as the early 'apostolic' church did. We believe that there are many out there who feel this way also. if you do, come join us this Thursday, or give us a call/e-mail and let us know what you're thinking. We would love to hear from you.

Wikipedia

Anchor Gaslamp is now on Wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_Gaslamp

Podcasts

Our Podcasts are back up and running!!!! Oh yeah! Simply go on our main page to the "podbean" player to listen or link to the website. You can also subscribe for free on iTunes. Go to the iTunes Store and type "anchor gaslamp" in the search bar. from there you may listen or download our most recent podcasts for free. You can even put them on your iPod... Anchor-Gaslamp-on-the-go. Let us know what you think.
-Vince

Update as of 07/2008

The Last 2 months here @ Anchor Gaslamp have been eventful to say the least. Exciting. Challenging. Rewarding.

At the Beginning of March we were busy with our weekly Bible Studies ("Word Alive"), which were being held at Westin Horton Plaza. We were at the end of our expository series on the Life of Christ through Luke. We were able to articulate a lot of our core values, mission, and doctrinal stances during this exciting series.

We did a number of group activities that brought us together even more as a group during this time, like attending King of Kings, a local church passion play, hanging out together, and even joining with our friends from Epikos Church for a Good Friday Event @ Gamer's Universe. (Gamer's is a local hotspot owned by our friends Scott and Rowie, who have been attending off and on for a couple of months). On St Patrick's Day (Monday 3/17), We Joined in the Gaslamp Festivities…One of the largest block parties of the year, and passed out a few thousand flyers about who we are, what we are trying to do, and info on our 1st service. We had several good responses.

As we geared up for our 1st "preview" service that would launch on Easter (3/23), we received a surprise-call from the senior Editor of Religion and Ethics for San Diego's Largest Newspaper, The Union Tribune. Sandi Dolbee was her name, and she had read a free classified we had posted about our launch service…which was being held in a Nightclub. For some reason this peaked her interest and she asked for an interview with our co-pastor's, Karlton Edison and Vince Larson. The article was a great way for San Diego to see what we were doing, not to mention an incredible source of free advertising. It came out in Saturday's edition, the day before our launch. If you would like to read the article and people's responses go to: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20080322-9999-1c22church.html

Our First Service went unbelievably well. The Nightclub Staff @ Minus-1 was a joy to work with and the atmosphere/ ambience was nothing short of perfect. Nancy Larson set up a nursery in the back. With the absence of a stage/ focal point we arranged the music to the side and the "platform" just across from the bar. Our good friend and multi-talented musician Tony from a neighboring church volunteered to do the music. Everything was set… Then 3 minutes before we started service, Tony somehow sliced his 3 middle fingers on his left hand so deep he should have gotten stitches. With blood gushing, he was down for the count! Vince jumped up on the guitar in a moment's notice (with no power-point since he couldn't play Tony's songs) and led us in worship. Then he rushed from the Music area, with the music stand in hand, and over to the "platform area." There Vince Preached a sermon on Free Grace entitled "Open Bar: It's on the House!"

After Service we went out to the Pacific Ocean and baptized Kashema, our 1st convert, in the Name of Jesus!

We had a number of visitors who have returned to our second service and many other events. At first we planned on having one service a month, but we are planning on adding a second monthly service because of the overwhelming response.

On our Off Sundays We have been doing community BBQ's, which we advertise well in advance, bring lots of food and games to (Like Volleyball, Horseshoes, and Bocci). The BBQ's have been an incredible success, but our last BBQ was shut down by the police. Apparently we attracted too may of our Homeless friends with the free food. Unbeknownst to us there is a city ordinance against feeding the homeless in public. Some people who lived across the street were unhappy with the large amount of homeless in their park and called the cops. The Police were very nice and told us we could stay, just not to serve food. We obeyed and thanked them for their understanding. A woman in the Park saw all of this and was moved by what we were trying to do, so she came and talked to us for over an hour. After she left she returned with a check for $250 to fund further ventures of the kind…then she picked up a homeless couple we had been talking to and took them to her house to clean out her garage and give them a little work. We wept because of the love and compassion in that woman.

