Beware of Stumbling Blocks | Sunday, August 2, 2020

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5)

When the message hit a wall, the pastor learned to wait, think, and pray about what God might want said instead.

When the Sermon Hits a Wall

Every preaching pastor has experienced this: you get everything ready to prepare your message for Sunday and your brain hits a brick wall. Many of you might remember the frustration of "writer's block" in college. In more than twenty years of pastoral ministry, I've learned that when that happens, it generally means I need to wait, think, and pray about what God may want me to do differently in the moment.

We began our study in Deuteronomy at the beginning of 2020, and I was very much looking forward to it. I am a student of the Old Testament, yet I had spent the previous twelve years here at Cross Connection preaching almost entirely through the New Testament. For those new to the Bible, it is a book of books—66 of them—divided into the Old Testament (the first 39 books) and the New Testament (the last 27).

When I became pastor here in April of 2008, we were about three-quarters of the way through the Gospel of Luke, written in the first century by a Greek physician and historian. Luke also wrote the follow-up account, the book of Acts, chronicling the early church. So we went right into Acts and spent the next decade studying through the New Testament with Acts as our timeline.

But I love the Old Testament. I've taught books like Isaiah and Jeremiah at a local Bible college for years, and I believe this collection of 39 books, written by dozens of authors more than 2,500 years ago, is divinely inspired and applicable for our day. After finishing our New Testament studies at the end of 2019, I looked forward to 2020 as a new opportunity to discover its truths with you.

A Year Like No Other

But who could have imagined a year like this? I knew coming into 2020 that it would be challenging. On our Questions podcast at the end of 2019, I said I believed this would be a year of chaos. But I did not begin to imagine coronavirus, Antifa, BLM protests, riots, and the utter chaos we've been witnessing.

It's been said—though I can't substantiate it—that there's an ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." These are surely those. And I think it's worth noting that 2020 is going to continue to be challenging. When I said this would be a year of chaos, I was thinking about the fall, about the election—and we're only just beginning to head into that season. So buckle up, friends; we're headed into rough waters. You should be circumspect about the times we are living in.

To walk circumspectly means to walk with our eyes wide open and our ears attentive. We need to keep our physical senses about us, but we as Christians also need to keep our spiritual senses about us. That's why Paul says, "Be filled with the Spirit." So, God, fill us afresh and anew with the Holy Spirit and help us as Your church. There are a lot of foolish people walking in drunkenness and darkness in our day. We, the people of God, need to be wise, redeeming the times.

Calling Evil Good

What does it mean that the days are evil? I'm reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah some 2,800 years ago:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5)

When I read those words, I think of our nation at this time. Woe to those who call riots peaceful and ministers of justice evil. Woe to those who call men women and women men. One English translation renders "woe" as "destruction is certain." That should concern us. It means our society is in the shape that it is at this moment.

I don't say these things to frighten you, but they should stir you to pray. We set aside the 31 days of July for refocusing prayer, and Pastor Mark sent out a daily prayer guide with Andrew Murray. We encouraged you to social distance from social media and even the corporate news media. Many of you took up that challenge and experienced a time of refreshing as you fasted from the news and focused on the Lord. Our nation is in desperate need of a move of God, and one great saint used to say, "Where prayer is focused, power falls."

We Are Still the Church

I know we're in unprecedented times. Some of you are deeply fearful about all that's going on. At the same time, some of you are frustrated that our church—and many churches—have not reopened for weekly services. Our church has been wonderfully supportive of me and our leaders during this time. You have prayed with us and for us, supported the church financially, and encouraged us with texts, cards, and calls. I'm so blessed by you.

If you're frustrated with me and our team for not reopening, you certainly haven't been pushy about it, which indicates you are mature in your faith and recognize some important truths. First, you recognize that our church is not shut down. We are still the church, the body of Christ. We're still worshipping on Sundays, studying the Scriptures, praying for one another, and shining as a light in a dark world—even though we're not at 1675 Seven Oaks Road on Sunday mornings. The church is not a building; it is the people of God, and we are being tested on that right now. Paul pastored the church at a distance 2,000 years ago through letters; today we're doing so through YouTube.

Second, you are fulfilling Hebrews 13:

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Third, you are being a witness to your neighbors, family members, and community by bearing with their fears and not gathering in a large group. Fourth, you are honoring the words of Peter:

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake... For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using your liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Fifth, you are honoring Paul in Romans 13:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God... For he is God's minister to you for good... Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Beware of Stumbling Blocks

Listen, I am as rebellious as the next guy—just ask my mom; she's got a lot of great stories. I'm pretty libertarian in my views; I don't like being told what to do. There have been a number of times I've thought, "Let's just reopen and go for it." Yes, I saw Pastor John MacArthur's statement on reopening from a week ago. But John MacArthur isn't my pastor; he's not the head of our church—Jesus is.

