Sermon Cloud

Welcome to the Team

Ray Befus
Luke 4:16-21 (TNIV, p. 703)
Everyone Gets to Play Series--#1

1. Thanks for starting the new year with us. Welcome to the team. You're Vineyard North's 2009 starting line-up!

a. When John Wimber launched this movement called Vineyard some 30 years ago, he coined a phrase, "Everyone gets to play". As a new and very passionate Christian, he was reacting to an imbalance he saw in the church. Back in the 1960's and 70's, many denominational churches limited the ministry church members were allowed to participate in. By and large, clergy were the players on the field; laymen and women were the fans in the stands. Priests, pastors, and ordained ministers got to do the stuff that Jesus did; everyone else got to watch and give money.

b. John Wimber came along and shook up the church across North America by saying, "We're here to equip you to do the stuff Jesus did, whether you are a brand new Christian or a teenager or an ex con, a retiree, or a burned out preacher's kid. Whoever you are, God has called you to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, care for the poor and shout the good news: this is the season of God's grace!" As a result of this ‘Third Wave' message, churches today all over America have healing prayer teams, worship teams, servant evangelism teams, deliverance ministry teams, ministries to the poor, and so on.

c. But times have changed. Now, folks in the church are treating Christianity as though it is a service industry. Church is where you go when you need something-a spiritual lift perhaps. If you don't feel that you need anything, there's no compelling reason to go. A younger generation of Christians isn't sure there is even a big game to be played. Post denominational churches and small groups are hanging out, drinking micro brews, building friendships, talking politics, waiting to see what might emerge. John Wimber's 70's message, "Everyone Get's to Play" probably should be recast in 2009 as, "Everyone is called to play". Did you know . . . to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus is to be a minister . . . a player, to be on the field, in the game-blocking, running, passing, receiving-every weekend? There is still a big game on and, Christianity isn't a spectator sport!

2. In this Superbowl season we're revisiting Luke 4:16-21, the Scripture text that energized John Wimber, and to this day remains a key text for everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ. It's a call to action . . . to leave the bleachers, suit up, and stop onto the field. This is Jesus' declaration of his mission on earth, his mission in our lives, his mission in his church-the mission that he has left with us, his followers. This is God's call to get up and play the game. READ & PRAY.

I. HERE'S A SURPRISE- JESUS REGULARLY ATTENDED CHURCH!

A. This is perhaps the oldest written account of a Jewish synogogue service in history. Jesus was an observant Jew, not just a Jew by race or culture. Underline the phrase, "as was his custom" in verse 16. Once a week, on a Saturday morning, Jesus-as an adult-customarily went to church (church simply means the gathering of God's people). Jesus was advanced far beyond you and me in character, relationships, knowledge, wisdom, and power. Yet, Jesus found personal value in corporate worship, prayer, and teaching with other believers. For Jesus, church wasn't a duty or an obligation; it was an opportunity to be blessed by God, to bless God, and to bless others. If Jesus found church valuable, you'd think we would!

B. Is it your custom to worship and pray and study with other Christians on a weekly basis? ILLUS: This week I was sharing lunch with my mother and she was talking about the church in which she grew up-Sheboygan, Wisconsin's First Christian Reformed Church. My mother's family were pillars in the church. My uncle Casey was chairman of the elders his whole life. Never took a break, never wanted a break. My own grandfather, Martin, was chairman of the deacons his whole life; never needed a break. Their brother-in-law Abe was director of the music ministry and choir his whole life. For an entire generation, the Wondergems were at the heart of First Church in Sheboygan.

C. That's pretty rare today. We're ambivalent about church-i.e., organized religion. Jesus wasn't. He valued the corporate expressions of faith and ministry. Pollsters tell us that American Christians are going to church less and less. When they do go, they often come a little late and take a place high up in the stands to watch.

II. JESUS WASN'T ON THE PAYROLL, BUT HE WAS A PLAYER.

Apparently, in this synogogue in Nazareth, there was no permanent Rabbi who did the weekly Bible teaching. There was opportunity for anyone to read the Scripture and to share a word of comfort, or counsel, or challenge. The service was participatory. On this particular Saturday, Jesus, as a young, itinerant Rabbi, took the initiative to read Scripture and to address the people who had gathered for worship. Jesus wasn't content to sit in the back and evaluate the program.
A. He brought the game to the people.

