FBR as salt and light...

Joel Gilbert

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So for the last two weeks we’ve been walking through , which is very popular, “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world.”

So we walked through that and for much of that we just said, “This is what salt is…this is what light is...

Now I just want to shine some light on where we are hoping to go and

how we are hoping to be salt and light here at FBR.

Here’s the truth. Life here at FBR is going to be simple. A few biblical ideas that

we should ALL be praying that the Holy Spirit will work in and do and move.

Let’s pray for such right now. Lord we pray that You will abide with us and touch our lives this morning, as we turn to the Word of God, that You will come very near and speak to every heart, we need the help of the Spirit. That He make take the word that we study as a church and bring it home to our hearts.

Lord speak and speak powerfully. May a real work be done in this church, for You and Your glory. We pray for the body of Christ to be instructed and to be built up. So help us we pray, we as in the Savior’s name & for the Savior’s sake. AMEN.

So how are we trying to follow this Scripture and what our hope is for that, at FBR. So let’s look

— 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

So let’s look — 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?

It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

So what we said was, that salt is depth- basically.

Salt is a transformed life, a life that’s been transformed by the gospel

so that belief and transformation line up.

And what this text is saying is: that where there is belief but no transformation, it’s worthless.

So then, if you can

refer to all that is correct theologically and

all that is correct morally

but have not been transformed by that belief in your life,

then it’s worthless. Then it doesn’t mean anything.

And as the text goes, we become a joke. This is why the we are watching churches die, at an unbelievable rate.

This is why we’re losing our foothold on our culture.

So salt is being transformed by the gospel, not just believing it.

So how are we going to do that here? How are we going to put you in a place where you can be salty and shine bright for Christ?

Here’s what happened. You’ve heard of the 80/20 rule?

The "20/80 rule"—the idea that 20% of people in a typical church do pretty much all of the work?

Obviously the exact ratio will vary from church to church, but it is about right.

In most churches there seems to be a core group of really dedicated volunteers without whom it's hard to imagine the church even functioning.

And there's the other 80%, who for whatever reason aren't very involved

beyond attending Sunday worship services.

And we’ve done it to ourselves. We’ve bought into the lie that you can not really serve God unless you are on the flower committee.

I’m the director of music. I’m the VBS coordinator.

And we create unbliblical titles and hand them out in the church and all of a sudden these titles become the Christian life.

And the thought of serving Christ without one of these title is unheard of!

Well crushed most of the titles in the church. And some people, when you remove their title, they feel as though that they can no longer serve God here.

So then you look at that paper we read this morning before worship service and we find that the way that the community of the Lord’s people,

the way that they serve isn’t just 20% of the people serve, but everyone is to be affirming one another.

Everyone is supposed to be sharing their lives with one another.

Everyone is supposed to be serving one another.

Which is right up the alley way of . Again. Allowing ourselves to be transformed into this, is how God makes us salty.

So these changes are for Joel and by Joel. They are where to Lord is leading. You’ve got to see that!

So the risen and ascended Christ gives pastor’s and teachers to

— for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

So the pastors/ elders equip the church to do the work. Then in v15 the church begins to speak the truth in love, so that the church grows and matures.

So we want to create a context where you can talk! More talking that the hi and byes we do on Sundays.

But to actually sit down an talk about how to obey God, to speak about those things in a lovely way that builds up (no tears down), but builds one another.

And who is supposed to be doing this? 20% of the people? Let God speak:

— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Growth and edification and growth of the body happens when every joint (not 20%), every part does its share (not even 50%).

That’s God’s growth program. It’s so much richer than being a director, committee organizer, craft coordinator!!

But here’s the kicker. It takes everyone! We’ve seen in message past. Jesus said to count the cost.

Are you committed to following Him? Some aren’t as committed as you once thought.

So here’s a couple of things we are trying and hoping to do well. And honestly, it’s actually our Vision Statement.

As we ask ourselves the question: How are we going to magnify the infinite worth of God?