We had our first brainstorming session with our core group in early April. This week, for our Bible Studies, we are beginning our new 10-week series on the Book of Acts called "You Too can be an Action Hero." We are moving from our present location in the Hotel, which costs us $200 a week, and are adding 2 more nights and locations for Bible Studies. We'll meet Tuesday's in Little Italy in Princess Pub & Grille, Wednesday's in Gaslamp @ Starbucks on 5th & F, and Thursdays down in Eastlake. We hop to add a 4th in the next couple of months in North County.

Also this week begins our Bi-weekly Sunday Services in the Gaslamp @ the same Nightclub. Please continue to support us in prayer and finances, as starting a church never falls short in the problems department. There is always a rent or print job to be paid, or a truly lost soul to be loved into Christ.

We Are Learning, Loving, And pressing Forward. We are so excited for what the future holds. God Bless you and thank you for your friendship.

Vince Larson & Karlton Edison
Anchor Gaslamp

Our 1st Service - Easter 2008

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Our 1st service! We had our 1st service today on easter sunday. It was a success, with some interesting happenings. We had about 25-30 people in attendance. Our Superstar Musician and good friend Tony had an accident where his fingertips got sliced up pretty badly 5 minutes before our gathering began. Our teaching pastor, Vince Larson, who was also preaching today had to pinch-hit and do the music as well. he tried his best (God bless him). The sermon was great. Vince spoke on Grace and titled his sermon "Open Bar, It’s on the House," which was fitting because we were in a bar/ nightclub. the feeling and energy in the place was great! we had people from 5-55 years old in attendance from every walk of life. Various ethnic backgrounds, various walks of life. Our good friends from Invisible Children graced us with their presence and set up a table about their cause, for which we feel a great burden. Thanks Lisa! All in all today was a success. This Wed, we begin a new 6-week series entitled "They like Jesus, but not the church." Next Sunday, we are throwing a Big FREE Community BBQ. Pray for us that God will use us to bring many people to the truth of Who God is, what he’s done for us, and how that can change our lives! God Bless! -The Anchor Church

Union Tribune does article on Anchor Gaslamp

Would you like to view the union tribunes article on us? copy the link below and paste it in your browser.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20080322-9999-1c22church.html

Excerpt from the Luke Series 6 months ago

How Far Is Heaven... Expository series...Luke 10
Category: Religion and Philosophy

"How Far Is Heaven?"
There's this song that Los Lonely boys wrote and recorded and it simply asks, "How far is Heaven?" Good question. How far is heaven? The answer is it's as close as you want it to be…. that will make a whole lot more sense to you after I'm finished today

The Work of the Seventy-Two Followers

Last week Ben Talked about what it takes to be a disciple…the Cost of Discipleship and so forth.

Now that Jesus has trained and lived with these disciples for some time, He sends them out on a quest to "Proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven"

Not Necessarily "How to go to heaven when you die"
(Do you notice a lot of people view the church as a scam, selling insurance for the afterlife?)
Rather, "The Kingdom of Heaven is now close!"
We see this over and over
What is this Kingdom of heaven?
Heaven is Both present reality and afterlife

The Bible Says in Ps 115:16- The Highest heavens belong to the Lord But the earth God has given to man (collective "man" meaning human beings male & female- So the earth he's given to us)

In the Hebraic way of thinking, Heaven is a place where things are exactly as God wants them…

Jesus Preaches about heaven a lot more as a present reality than he does as an eternal destination…
- So earth is the realm we have been given control or dominion over.
- In Heaven things go God's way
- On earth, things go the way we choose
- With every decision we can choose to do God's will or our own…Live God's Way or some other way
- In Jewish mindset, God's way is heaven- Brings "peace" or "shalom" of God upon the earth.
- When We choose to live selfishly, our choices bring destruction…Hell, upon the earth
- With every decision we are choosing heaven or hell in our lives and those connected to us…
- As Christians it's our part to Preach the Kingdom of Heaven… by placing food in someone's mouth who is starving… by clothing the Naked… visiting the persecuted…

Mt 25:35 When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."

37Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39or visit you while you were sick or in jail?"

40The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."

In fact, Jesus prays (in the prayer we refer to as the Lord's prayer) "Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done down here as it is up there…"

For Jesus, this new kind of life in Him is not about just escaping this world, but also about making it a better place While we are here, right here and right now.

A Large part of the kingdom message was about us making the world a reflection of heaven.

For every one time Jesus talks about the afterlife, he talks ten times about some social issue (foreigner, fatherless, widow… taking care of those around us who are in need…Instead of living lives that are centered on ourselves )
He refers to this profound shift in thinking as the Kingdom way of doing things
Like I said it's both a present reality and a future destination
He sends them out to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven
To heal broken people,
To set free the spiritually oppressed,
To teach love
To let people know that there is a New Kingdom on it's way
A new Way of doing things, new life

Reading on…

Verse 3 Now go, but remember, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. Don't take along a moneybag or a traveling bag or sandals. And don't waste time greeting people on the road. As soon as you enter a home, say, "God bless this home with peace." If the people living there are peace-loving, your prayer for peace will bless them. But if they are not peace-loving, your prayer will return to you. Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they give you, because workers are worth what they earn. Don't move around from house to house. If the people of a town welcome you, eat whatever they offer.
Heal their sick and say, "God's kingdom will soon be here!"


Jesus is sending these 72 out as like the 1st missionaries and he's giving them instructions on how to do it…

Go to your place of ministry
Bless the people there,
Eat what they eat,
stay where they stay
proclaim the gospel with words and action (teaching & Healing).

Application:

Now our church (the Anchor Gaslamp) we are starting is a missional/ church…

What does that mean for us?

- We are not Just trying to start another church!
- This city doesn't just need more churches
- We want to become a community of believers who feel it is our calling to reach this city, love this city, and help transform this city by the power of God, starting right here in the heart of Downtown San Diego

1st let's talk about our city…that's the context of the mission we have been Given by God if we are true disciples…


We have many different cultures in our area:

Hispanic 891,442 29%
White 1,577,029 51%
Black 163,766 5%
American Indian 15,942 < 1% Asian 298,740 10% Hawaiian & Pacific Islander 13,046 < 1% Other 7,893 < 1% Besides different cultures based on racial backgrounds, there are many subcultures. We have: - indie–rockers - rap culture - skaters - techies - nerds - surfers - balers - subcultures based on religion, sexual preference, occupation, socio-economic standing… etc. We need to reach these cultures and subcultures! www.sandiego.areaconnect.com 54% under age of 34 70.4% under age 44 median age= 32.5 about 50 % between 20-40 Young City. Focused on professionalism, health and success. Most of these young business professionals are single… 39.8% single/non-family households…we're full of singles almost 40% Other Facts… www.sandiego.gov SD= 7th largest city in USA/ 2nd in CA 4th least segregated city in USA median household income = $47,067 USC.EDU Evangelical Groups % of of of % of Churches People Pop. Adherants S. Baptist Conv. 104 27,228 1 2.2 Presbyterian USA 31 24,008 0.9 2 United Methodist 43 20,799 0.7 1.7 Evangelical Lutheran Ch.Amer. 39 17,873 0.6 1.5 Assembly of God 72 16,770 0.6 1.4 Episcopal 38 16,284 0.6 1.3 Independent Non-charismatic 16 15,580 0.6 1.3 Total Evangelical Christians = 5% 11.4% Jesus tells his disciples in this passage to look at the fields that are ready to be harvested, but they need laborers… We call those people missionaries and we normally think of them as people who go to other countries (AKA Mission Field) to preach the gospel. BUT… …America is a mission field San Diego County is at highest estimates, about 11.4 % evangelical Christian Mainland Communist China is about 8% evangelical Christian! We are only 3.4% more "Christian" than they are! We need to talk about doing missions there as well as places like China If I said we are taking a special offering today to send missionaries to Communist China to convert all the communists, you would say, "YAAAY!" San Diego is not far behind China folks! San Diego has some weird religions, perverted lifestyles, and people hungry for something their not getting: Jesus Question: how does Jesus reach them? The Answer: If We are true disciples of Christ, he has sent us. Say "I am a missionary" Who are we reaching for? Let's look @ most San Diegans