1. Unrolling an ancient scroll that contained the words of Isaiah the prophet, Jesus read from chapter 61:1-2.

2. Jesus was claiming to be on a Messianic mission from God, and he was bringing this mission to church.

a. Good news to the poor-social justice and compassionate provision for poor people. Everyone in the world has great news for the wealthy. Here's another product or purchase or travel opporunity that will bring you happiness and fulfillment. Jesus didn't just come to hand poor people tickets to heaven, redeemable upon death, after a hellish life. Part of his reason for coming was to offer the poor practical help. He communicated value to poor people when he invited THEM to follow him. He gave them dignity when he called them to take up their crosses and follow him. And, he invited the poor into the community of his followers where they would be treated like brothers, sisters, and friends-not marginalized intruders. TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS TO BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERCEPT THE POOR ON SUNDAYS (as a starting place).

b. Freedom for the prisoners-men and women in bondage to guilt, regret, addiction, and even evil. Jesus came to provide a way to be truly forgiven and set free from guilt. He did that when he died on the cross and rose again. Jesus came to provide freedom from regret by inviting us into all-consuming promises and purpose. He came to provide freedom from the addictions that take root in our inner emptiness. No one has to live as a slave to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, eating, lying, or shopping. Freedom is waiting for you in the light, where you come out of the shadows and into the light of community, where you share the truth about yourself and begin the journey of recovery with others who are on the journey. TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS TO BE LOOKING AROUND ON SUNDAYS FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE VISIBLY BURDENED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF SECRET CHAINS, AND TO GO TO THEM SAYING, "THERE'S HOPE FOR YOU. JESUS CAN SET YOU FREE FROM THIS HEAVY WEIGHT".

c. Recovery of sight for the blind-dramatic healing for the hopeless. Healing of blind eyes was one of Jesus most common miracles. One of the most persistent tests of our faith and obedience as Christians is simply to make prayer-personal prayer-a central part of our daily lives and our corporate ministry. And, the greatest test of our faith is our willingness to pray for the sick. Many people will say that they believe that God still heals today, but the truly Christ-like men and women in the room this morning are those who will take the personal risk to lay hands on you and pray for you when you are sick and need a miracle. We believe that God still heals today. TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS TO COME TO CHURCH IN FAITH, READY TO STEP UP AND PRAY FOR THE SICK WHEN THEY REVEAL THEIR NEED.

d. Set the oppressed free-grace for men and women steam-rolled by religious judgments and obligations. Men and women who lived under the heavy weight of ancient Judaism as well as modern day Islam (and other religions), feel that they have failed God, that God is angry, that they should do more, that their destiny is uncertain, that their karma is weighted against them, that if they want forgiveness or the guarantee of heaven they must take on impossible challenges to earn God's favor. Jesus came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves, to pay our full debt to God, and to offer us the free gift of eternal life. TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS TO COME TO CHURCH LOOKING FOR PEOPLE CAUGHT IN PERFORMANCE TRAPS. THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE FINE, THAT THINGS ARE GREAT, THAT THEY DON'T NEED PRAYER. BUT YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HARD, WORKING TOO HARD. THE SMILE SEEMS PLASTIC; THE ENTHUSIASM SEEMS WEAK. THEY NEED A TOUCH, A SMILE, AND AN INVITATION TO LET GO OF THE FAÇADE AND RELAX INTO JESUS' ARMS.

e. Proclaim the year of the Lord's favor-grace for those who need a second third, forth, two hundredth chance. Mercy and grace for those who have made bad decisions, dug their own hole, shot themselves in the foot, and lost everything. Jesus was referring to the ancient Jewish practice of Jubilee. Every fifty years, God gave everyone a break. The land went fallow, and everyone got to reinvest in marriage, family, hobbies, and a deeper walk with God. Every 50 years all debts were cancelled and land lost to hard times of one sort or another was return to the original owners. Every 50 years, all of God's people got their lost investments back. Every make a bad investment? Carol and I have. I remember a time when a friend of a friend came to us with a once-in-a lifetime investment opportunity sure to make us rich. That was a long time ago. I could use that investment back. Jubilee was year everyone got a fresh start. TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS TO COME INTO A ROOM LIKE THIS ON SUNDAY AND TELL A SINGLE MOM, "THERE'S HOPE FOR YOU. GOD ISN'T FINISHED WITH YOU" . . . TO ASSURE A MAN WHO HAS LOST A JOB, "THIS ISN'T THE END. THERE'S GRACE FOR THIS. WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. GOD IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A FRESH START. DON'T DESPAIR" . . . TO TELL AN EX-CON, "GOD FORGIVES YOU AND WE FORGIVE YOU. NOW GET UP AND TAKE GOD'S HAND AND BEGIN AGAIN. WE'RE WITH YOU".