Will there be a time for Christians to exercise civil disobedience as it relates to everything happening in our nation? Maybe. I hope it doesn't come to that. But every time I've started to feel like it's time to go for broke and exercise my liberty, I hear a still, small voice saying:

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. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13–14)

And then:

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)

In addition to that still, small voice through the Scriptures, I've had conversations with people in our community who are not Christians, who don't go to church, who have said, "Thank you for not putting us in danger by gathering in a large group." Now, I'm not sure reopening would actually put people in imminent danger—it doesn't appear the fatality rate of COVID-19 is as high as we first feared, praise God. But whether it is or not, there are weaker people among us who are terrified of this virus. Much of their fear is rooted in social media and corporate news media, and I think those behind such things have perverse incentives in amplifying fear. Be that as it may, there are fearful people among us. "Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak." All of the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: you shall love your frightened and fearful neighbor as yourself.

Two Saints Gone Home

You've probably noticed by now that we're not really getting into Deuteronomy this week. As I sat down to prepare a message in chapter 4, I hit a wall and sensed I should wait, think, pray, and prepare something different. It's a message without points—another pointless message.

This last week we experienced a couple of losses at Cross Connection that I want to share. Ed Childers—or "Chief," as he was known to those close to him—went home to heaven this last Sunday morning. Chief is Pastor Mark's dad, and he had been battling a number of health issues. He entered eternity surrounded by his family. Pastor Mark prayed that God would mercifully take him home, and shortly after praying that prayer, Chief's breathing became less labored. He breathed his last breath in this life and his first in the presence of Jesus on Sunday, July 26th. He was 84.

Glenn Michael Rignay—"Mike"—has been a faithful prayer warrior, usher, and servant at Cross Connection for many years, even while battling cancer for several of them. This last Wednesday night Mike stepped into eternity, where I believe, like Chief before him, he heard the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Mike was 73.

Both were tough and faithful followers of Jesus. Mike, whether in excruciating pain or not, would faithfully be here to serve as an usher every week he could. He told me a few weeks ago that he hoped to be back for a worship service before his death; I think he was probably happy with the welcoming service he got in heaven. Chief would often tell me, "That was a heck of a message, Pastor." Both men are and will be greatly missed. Please be praying for their families and those close to them. We sorrow, but not as those who have no hope.

Baptism and Communion

The second thing I want to share has to do with baptism. During His ministry, Jesus instituted two sacred ordinances for the church: communion and baptism. We had planned a large baptism and church picnic at the end of June at Felicita Park; COVID-19 shut that down, but baptism is still very important to us. Through baptism we declare our faith in Christ and our obedience to Him, identifying ourselves with His death, burial, and resurrection through immersion in water. If you are a follower of Jesus who has not yet been baptized and you're interested, please visit baptism.lifeinconnection.com and let us know.

Third, communion. In just a moment our worship team will lead us in a song, and as they do, I want to invite you to gather the elements—the bread and the cup. Hopefully you have bread and grape juice; if not, I'm sure you can find something to suffice. Tortillas and water may be all you have, and I think that's probably good.

Remembering at the Table

Acts chapter 2 says the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, the breaking of bread, fellowship, and prayer. Those words "the breaking of bread" can carry a couple of meanings—hospitality, gathering in homes to care for one another, and the Lord's Supper. In the early church most of that took place in homes, just like you are at home together right now.

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread to symbolize His body and the cup to represent His blood. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:

The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

If you have bread this morning, take it now as we partake together—even separated from one another—as a memorial of Jesus's body broken for us so we could be reconciled to God through Him.

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

His blood was shed on the cross to deal with our sin. As we study Deuteronomy we'll see that sacrifices and the shedding of blood dealt with the sin of the nation and of individuals. Hebrews says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. But Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might receive His righteousness. Let's partake together and remember His blood shed for us.

Closing Prayer

Father God, we thank You for Your grace, Your goodness, and Your mercy displayed in that You sent Your only begotten Son to die for us. You demonstrated Your love for us in that while we were sinners You died for us on the cross. We thank You that as we put our trust in Your finished work, You make it possible for us to be restored to relationship with You and with one another.

Use us, Your church, to be messengers declaring that good news to others, especially during this period of time. All the things causing an uproar in our nation—division over race, class, and gender—I pray You would help us realize that only in You, in Christ, as part of Your body, is that middle wall of separation broken down. We have the good news of the gospel that brings reconciliation and restoration. Help us share it boldly. And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.