Rev. David Holwick ZC Matthew 10 series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 17, 2006
Matthew 10:21-23,34-38
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I. Is religion a good thing or an evil thing?
A. Many believe religion gives them peace and love.
B. Others note that religion causes an awful lot of conflict.
1) Iraq and Afghanistan.
2) India and Pakistan.
3) Northern Ireland.
4) Even blue-state vs. red-state here in the U.S.
5) Ethiopian woman at funeral this week - so many religions
here, and they always discount one another.
(my church goes to heaven)
6) This week's example: did the Pope insult Mohammed?
C. Perhaps your own family is torn by religious strife.
1) People within your home may believe differently.
2) Research from Baylor University on various views on God
in America.
a) Four basic views:
Authoritarian, Benevolent, Critical or Distant
b) More revealing than denominational labels.
1> And they are often at odds with each other.
D. Where is this peace that everyone is seeking?
1) We know nations, and families, are in distress and conflict.
2) We want this to change!
II. How Jesus sees the results and role of religion.
A. Religion is not the issue - Jesus is.
1) He did not see himself as establishing a new religion.
2) He is establishing a new reality - the Kingdom of God.
Douglas Baker makes this observation:
The Bible teaches that Jesus did not ultimately seek to
bring about a better version of a fallen world.
He wanted to inaugurate a new kingdom where the present
heavens and earth would be re-made with no trace of sin
at the end of time.
The nations will be his inheritance as all mankind bows
to his authority.
Jesus achieved his goal through unconventional war.
He came not to battle the visible pawns of power -- the
governmental leaders and tyrants of his time or ours --
but the invisible powers of Satan.
Undoing the impact of mankind's fall in the Garden of Eden
demanded that he destroy not the results of sin but the
root of sin.
Spiritual force had to be used to cast out sinful power --
the sole source of all earthly tyranny, murder and war.
In the proper light, Jesus is seen as a mighty warrior who
stopped at nothing to conquer evil.
Jesus is revolutionary.
#12513
3) The decision you make about Jesus determines your eternity.
B. Jesus knew he would be a source of conflict.
1) Even when he preached peace and love, he caused divisions.
2) Believing in Jesus can have dire consequences.
a) Believers will be hated.
b) Believers will be divided from loved ones.
1> (See also Micah 7:5-6.)
2> "Sword" in 10:34 is given as "division" in Lk 12:51.
3> Conflict, not bloodshed, is in view.
C. He came so this would happen. 10:34-35
1) This is not how most of us view Jesus.
a) "Meek and mild" is more popular.
b) Was Jesus really this harsh?
2) Exaggeration was a common technique for emphasis.
a) A literal interpretation violates Jesus' teaching.
1> He famously taught non-violence.
2> He taught us to love and support our parents.
b) A literal interpretation violates Jesus' actions.
1> He did not use violence to escape arrest.
2> He forgave his enemies from the cross.
3> From the cross, he entrusted his mother to
John's care.
c) He is forcing us to get off the fence and decide.
III. Context is important.
A. End-Times Tribulation period seems to be in view.
1) Similarities to language of Matthew 24.
a) Persecution.
b) Call to stand firm to the end.
c) The ultimate division of earth, good vs. evil.
2) It is not describing normal conditions in everyday society.
a) But it does seem to describe the harsh tendencies today.
B. Uncanny parallels with modern history.
1) Division in families is a policy of totalitarian regimes.
a) Nazis encouraged children to inform on parents.
b) Communist indoctrination of kids against parents;
the State is the only parent they need.
2) However, I don't think Jesus is teaching this. 10:37
a) Jesus taught the support of parents, even when it
competed with religious giving.
b) It is more an issue of allegiance.
IV. Love Jesus more than anything else. 10:37
A. One of the more controversial statements in the Bible. Luke 14:26
1) Parallel in Luke 14:26 is even harder.
a) Matthew's "love me more than" becomes "hate your father
and mother."
b) Believe it or not, most Bible scholars think Luke is
closest to what Jesus actually said.
2) Another example of exaggeration for effect - Matthew
gives the real intent.
B. Can the Spirit be thicker than blood?
1) Family ties are often considered the closest bond.
2) You would probably give a kidney or an eye to someone in
your family who needed it.
3) What would you give to Jesus?
a) We say things like, "I have given him my heart."
b) Then when an offering is taken, we throw in $5.
Rev. Timothy Smith notes that throughout the Gospels we find large
crowds of people gathered around Jesus.
Many were curious about him.
They wanted to see him and hear him.
He was the talk of many villages -- a celebrity, if you will.
Though the crowds who gathered around him were enthusiastic,
Jesus wondered if they were really willing to follow him.
He said to them: "Anyone who loves his father or mother more
than me is not worthy of me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not
worthy of me."
That's harsh. Uncomfortable.
Jesus wanted the people to understand that being a disciple
demanded their whole life -- not just the times when it was
convenient.
Jesus wanted people to understand what they were getting into.
#2947
C. Salvation is costly - it involves crosses. 10:38
1) We all know that Jesus died on one.
2) Here, he challenges you to carry one.
Included on a church's annual commitment card was a question:
"How many Sundays do you plan to attend Sunday School and
worship this year?"
Persons were to answer with 50 weeks, or 40 weeks, or 30 weeks.
One comment stood out: "We'll come as often as we can."
That's not really a commitment, is it?
It's like saying, "We'll come when we feel like it," or "when
we don't have anything better to do."
Is this what Jesus has in mind when he calls persons to be his
followers?
#2946
V. Be worthy of Jesus.
A. It is all about discipleship.
Rev. Mark Brouwer writes:
Many people today have defined Christianity solely in terms of
beliefs.
If I believe certain things about Jesus Christ, and trust that
he died for my sins, then I'm a Christian and I'll go to
heaven.
But the problem is, then we have this unsolvable dilemma about
HOW those beliefs should affect how we LIVE.
Or even if they need to affect us at all.
We talk about accepting Jesus as our savior.
And then, if we want to add the next piece, we can accept
Jesus as our Lord.
Theologian Dallas Willard puts it this way: "Most problems in
contemporary churches can be explained by the fact that
members have not yet decided to follow Christ.
Little good results from insisting that Christ is also supposed
to be Lord.
To present his lordship as an option leaves it squarely in the
category of the white-wall tires and stereo equipment for
the new car.
You can do without it.
And it is far from clear what you would do with it."
But think about this:
In the New Testament, the word "disciple" occurs 269 times.
The word "Christian" is found only THREE times -- and it was
used to refer to the disciples.
As one author puts it, "The New Testament is a book about
disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ."
#33233
B. Lordship is not an option.
1) Where do YOU stand with Jesus?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 2946 "Low-level Commitment," by Rev. Timothy J. Smith, Dynamic Preaching,
Sept. 1992, sermon: "A Faithful Follower I Would Be."
# 2947 "Orphans Preferred," by Rev. Timothy J. Smith, Dynamic Preaching,
Sept. 1992, sermon: "A Faithful Follower I Would Be."
#12513 "Jesus -- A Pacifist?" by Douglas Baker, Baptist Press,
http://www.baptistpress.org/, February 13, 2003.
#33233 "It's All About Discipleship," by Rev. Mark Brouwer, Sermon:
"The Commitment To Significance," http://www.bridgewood.org.
These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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