Jesus didn't just come to church to watch from the sidelines; he brought the game!

B. He had a sharp eye.

1. All of the gospel writers tell us that most Saturdays, wherever he was, Jesus could be found worshipping in a synagogue. And he didn't just hunch down in this chair, and put in his time. Apparently, we was always looking around for people in need (just like you, right?)

a. Luke 4:31-35. Jesus is in another synogogue on another Sabbath and heals a demonized man. Jesus spent the rest of the day healing the sick and setting prisoners free.

b. Luke 6:6-11. Jesus in another synogogue on another Sabbath and heals a man with a shriveled hand and it is completely restored.

c. Luke 13:10-17. Jesus heals a woman who has been bent over, crippled by a demon for 18 years. Oh, did I mention that Jesus did this on the Sabbath, in a synagogue?

d. John 5:10-15. It was the Sabbath, but Jesus was in Jerusalem at the temple. He healed a paralyzed man laying by a public pool. Pick up your mat and walk!

e. John 9:1-34. Still in Jerusalem, hanging around the temple, Jesus makes mud with his own saliva, puts it in a blind man's eyes, and heals him. The man tells the angry authorities that he doesn't know who healed him. "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see".

2. So what's the point? Jesus didn't come to church as a spectator or a commentator. He came to play. He didn't walk into a service, look for his friends, and drop into his chair to lick his own wounds. He was constantly looking around for people in need, and he sought them out to bring them the good news that God's kingdom is here.

C. He made plays happen.

1. You ever make a play happen? I mean, have you ever walked into church and initiated a conversation with someone you didn't know well, asked if you could pray the person, invite the Holy Spirit to invade his space, and seen the kingdom come? It doesn't often happen in church, that an unpaid church member takes the initiative to run his own plays. But I saw it once. If fact, one of the reasons that I am a Vineyard pastor today is that I saw a man like you, praying for a woman like here, right up front in a room like this one Sunday before a service began. I grew up in a conservative evangelical church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Long time Christians often arrived to church late and took their seats in the back, observing the game being played on the stage. ILLUS: Attending a Vineyard for the first time and seeing a man pray for a woman in the front of the church before a service, and watching the Spirit engage her. Something was happening to her and to me. I had grown up in church and was in my early thirties, and I had never seen a normal Christian come to church early and inititate kingdom ministry in front of the room like a real player . . . like Jesus . . . before the program even started.

2. Have anyone of you prayed for someone this morning? Come a little early and taken the initiative to look around and seek out someone who seems weighed down. Done the Jesus-thing, and ask if you could pray for them. Then invited the Holy Spirit to come? GIVE AWAY A FREE FOOTBALLS TO ANYONE WHO HAS DONE SO.

3. We're calling this series, "Everyone Gets to Play". It's an invitation to long-time Christians and church members to take hold again of our Vineyard values and practices. This is Vineyard North; we're living Jesus' life together. We gather together on Sundays to play and to win, not to watch and evaluate. After dominating the Gospels, and making some guest appearances in the book of Acts, Jesus takes center stage again in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapters 2-3, and again in chapter 23, Jesus communicates his deep personal concern that local churches be gatherings of men and women who are active, passionate, focused players. Jesus comes to church. He waits and watches in worship. He listens and notices. Empty routines. Secret moral compromises. Malicious talk. Hard work, sacrificial service, and courageous perseverance. He calls the churches to stay alert, stay active, to stay in the game, and push for victories. The same Jesus who made it his custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath now comes to church on Sundays. And he's still calling out, like a coach . . . "Suit up. Put your helmet on. The team needs you. Now get out there and give it your best."

III. WHAT'S YOUR GAME THIS MORNING?

A. We'd love to have you join us in the big game, the kingdom game. Come off the sidelines; be a player (again).

B. SS Renewal Service, Shack Encore (give away a book; cardboard testimony), Naturally Supernatural conference.