Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon, "How We Live, part 2."
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon, "How We Live, part 2."
Lindsey: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Lindsey Blair and my co-host is Bobby Gilles. This past Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached “How we live, part two” in our series called Orientation.
Bobby: Jonah said that we are family, and we are witnesses, experiencing the love of God and announcing to others what we have experienced. But if you missed the sermon or need help remembering, you’re in the right place, because it’s time for the Midweek Checkup.
Lindsey: Jonah began by reminding us that there are five identities we inhabit as Christians. Last week we talked about the fact that we are disciples, servants, and worshipers. The two identities we are talking about this week are like healing guardrails against certain temptations of the other identities. Think of them as the introvert's temptation and the extrovert's temptation. Distorted discipleship and twisted worship can lead us ever inward, the introvert's temptation. To fall so in love with the idea of God's presence, being with him, that you travel ever further into yourself...and never leave.
Bobby: The extrovert's temptation is to live in the real world, but not know who they are. Gotta serve, serve, serve. Gotta go go go. Gotta stay happy, clappy, and light. When you lose sight of who you are, you lose sight of your humanity. The introvert's temptation leads to detachment, passivity, a life of abstraction The extrovert's temptation leads to loneliness, exhaustion, a life of duty.
Lindsey: Our remaining identities are as family and witnesses. Acts 2 reminds us that the first believers were all together, holding everything in common. In the family of God, EVERYONE gets paid attention to.
NEED is obsolete because everyone chips in and shares the load together. To relate to one another as family means we see everyone as necessary. And just like a body, every part will need tending to at some point. If you want to experience healing in the family of God, you have to be willing to both share your burdens and carry others'. You cannot be angry with others for not helping you when you have not said how you need help.
Bobby: It will be everyone's turn to ask for help at some point. When it's yours, ask. Don't be embarrassed. We belong to each other. And when we think of our family in the church, the family of God, three words need to guide our imaginations: diversity, unity, and harmony. The family of God belongs to all kinds of people who are united by Jesus, with a common mission. Your unique self is able to find its place in this larger group.
Lindsey: And this common mission is to witness. A witness is someone who experiences something and shares what they experienced. This requires you to know your story...how has he saved you, healed you, restored you? What is he up to in your life? When has he shown up for you? To be a witness is to be so rooted in your own story that you recognize how your story is part of God's.
Bobby: And we can do this through the power of presence, which the Holy Spirit grants us. Holy Ghost Power is not corporate America power or armed forces power. Holy Ghost Power is other-worldly power to proclaim good news. Power and presence to know and proclaim the love of Christ. What happens when you experience love? You share it. When you eat at a great restaurant? You share it. Humans are built to experience love and share it.
Lindsey: Believing we are lovable allows us to live as family, sharing our needs and burdens. Believing we are loved empowers us to share good news with the world. Perhaps over a meal, perhaps through acts of service, perhaps through acts of mercy and kindness, perhaps through words of hope or announcing good news. Love empowers us to share good news.
Bobby: We are family, and we are witnesses, experiencing the love of God and announcing to others what we have experienced.
Lindsey: And we are looking forward to seeing you this coming Sunday for our final Orientation week, before we begin digging back into the Gospel of Mark. Join us, and bring a friend.