First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Stewardship Sunday ~ November 15, 2020) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor “A Holy Nation for a Holy God!” Exodus 19:1-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10 I heard the story of the Preacher who wanted to cover all the Prophets on one Sunday morning, so he started with the major prophets. He spent twenty minutes on Isaiah, twenty minutes on Ezekiel, and another twenty minutes on Jeremiah. At this point the congregation was getting restless, so the Preacher said I better get into the minor prophets and let me start with Hosea. “Now where do I place Hosea?” the preached asked. A gentleman in the back pew said, “he can take my seat. I am leaving.” I don’t want to be like this preacher this morning because the call to holiness is a Biblical call that is found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The topic is very broad, and we can spend a few hours just scratching the surface of this great topic, but I will be short and right to the point this morning. As you may remember, during the month of November, we are looking at 1 Peter 2:9-12. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” This is a tridimensional image of our identity as Christians. It describes the identity of those whom God has called to His kingdom. The last two Sundays, we had the chance to unpack how the Christian community is a community that is chosen, or handpicked, by God, and how God in His amazing grace, made us a royal priesthood, a privilege that is only made possible under the New Covenant. This morning, we get to the last part of Peter’s tridimensional description of the Christian community. Peter says we are a “holy nation.” The Church has been called to be a holy community. What is at stake here? What is holiness? How do we live this out? First: What is Holiness? The Church is called “ἔθνος ἅγιον” ~ “a holy nation.” The word “Holy”, ἅγιος “hagios” in Greek, means “set apart” or “dedicated.” In other words, we have been set apart by God for God’s purposes. We are in the world but not of the world. Under the Old Covenant, according to Exodus 19:6, Israel was meant to be a holy nation, set apart from the other nations. Israel was called to be different – to worship only one God and to faithfully obey that God, to have a different set of standards and morality. They were not to follow the pagan practices of the other nations. As you know, they miserably failed to be that set apart nation. Yet, in Christ, God has formed a “new nation”; it’s called “the Church of Christ.” The church has been called to be a community like no other; a holy community; a set apart community. The Church is the new spiritual nation which is based neither on ethnic identity nor geographical boundaries but rather on believing in one heavenly King, Jesus Christ, who is the true King of kings and Lord of lords. In Revelation 7: 9-10, the apostle John gives us a glimpse of the Church in heaven. He says, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.” This is the holy nation that has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Second: How Do We Live This Out? How do we live this out? How are we called to be set apart? In what ways are we as Christians called to be set apart? Let me offer two simple yet profound ways. Meantime, I encourage you to test yourself to see whether or not you are set apart in these ways. We Are Set Apart in Our Ambitions There are only two people we can truly live for: self or God. Christians no longer live for themselves, but for God. Our only agenda in life is to honor God and glorify Him. People who do not know God live for themselves. Yet, when a Christian thinks about their next decision—the next place they’ll move to, when a Christian thinks about starting a family, when a Christian thinks about going to work— they’re aiming at God. They ask, “How can I make much of God?” The center of the target is God’s will to be done in our lives. Therefore, our ambitions, dreams and desires should have God at the center. The world could care less about this, but that’s why Christians are set apart in their ambitions. We Are Set Apart in Our Actions Every activity has purpose for the Christian, even the smallest ones like eating and drinking. Christians do not drink a glass of orange juice the same way someone of the world does. We receive that glass with gratitude—a gift of God’s provision. Our actions—the “what” we do and the “how” we do it—are meant to display our gratitude and love for God. That’s why in whatever we do, ultimately, we do for God’s glory. Our actions have purpose. They are not random; they are intentional. So the question that should occupy our minds is: Do my actions help expanding God’s Kingdom? Do they help others to encounter the love of Jesus? This way, the pledge cards we are presenting today become more than an amount of money we give to this congregation; rather, an action of love and a sign of commitment to God’s Kingdom. Friends, to the degree that we are “set apart” from the world is the degree to which our lights will shine brightly in the world. You are not meant to blend in like camouflage. If your ambitions, actions, and affections resemble the world, your light bulb is out. But if your ambition is to please God, and your actions seek to bring God glory, and your affections match the very heart of God, you are surely a bright light in a dark place. Friends, we need to test ourselves in this, lest we become deceived. Sometimes we honestly think we live for God, but we’re actually very selfish in our thinking and our planning. Friends, let’s remember that the Church in its most basic identity is a holy community through which God works actively in and through human beings and actions in the midst of a concrete, historical community. May it be so. Amen.
