Transformation by Rev. Andy Smith mp3

Romans 12:1-2

Proverbs 30:24-28

“Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13:13-14

Introduction: Three months ago, scientists from England announced the latest set of words they say are likely to become “extinct” from the English language. These are words which researchers using a specially created computer program predict will soon fade away. These words are “squeeze, throw, turn, push, and bad.” According to Dr. Mark Pagel, professor of Linguistic Evolution, these words are now considered “endangered.” This is because people don’t seem to use them as much today. When my wife and I first heard this report, we concluded it’s obvious these people from England don’t play a lot of sports. Can you imagine talking about basketball and not use words like “throw or turn,” even words like “push, squeeze, or bad”?

Whether you agree with these scientists or not, it is a fact that words do fade away when people stop using them. One example of an “endangered” word, at least in the Christian vocabulary, is the word “pilgrim.” Think back with me: when was the last time you use the word “pilgrim”? Or, when was the last time you identified yourself as a “pilgrim”? This is critical, because a pilgrim is an important biblical imagery of the Christian life. Perhaps this is why many Christians seem lost and confuse about their life. Perhaps this is why there seems to be no difference between how a Christian and a non-Christian lives today.

Webster Dictionary defines a “pilgrim” as “someone who goes on a journey to a holy place for a religious purpose”. Growing up as a Roman Catholic, I remember going with my mother on a pilgrimage to a church in Antipolo. There we would offer up prayers. And because we made that trip we expect special favors from the local saint. I’m now convinced that is NOT what God had in mind for His children. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are NOT called to go on pilgrimages. Instead we are called to live a pilgrim life. This is the message of the Letter to the Hebrews. This morning, from Hebrews 13:13-14, I invite you to briefly consider with me what it means to be a Christian pilgrim. But more importantly the passage calls all of us into pilgrim life.

Background: Before we look at Hebrews 13, let me remind you of the context of this book. The Letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were wavering in their faith. Somehow these believers were having second thoughts about their commitment to Christ. Perhaps it’s because of persecution from fellow Jews. Also, it seems some doubt whether Jesus Christ is truly sufficient for their salvation. For this reason, they were drawn back to observing the rules and rituals of the Old Testament. This reminds me of friends who came from Buddhist families. After accepting Christ as Savior in evangelistic meetings, they decided they could not continue as Christians: some because of family expectations, others because they’re not willing to let go of Buddhist traditions and practices. Hebrews was written to remind “professing” believers that turning back to their former way of life is not an option. The five warning passages of the letter outline grave and serious consequences for those who slide back.

But Hebrews is more than just warnings, the writer argues for the superiority of Jesus. Twelve times he used the word “kreisson” which means “better” in reference to Jesus. Jesus Christ is “kreisson” better than the old ways. Jesus is more advantageous, more useful, more excellent in power and effectiveness than anything in the Old Covenant. Therefore, we need not turn back. Rather, we press forward to Jesus Christ. This is the pilgrim life.

Journey Toward a Person
From our passage in Hebrews 13:13-14, we learn two things about pilgrim life. Verse 13 begins with “Let us, then, go to Him …” First of all, just as the dictionary says a pilgrim is someone who goes on a journey. He is a traveler. But unlike the dictionary, Hebrews tells us pilgrim life is a journey NOT towards a place but to a person. Let us go to Christ. Above all else, the Christian life is about our relationship with Christ. We are to fall in love, to grow in love, to walk in love, to serve in love … Jesus Christ. There’s a short chorus that I learn early in my Christian life. It has become a personal prayer. And it has guided me well since that time. It goes something like this: “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before; Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more; Jesus saves and keeps me; And He’s the One the One I’m waiting for; Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.” Dear brothers and sisters, our first and most important calling, is to keep our relationship with our Lord fresh and sweet.

The danger in our journey as pilgrims is that we will be drawn to rules and rituals. Somehow we feel a relationship with Christ is not enough. I knew of a man in the church I pastored in the US whose goal was to be a deacon, and then to be an elder. Somehow for him the Christian life is about rising to the top of church leadership. That may not describe you but for others relationship with Christ is replaced by church attendance, by church programs and activities. How do we guard ourselves from these dangers? One of my favorite author is A. W. Tozer. In his book, The Purpose of Man, he commends believers to a “life of daily reflection and meditation in God’s Word leading to the worship and gratitude of God.” Tozer is saying it is when we are consistently and totally absorbed with the attributes and character of God then we will realize how shallow, how unfulfilling, how useless are the way of man.

But there’s more to this journey to the person of Christ. Hebrews 13:13 goes on to say, “Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.” What does “outside the camp” mean? It is likely that the writer is referring to the same place he mentioned earlier in Hebrews 13:12, the place where “Jesus suffered outside the gate.” On Good Friday, Jesus was sent out of Jerusalem, outside of the acceptable, the reputable, the comfortable to die on the cross for our sins. And because that’s where Jesus went, that’s where we’re suppose to go. And because Jesus suffered, we too must share in His suffering. The pilgrim life calls us to a journey towards the person, and the suffering, of Christ.

Two weeks ago, during student orientation, I learn what the school motto of BSOP. The motto is “Obeying Christ and Suffering for Him” I have to admit I was somewhat surprised. To my knowledge, I don’t know of any seminary with that motto. You have to admit it’s not a flattering statement, and it’s definitely not inviting. “Come study at BSOP where you’ll suffer for Christ.” I am sure our founders did not mean we ought to be “human punching bags” or “human door mats.” Instead, it is a declaration that our commitment is total identification with our Master. Because He suffered, we are willing to suffer with and for Him.

