Q & A.

Today, we arrive at the last sermon in our six-week

series, Jesus at the Center. This series has been based on
Acts 1:12, where Luke writes, In my former account, O
Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and
to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after
giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles
he had chosen. Over the past few weeks, we have seen how
Jesus is at the center of what we do and where we go as the
Spirit of God guides our lives. We have seen how Jesus is at
the center of the transitions of our lives, for he is the head
of his church and is the one who holds all things together. We
have seen how he is the center of Pentecost as the exalted
Lord, the one to whom we continually give testimony as we
experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We also took two
weeks to recognize that he is at the center of our ministries,
since we are all called to do the work of ministry. Today, we
will look at Jesus at the Center of our Faith. [Transition
Sermons]
I remember a couple of years ago coming across a
Facebook eCards that caught my attention. I think it was
because I had JUST seen the reality of this cards statement
right before I saw this card. The card said, [fill in card
statement]. It reminded me of a sermon series a minister I
know did. It was entitled Facebook. This pastor opened the
sermon series with a video that showed random quotes, some
of which may surprise many of you. After the video finished,
he explained that every single quote that was in the video
came from the Facebook profiles of people who were part of
that church. Dont worry, theres no need to de-friend or
block me. Im not going to go scouring the interwebs looking
for what youre saying online. But I do want to challenge you
with this question, Do your posts on social media reflect
what you say you believe? Lets move beyond social media for
a moment. Do your actions parallel your confession?
Now, I often hear people who want to criticize others
when it comes to speaking about faith and actions. It is at
that point that people who dont know David from Moses pull
Matthew 7:1 out of their Scriptural arsenal. Theres like Back
off! The Bible says, Do not judge. Even Christians will say
that our holiness and righteousness comes from God. Both of
these statements are very true, but at the same time, we
have to admit that the Bible does speak to us about our
behavior, which ultimately should function as an outward
expression of what is going on in our hearts. The Apostle Paul
addresses such issues as he is writing to Timothy in Ephesus.
[1 Tim 1:34] There are false teachers in the area, and
people are being turned away from the truth of the Gospel.
Paul, sends this letter to Timothy in order that he may
personally maintain the faith and lead the church in Ephesus in
doing the same.
We understand from the outset of Pauls writings that
there is heresy and false teaching. This would lead me to the
understanding that Paul would move into proper teaching and
doctrine, but Paul starts giving instructions to Timothy about
what people should be doing. Paul calls for people to pray for
those in authority (1 Tim 2:12). He calls people to maintain
a modest appearance (1 Tim 2:910). Paul calls for those
who have positions of authority in the church to be faithful
to their spouse (1 Tim 3:2-3) and to have a good
reputation with those outside the community of faith (1
Tim 3:7). Admittedly, these are just a few of the
instructions Paul gives. But wait a second. Paul said there was
heresy, so why is he giving all of these instructions? The
answer is in our text for today. Go with me to 1 Tim 3:1416.
Paul isnt there, but he is hoping to get to Ephesus, but
the situation is so urgent it demands that Paul send a letter
ahead of his arrival. He says, beginning in verse 14, Although
I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these
instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how
people ought to conduct themselves in Gods household (1
Tim 3:1415a). In other words, You need to know how to
conduct yourself as a Christian. Now I grew up in a fairly
strict tradition where if I stood up to preach on a Sunday
morning in what I have on right now, I would not only be
blocked from getting up to speak, I might be lucky to make it
out alive. I once remember the big discussion at church being
because I went to church with shorts on one Wednesday
night. Rest assured that when Paul speaks of conduct, thats
not necessarily what he is talking about. What Paul is hitting
at is that the way you conduct yourself should be in a manner
that advances and never hinders the Gospel. Consider what
Paul wrote earlier, As I urged you when I went to
Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may
command certain persons not to teach false doctrines any
longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless
genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculation
rather than advancing Gods workwhich is by faith (1
Tim 1:34).
As Paul continues in verse 15, he gives two additional
descriptions of the household of God. He describes it as the
church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of
truth. So often when we read this passage, we take it as a
manual for how we should behave IN church, but Paul makes it
clear that he is saying how we should behave AS the church.
Paul has already used the metaphor of the household in his
discussion of overseers. Paul writes, He must manage his
own family well and see that his children obey him, and he
must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. For if
anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how
can he take care of Gods church (1 Tim 3:45)? In
hearing that you (collectively) make up Gods household, you
have to also recognize that you serve as the dwelling place of
God. For even as the living God dwelled in the sanctuary of
Israel, youthe church of the living Godare the temple of
his Holy Spirit. As the pillar and foundation of truth, you have
to remember that you have been entrusted with the truth of
the Gospel and the Lord is calling you today to stand firm in it.
Let us not forget that which we talked about over the past
few weeks. This is not only about what Jesus BEGAN to do
and to teach but about what he CONTINUES to do through
youhis Body. When you as a member of the household of God
act, you represent yourself; you represent the church; and
you represent the truth of which the church is the pillar and
foundation.
Some may ask what is this truth, but I would dare say
this truth is not a what, but a Who. As we have talked about
Jesus being at the center, we find today, that Jesus should
be at the center of our confession. That is, what we both say
and do. It is for this reason that we can say, as Paul writes,
Indeed, undeniably great is the mystery of godliness who
was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen
by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the
world, taken up in glory. This isnt simply about a list of dos
and donts regarding behavior. This isnt simply about checking
off the right boxes regarding beliefs. This is about Jesus
Christ the Son of the living God. When we come across the
word mystery, we often think of something we are trying to
figure out. When Paul uses the term, what we find is that he
is referring to something that has been revealed. As we look
at this confession and break it down a bit, we find two
different parts. The first three lines depict the earthly
ministry of Jesus as seen by the angels above. The second
three lines depict what Christ continues to do in and through
the Churchthats in and through you and meas seen by the
exalted and glorified Christ from his throne in heaven. May we
never forget our responsibility, as believers in Jesus, to keep
Jesus at the center of all we say and do, while serving as
Christs ambassadors who tell a lost and dying world to be
reconciled to God.
If you would bow your heads with me please. As we have
been in this mornings gathering and walked through this text,
where Paul provides us with instructions regarding the
importance of our conduct, I wonder if some of you have been
cleaning up your social media posts while Ive been speaking.
More importantly, I wonder if the Holy Spirit has been
speaking to some of you about areas of your life where Jesus
is not at the centerplaces where your practice and your
confession do not align. If the Lord has been dealing with you
about that, I would like to pray for you. If you would simply
raise your hand in response during this time. Is there anyone
who would say, my practices are not consistent with my
beliefs, if you would just slip up your hand. [Prayer]
Even as Paul noted the common confession of the church
regarding the ministry of Jesus, we have another common
confession that we as Christians maintain. As the servers
move into place to prepare for communion, may we recite the
Nicene Creed, which notes our common confession with
believers around the world. [Nicene Creed] [Prayer]
[Notification of method]