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First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ November 8, 2020) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor 2 Chronicles 26:16-21; 1 Peter 2:9-10 Life can be tough and challenging sometimes. I believe that when life gets tough, we have two choices. We can either look down or look up. We can either think about what we lack or consider what we already have. We can either look at our suffering and pain or seek more grace and strength from God. When life gets tough, we can either allow the world and our circumstances to define us or let God and His unfailing love do so. Writing to the first century Christian community exiled and scattered throughout the provinces of Asia Minor, the apostle Peter charged those persecuted Christians to neither allow the world nor the present circumstances to define who they are. He reminded them that they are God’s elect. In 1 Peter 2:9-10, he wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” As I mentioned last Sunday, 1 Peter 2:9-12 is the passage I have chosen for our stewardship campaign this year. My goal is to help us discover or rediscover our identity in Christ. 1 Peter 2:9 offers a three-dimensional definition of our identity as Christians. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” says 1 Peter 2:9. Last week, we got to unpack the first part of this statement, “But you are a chosen people.” Yes, Christians were rejected by Rome, they were mostly rejected by their communities including their own families, but they are chosen, embraced, and loved by the Almighty God. God handpicked YOU to be on His team. It’s not that we deserved to be chosen, as if we were the best honeydew melon or tomato in the produce aisle. No, God chose us, bruised and rotten as we are by nature, simply by His grace. Because of Jesus we went from one side of the meter –guilty – to the other side of the meter – justified – all because of what Christ has done. And, as Romans 8:31 reminds us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Royal Priesthood This morning we get to the second section where Peter says we are “a royal priesthood.” Peter continues to unfold who we are based on who God has made us to be. Peter says, “You are a royal priesthood.” These chosen believers were called out from the world to be a royal priesthood. For an audience that was probably primarily Jewish, this would have stood out. In the Old Testament, the monarchy and the priesthood were strictly separated. Priests came from the lineage of Aaron, from the tribe of Levi. Only priests could approach God at the temple; only they could offer the sacrifices. The rest of the Jews could not. Kings come from the tribe of Judah. They were also special in Israel because they were anointed with oil by a priest. This means they were equipped and empowered by God to do the task of ruling Israel and setting an example to the surrounding nations. But again, these privileges were not for regular Jews and they were strictly separated. We see the strict separation of these two roles in two kings that were judged by God for trying to combine the priesthood and the kingship. King Saul was anxious to go to battle, and instead of waiting for the priest Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to the Lord, he decided to do it himself. In 1 Samuel 13:8–14, God told him that because of this, God had sought a man after his own heart to rule. Saul was judged for trying to merge the priesthood and the kingship. We also see this in 2 Chronicles 26:16–21 with a king named Uzziah. Uzziah became very successful, and therefore, prideful. He felt that because he was so great, he could burn incense in the temple—again a work specifically for the priest to do. The priests gathered together to confront him and said, “You will not be blessed by the Lord because you have been unfaithful.” King Uzziah became angry at this and reached out to burn the incense, and leprosy broke out on his forehead because God judged him. He then stepped down from being king and passed the kingship to his son. He died a leper. Therefore, the privilege of being “a royal priesthood” would have stood out to the original audience. It was impossible to happen. It was a privilege beyond anyone’s imagination. The only way this is possible is through Christ and under the New Covenant. Do you see the generosity of our God? In the Book of Revelation 1:6, John gives glory to Christ for making us “kings and priests to His God and Father.” This never crossed anyone’s mind, but in Christ, the impossible becomes possible. So what do we do with this profound truth? Put on your priestly robe. Put on Your Priestly Robe Any priest had two major responsibilities. First, they talk to people about God. They bring God to the daily lives of the people. Second, they talk to God about people, their circumstances, their challenges, and their burdens. There is no better time to take our priestly responsibilities seriously than today. This has been a tough year for a lot of people. The pandemic has taken a toll on every single aspect of our lives. Needless to say, this past week has been a rough one too. There is a lot of tension in the air because of the election. You can tell how divided and broken our nation has become. Friends, we need to argue less and pray more. We need to pray for God’s healing and reconciliation. We need to offer more grace and less criticism. Our nation needs our prayers. Our world needs our prayers. It’s time to put on your priestly robe. We are to intercede for our nation, for the light of the gospel to go forth, and for the needs of God’s people around us. This is a tremendous job that God has called us for. Friends, what a privilege God has given us in Christ to be “a royal priesthood” to our God. In many ways, this can seem daunting. Don’t let it be. Instead, begin to practice your priesthood in small ways. Pause and pray about the things that are going on around you. Pay attention to the needs of God’s children around you. If you get a sense that God might be nudging