Exalt the Savior. EXALT: Pray and work toward ever greater magnification of God's worth by the exaltation of His Name in our corporate services.

EXALT: Design and implement methods and resources to aid in the development of personal and family worship between Sundays.

To be grounded in God’s Word,

empowered by God’s Spirit and

centered on God’s gospel

is to have this as our glorious goal—to live passionately for the glory of God,

ever growing in our relationship with God and reflecting His righteousness in our lives.

We want to be a church that does not assume this vertical dimension of our calling, this most important mission.

As Jesus said, our calling is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” ().

Or as Paul said we “count all as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus.” ().

So we want to unapologetically preach the Scriptures. That’s what we want to do.

We don’t want to apologize for it.

We don’t want to water it down.

We just want to preach and say that’s what it is. Let the Holy Spirit move.

Practically, this means that our Sunday gathering must become a priority in your life!

This Sunday gathering will always prioritize worshiping the Lord in songs that describe who God is and

what He has done in salvation and

that express a heart of

awe,

affection, and

gratefulness toward Him.

And since all of our lives are intended to be offered as worship to the Lord, our sermons will have an aim toward

toward real growth in our knowledge of God and real transformation of our character into the image of our Savior.

real growth in our knowledge of God and

real transformation of our character

into the image of our Savior.

What’s the reason why God redeemed you? Multiple times in Exodus chapters 3-10, corporate worship is said to be the purpose of redemption.

You find statements like these:

— So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

— Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’

— Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”

“serving” “sacrificing” and “feasts” these all have NT parallels in the life of the Church.

— For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Paul talks about serving with him in the gospel

speaks of us serving the Lord Christ

Sacrifice. How are we to present our bodies? As living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God.

“feast” we are told: — Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

So we’ve been redeemed to come together to worship God, serving Him, sacrificing for Him, breaking bread together in sincerity and truth as the early church did.

— And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

So we are hoping to EXALT CHRIST!!!

2. We magnify the worth of God by EQUIPPING the saints. Right after the time of worship. We want to come together to intentionally talk about what God said.

To intentionally help one another live this out! This is where our saltiness is going to be restored!

Here is where transformation is going to occur. In these Care Groups, which are seasoned with exhortation.

We’ll be pointing out the Scripture we just had preached to us and will be advised (exhorted) on how to live a godly life that’s in line with God’s Word.

These Care Groups are going to provide much accountability for us. This is how we hold one another responsible to live a godly life.

Then the Care Groups are going to be loaded with encouragement. This is where we’ll support one another in living a godly life in Christ Jesus!

This is where we disciple one another as Christ said in the Great Commission,

that every disciple (not 20% of them) but that you would make disciples

by teaching other believers all things that Christ has commanded!

So, it’s not just your Care Group leader doing all the talking. It’s us, coming together to live out God’s Word together!

So, being in a discipleship group isn’t the goal. Just like mechanically checking a box on an envelope isn’t the goal.

You can just as easily say, ‘I went and exalted God and helped equip and be equipped by God’s people’ ‘check. DONE!’ and miss the whole point.

But the goal of that discipleship atmosphere

that place where real and genuine care is

going to be recieved by you and given by you

it’s in that setting and in that place

you will find a safe place to grow and

share and affirm and serve, to the glory of God!!!

So our hope in EQUIPPING the saints, is not that you go to a group, but rather

that you do life with a group of men and women

who are pursuing holiness like you,

so that a man or woman can come into group and say,

“My marriage is on the rocks,” and our answer is not simply,

“We’ll pray for you, buddy. Good luck,”.

This is not the call of Christ on our lives!

In the end, what our hope is, is that because we’re doing life deeply together,

we would be moved with compassion

over the sorrow and pain of someone doing life in our little group,

and then what occurs next morning

is a phone call that goes out and says,

“Come have dinner at our house tonight.

Come have dinner at our house, and let’s pray.”