In one of the chapel services at Dallas Seminary last semester, we have as our speaker Joni Erickson Tada. If you don’t know her, Joni suffered a terrible accident as a teenager which left her paralyzed from the neck down. Instead of cursing God for her condition, she now goes around the world in her wheelchair sharing her faith in Christ. After the chapel, I have the privilege of sharing my dissertation work on the “theology of suffering” with her. She encouraged me to write more on this subject. She said in our present world that exalts comfort and convenience, there’s something we need to know. There’s something we need to let the whole world know. We need everyone to know that in our suffering: God is still sovereign, that God can work out His purpose, that God can be glorified. That is why, we go to Him, and we are willing to bear His reproach.

A wise person once said these words, “The impact of our ministry will not be determined by how we emulate the success of this world, but by how we embrace the suffering of our Master.” We will make the most difference in people’s lives when we follow our Master, even through suffering. Therefore, a pilgrim life is a journey, not to a place, but to Jesus Christ, His person and His suffering.

Journey Toward God’s Purpose
There’s a second thing we learn about pilgrim life in this passage: A pilgrim life is a journey towards the fulfillment of God’s purpose not ours (repeat). Let’s read Hebrews 13:13-14 again, “Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that we are seeking a city that is different from those here. Believers are seeking and anticipating for a city that is lasting, for a city which is to come. What is this city? It is possible this is referring to the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21. It is certainly a permanent dwelling God is preparing for us who believe. But there’s more to this city than an actual location. Earlier in Hebrews 12, verses 22 and 28, the writer tells us that if we place our faith in Christ we have come to the city of God, we have received a kingdom. What is this city, this kingdom? It is God’s rule, His reign, over every aspect of our life.

Remember the dictionary’s definition of a pilgrim? “Someone who goes on a journey to a holy place for a religious purpose” Do you know what that religious purpose usually is? Most of time it is to ask a special favor, a wish, request. “God make me rich, help me with this, do this or that for me.” Now this is not necessarily wrong, but there’s something more that God expects from those who seek after Him.

Do you know what is the most neglected part of the Lord’s Prayer? “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” What is this prayer asking for? It is saying, “Lord, let Your rule, Your reign, come over every aspect of life here on earth.” “Lord, I yearn for that day, that city which is to come, when and where everything will manifest Your full reign.” “And by the way Lord, I know it also includes me. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done in me.” A pilgrim life is a journey towards the person of Christ. It is also a journey towards the anticipation, and eventual fulfillment of God’s purpose.

“How Shall We Live?” MP3

http://hallowell.bsop.edu.ph/

Syllabus Outline:

Outline for Seven Sessions on Emerging Missions

1. The Call of God for Missions.
2. Visionary Leadership in the Cause of Missions.
3. Forming Missionary Churches to get behind Missions
4. Appropriate Training for Missions.
5. Flexible Structures for Mission.
6. Finding Sustainable Finances to support Missions.
7. Starting Prayer Movements that will empower Missions

For more information, please contact the Registrar or send an email to info@bsop.edu.ph.

In an article for LeadershipJournal.net, John Ortberg writes: “There is an old saying in the church world that ‘the issue is never the issue; the issue is always control.’ And when it comes to generations working together, the question of control is never more than about a micron below the surface.

“We had a conversation around our leadership circle recently about food in the sanctuary. It was fascinating to track the discussion. To some, bringing food into the sanctuary communicates a dumbing down of worship, a devaluing of sacred space, and a loss of transcendence and wonder. The chief justice doesn’t snack on Raisinettes while he’s swearing in the new president.

“To others, being able to bring coffee or a bagel into church communicates a sense of community, warmth, and acceptance that is desperately needed. It’s a way of defusing the expectation of a stuffy, formal, inauthentic, foreign experience that tells me I’m not welcome and the church doesn’t care.

“But underneath the issues of food, or dress, or style, often lies the deeper issue of control. One researcher put it like this: we often think people are opposed to change, but that’s not quite true. Everybody changes all the time — particularly when they are the ones proposing the change. It helps to distinguish between two types of change: technical change and social change.

“Technical change has to do with logistics and props. Switching from typewriters to computers, or pews to individual chairs, or hard copies to email are technical changes.

“Social change has to do with who is making the decision. Social change has to do with who is in control.

“Any time a technical change is made, it raises the issue of social change. Am I and my group gaining or losing our influence? Who gets to call the shots around here? If my influence is receding, then probably my sense of ownership and commitment will diminish as well. This is why trying to sneak changes past people is generally a bad idea.

“Recently we had a conversation about changes in worship at a service where I thought there hadn’t been any change. But someone noted that a worship leader that used to be sitting behind a keyboard is now usually standing behind a raised keyboard. It had not occurred to me that this counted as change. But to somebody else, it was a step in a direction she hadn’t gotten to vote on.

“This also means that on the leadership team, we have to embrace conflict. Where there is a difference of opinion that falls out along generational lines, we have to be willing to enter the tunnel of chaos. If there are not regular, passionate, energized disagreements about what our future should look like, I know I have not done my job as a leader to engage people fully.” (Click here to read the full article.)

From PreachingNow Magazine through email (September 8, 2009, vol. 8:32)