- They don't want church

- They don't want customs, traditions, or dry religion

- They are hungry for social justice

- They are hungry for the spiritual (Kabala, scientology, Buddhism)

- What they do not realize is that they are searching for what Jesus brought 2,000 years ago… What did Jesus Do? Jesus came from eternity, entered time, and dwelt among a people, ministering to them. He took up his Cross. He died, was buried, and rose again. That's the Gospel. (We identify with that backwards. We identify with his death, burial, and resurrection in the new birth experience – we then learn to take up our cross- and then we learn to live as he lived…in a culture ministering to people. "to live is Christ," Paul said. We need to observe how he lived!) Jesus was born into a culture. He participated in all the cultural customs of his day. He went to the parties. He ate the food. He sang the songs. He dressed like them. He talked like them. He incarnated (that doesn't just mean he came in flesh. It means he came to us through a people and a culture). I know it's a funny way to think about it, but God became a missionary! (I Tim 3:16) What does a missionary do when they go to a country? They do what Jesus instructs the 72 to do in our scripture tonight. They stay where the people are. They learn the language and cultural customs of the group of people they have been called to. They eat their food. They often wear their clothes. They take the Gospel message and contextualize it for that culture in terms people can understand. None of us have a problem with that. We say, "Well sure…They're going to China." Well same thing if they're going to Indie-Rock Culture, or Hip Hop Culture, or Techie Culture. If they're going out into the Suburbs with families, or into the city with all of us crazies, we have to find a way to speak and live that contextualizes the gospel where they can relate to it without leaving their culture. (We don't try to make them fit our mold. I got news for you. Jesus never wore a suit and tie…. In fact, Jesus had a beard and wore sandals to church. That's preposterous in some churches! I think it was CS Lewis who said "If Jesus returned to this world today, would he even associate himself with Christians. OR Would we be the Pharisees…. would we want to crucify him?" … Many Christians want people to get saved and fit into Their church's culture. "They'll learn to like hymnals." BUT, Jesus went to their culture. He hung out with the low-lifes of his society…. the religious people were the ones having a cow). Paul was also a master @ this. Read the scripture sometime in the book of Acts and how he wins the Athenian Greeks @ Mars Hill. This Passage demonstrates what it means to be a missionary Paul sought to understand the people he was reaching and relate to them in their cultural context. His approach was controversial then, and still is. What did he say to churches @ Corinth… "To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews…to those who are without the law I became like a person who is without the law… to those who are weak I became weak so I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so I could save some of them in any way possible. I do all this because of the Good News and so I can share in its blessings." 1 Cor. 9:20-23 (NCV) "…Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ." 1 Cor. 9:22b-23 (LB) Just as Jesus Christ came to live among us, we dwell with the people around us. In many ways we are like them. BUT We are also changed and transformed, and because of that we seek to change and transform. God has blessed us, so we seek to bless others. God gave everything to us, so we seek to give everything to him…including our ideas… our will, our way of doing things. "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done!" That should always be our attitude! However many religious people have a cow @ this… as they did in Jesus day…He even addresses it when he says… Verse 10 But if the people of a town refuse to welcome you, go out into the street and say, "We are shaking the dust from our feet [d] as a warning to you. And you can be sure that God's kingdom will soon be here!" I tell you that on the day of judgment the people of Sodom will get off easier than the people of that town! The Unbelieving Towns So he points to Sodom (Sodom & Gomorrah), then he goes on this tirade against cities that have rejected truth! 