you into an action of grace and mercy, trust God as you step forward. This is the heart of good stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. Keep your eyes open to see how God moves in and through your actions. Amen. First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street Blackwood, NJ 08012 Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ November 1, 2020) Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor Exodus 6:6-8; 1 Peter 2:9-12 Who are you? Who am I? It’s probably the most profound question in life. People can achieve so many things but still not know who they really are. Often times we try to find our identity in our race, in our family, in our job, in our money, in our talents or our appearance. But none of these things really tell us who we truly are. Without knowing who we are, no matter how good life may seem, we’re lost. Today we kick off our Stewardship Season. The focus of our season this year will be rediscovering our identity as children of God. Who am I? Who are we as a congregation? So, this morning and over the next couple of weeks, we will be looking at 1 Peter 2:9-12 as our key Scripture passage for our Stewardship Season this year. The concept of identity is both revolutional and transformative. I don’t know when was the last time you read Peter’s First letter, but let me refresh your memory of the background of this book. Peter’s First letter was written around 67 AD. It was written to Christians who were scattered in various places in Asia Minor. They had to flee to these places because of persecution. They left everything behind; their property, their family and friends. They literally got uprooted. It was so painful. They lived in Asia Minor as foreigners and they seemed strange. They spoke differently; they dressed differently; their lives were so different. You can add to that another huge difference. They neither worshipped Caesar nor acknowledged him as Lord. This of course put them in direct confrontation with the Roman Empire. They refused to conform to the values and lifestyle of the Greco-Roman culture. They refused to chase after material things and fleeting pleasures. In short, Christians in Rome suffered of what we call today, “Identity Crises.” Who we are? What we are here for? Peter wrote his First letter to encourage those Christians. He reminded them of their new identity in Christ. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Here is a three-fold description of our identity. In Christ, we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” This morning and the next couple Sundays, we will explore this three-dimensional description and what it means for our lives today. So this morning we shall cover the first part. “You’re a chosen people.” Two observations: First: Consider the Privilege One of the greatest aspects of our faith is knowing that we are chosen by God. Do you remember in school being chosen by the teacher because you knew the answer? Do you remember being chosen by your peers to play on a sports team? I am sure that these situations bring back great memories about being selected in front of your peers and classmates. Peter tells the scattered and struggling believers that God has chosen them to be on his team. Consider the joy of this truth. Consider the strength we are able to draw from it. Consider the comfort those persecuted Christians could find in this truth. I would rather have God on my side and face all the troubles of the world; and I would not want to have a smooth sailing away from God. In 1528, Martin Luther, the leader of the 16th century Protestant Reformation, wrote the great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” In the second stanza Luther says: Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing. You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same; and he must win the battle. Friends, consider the privilege of being chosen by God to be on His team. Yes, the world may despise us, but we are honored and treasured in God’s eyes. Second: Consider the Responsibility As we think about this profound truth of being chosen by God, we also need to remember our responsibility. We are a people belonging to God. With great privilege comes great responsibility. Deuteronomy 7:6 says, “The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” This is a covenant relationship. God is committed to us and He expects us to be committed to Him. “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God,” says the Lord in Exodus 6:7. As a response to this amazing Grace, “you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” God also says in Exodus 19:6. It’s a great privilege that comes with a huge responsibility. God didn’t want his people to lose sight of their identity and their calling. Because of their sin and disobedience, Israel as God’s chosen people failed to live up and live out their calling. In 1 Peter 2: 9 Peter uses the same exact terminology said about Israel to describe the New Testament Church, the Church of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God fulfilled His glorious plan for His people. In Christ, God included all peoples of all nations—anyone who repents and believes in Jesus. Race doesn’t matter. Social position doesn’t matter. Gender doesn’t matter. Ethnicity doesn’t matter. Education doesn’t matter. Anyone who receives Jesus becomes a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession. Friends, God has chosen you. This truth in itself should make you shout out with joy. In the midst of our trials and suffering, God has chosen us for hope. Yes, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed,” says the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. Friends, in Christ, you’ve been chosen by God; a great privilege as I said, that carries with it a great responsibility. What does this mean to YOU in this Stewardship Season? What is God calling you to be? What is God calling you to do? I hope you can wrestle with this question this week and in the weeks to come. Amen. |
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