And then on Saturday, there’s another phone call that goes out, “After we worship God tomorrow, let’s come together for lunch and talk.”

Then on Monday, there’s a letter that goes out,

just a hand written letter of encouragement,

“We’re praying. Anything we can do to help …” So we want to do life deeply together, as Christ shows us to do.

By the way, do you know how counter cultural that is?

Seriously, is there any other place in our culture where the question,

“How are you doing?” is legit?

I mean, where else does that question legitimately get asked?

Most people ask that question, and they’re not really looking for an answer.

Have you ever had that happen to you?

“How are you doing?” “I’m doing miserable.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. That’s not what I meant, bro. That was just polite greeting.” ........

Yeah, I mean nobody really cares.

Do you know how counter cultural it is to love someone in such a way that

your home is open and

your time is open and

your resources are open and

your lives are open to walk deeply?

I mean, do you know how different that is than how the majority of the world lives,

specifically the majority of our neighborhoods that has massive back porches and

non-existent front porches (like my house)?

We have huge backyards, but a blade of grass out front. So this is our hope.

Our hope is not that you join a group, but rather that we want to try to create atmospheres where you might have the best shot at that,

where you take the risk to be known and to know others and

do life deeply, holding each other accountable, teaching, walking, those kind of things.

So we do groups because we’re hoping it will create depth. Does it always? Oh, no, no, no, no. Is it our best shot? Yeah.

As we equip one another, this is how God transforms and changes us. This is how we remain salty.

3. We magnify the worth of God by EXTENDING Christ’s Kingdom. To be a people that is on mission with God.

So that we design and pursue evangelistic opportunities that facilitate a clear and present gospel witness in Roselawn and the surrounding areas.

Back Yard Vacation Bible School’s in our neighbor hoods, planned by the Care Groups.

Front yard block parties. In our Care Group, plan and discuss those 10-12 people coming over for a BBQ. Invite your neighbors.

And as the Lord leads, perhaps He will open a door for the gospel! Maybe a neighborhood need could be communicated and met by the body of Christ!

This is how the light shines. This is how we become the city that is set on a hill, which cannot be hidden.

Guess what? We don’t need to drop a million easter eggs from a helicopter, or give away i phones, tv’s or bikes or anything!

We just EXALT Christ, EQUIP God’s people to serve Christ, EXTEND Christ’ Kingdom to those who don’t know Him yet!

Brothers and Sisters, this is how we make the infinite worth of God known!!!

That’s all we are going to do. Very simple. Simple enough for the seasoned saint to be apart of.

Simple enough for the new beginner in Christ. But here’s what I’m saying. Some of you can write off the church and just quit because you don’t agree with the direction etc.

Or you could do these three things mechanically. I joined a CareGroup. [check].

I went on one day to the Jasper County Fair and talked about Jesus [check].

You can do these things and get nothing out of it by checking them off.

But if you’re

not going to invest, you’re

not going to risk, you’re

not take it seriously, you’re

not going to meditate, think, wrestle or

be obedient,

then we you’ll just be full of more truth to be arrogant about and

lose your saltiness and put the light under the bed so that it doesn’t shine.

Or we can let our light so shine before Roselawn and abroad, that they’ll see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

So here’s some things to wrestle with ok? Does God want you to:

EXALT Christ?

EQUIP God’s people to serve Christ?

EXTEND Christ’ Kingdom to those who don’t know Him yet?

So who’s really leading here in the church? Pastor Joel is God’s appointed leader that you pray for, that God would lead.

Pastor Joel shows you practically how it’s going to look like here at FBR.

We desire that no one turn away and not go forward. Because if this is what God’s word says to do and you turn away.

What are you turning away from? God’s call is for us to flourish in these simple things!

These really aren’t things that we try for a while to see if they work or not. That’s pragmatism.

God’s called us all to worship Him, to build and equip one another, and to share Christ as we go through life!

I’m in. Who will come to the front to pray with me and join me in a recommittment to live for God right here?

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