13You people of Chorazin are in for trouble! You people of Bethsaida are also in for trouble! If the miracles that took place in your towns had happened in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have turned to God long ago. They would have dressed in sackcloth and put ashes on their heads. [f] 14On the day of judgment the people of Tyre and Sidon will get off easier than you will. Throughout history, God has dealt with many cities, and a number of these have had their destiny foretold Babylon Egypt Rome Petra Jerusalem TYRE, the island city in the Mediterranean Sea, (which is THE CITY CAST INTO THE SEA…by Alexander the Great…) had been prophesied about in the OT by prophets such as Joel, Amos, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, because it was a city that never listened to the voice of God Fascinating study done @ http://preacherstudy.com/tyre.htm Of Course Jesus also mentions Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin cities destroyed by Fire raining Down from the Heavens…Literally judged by God…But maybe not because of the reasons we jump to… Ezekiel 16:49 " 'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant (stuck on them selves), overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. Apparently, Jesus lists their arrogance and total indifference to those around them in need right up there with their other more notorious sins The Return of the Seventy-Two 17When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!" 18Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. But don't be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven! Then Jesus prays and tells everyone how lucky they are to be witnessing all they have seen…every great prophet throughout history wished they could see this day … Moving on… The Good Samaritan 25An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to have eternal life?" 26Jesus answered, "What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?" 27The man replied, "The Scriptures say, `Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.' They also say, `Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.' " And we see another place in scripture when Jesus is asked "which is the greatest commandment?", this is his response.. he even says on these 2 commandments hang ALL the LAW and the Prophets… so since this is bulk of Jesus message… …28Jesus said, "You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life." 29But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, "Who are my neighbors?" And this is the part that messed everybody up… 30Jesus replied: As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. 32Later a temple helper [i] came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side. 33A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him 34and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine [j] and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, "Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return." 36Then Jesus asked, "Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?" 37The teacher answered, "The one who showed pity." Jesus said, "Go and do the same!" Now I'm gonna mess with your theology for a moment, because - We are always taught to be good Christians - Turn the other cheek When someone strikes you - Love your Enemy Many Christians I know can't even seem to get along with other Christians… Some churches today view non-Christians as outsiders So who is my neighbor?? Everybody!!! Let me explain something about this passage: Jesus was a Jew. He saw himself as one of Abraham's descendants. Abraham's original contact with God involved a kind of purpose or mission statement: " I will bless you," God said, "And I will make you a blessing to others. I will make your name and nation great," God said, "and through you all nations will be blessed" One of the greatest heresies (false destructive, divisive belief) in monotheism results from taking the first half of God's call to Abraham (I will bless you, and make your name and nation great) and neglecting or rejecting the second half (I will make you a blessing, and all nations will be blessed through you). Do you see the difference? It's tragic! If we take the 1st part of God's call to Abraham more seriously than the second part, we are not carrying out God's true mission. One scholar says, "Remember, in a pluralistic world (world with many different beliefs), a religion is valued based on the benefits it brings to it's non-adherents." In other words… To the people we are reaching, our gospel only matters if it helps others… especially those who do not believe like us. Are you nice to Muslims? Do you go out of your way to help them and show the love of Christ? How about people struggling with lifestyles you don't agree with? How about people who are not from our country…what about homeless? What about ex-cons? What about rich people? Do you go the extra mile to show them God's love? The Gospel should bring blessing to all…adherents and non-adherents alike. In our world, which is basically "flat," if you've read the book by Thomas L Friedman, everyone is our neighbor… Martha and Mary 38The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. 40Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!" 41The Lord answered, "Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her." Mary Chose the better part not because she was a slacker, but because she knew how to have hang time with God… What good is it to live for God and do all kinds of things for God and not even know him… It's not about religion (things we do for God) but it's about relationship (…After just about every great miracle session, we see Jesus get alone with God and pray) None of this stuff we have talked about tonight matters if you don't take time alone with God -vince larson