040914: What is Truth?

Message: What is Truth?

I.                   Introduction

a.       Our goal this year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together

b.      One way we are doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.

c.       Read John 18:28-38 – “Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.  By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”  “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”   “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”  “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom  is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”  “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”   “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”

                                                             a.      Pilate asked some great questions here, but we are going to focus on only one of them

                                                            b.      Jesus has just said he came to the world to bring truth to it, and Pilate’s response was, “What is truth?”

                                                             c.      When he said the question war e not sure if he even cared if there was an answer, he didn’t know, maybe he felt like there was no such thing, maybe he desired to know but didn’t think that Jesus knew

II.                Body

a.       What is truth? Aristotle said, “To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false; while to say of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not, is true.”

b.      Truth is correspondence

                                                             a.      Truth is what corresponds.  Truth is telling the way things really are.

c.       Absolutism vs. Relativism

                                                             a.      Absolutism is the belief that there is truth that is for all people at all times in all places. (i.e.  Murder is wrong) This is determined by a moral lawgiver. (God)

                                                            b.      Relativism is the belief that truth is relative to people.  This is determined by culture or individuals. (i.e. Marijuana is bad for people…or it is fine for people…it depends on your state law or your personal belief)

                                                                                i.      But it doesn’t make sense if you look at it closely.  If I believe that all truth is absolute, that means I am right, but then it would also say that I am wrong.

                                                                              ii.      Why is it so popular?

a.       Gives a good excuse for bad behavior and then be able to do what you want

b.      Avoids a fight or being called a bigot

c.       Gives a good way to get others to join you in doing whatever you are doing, so you don’t feel so bad about doing it

d.      The Truth about Truth

                                                             a.      It is true of some things not all statements of truth are absolute: “it’s too hot in here” vs. “it’s over 90 degrees”.  One is a personal taste, I might feel it is too hot, you might feel it is too cold.  The other is something that can be tested and judged as true or false. 

                                                            b.      We don’t need absolute evidence to show that something is true or not.  It is true that Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean, regardless if I have absolute evidence to prove it, or even if I have never seen it myself.

                                                             c.      Truth is truth, whether we believe it or not.

                                                            d.      Believing a truth or stating a truth is like hitting a target, falsehood misses the mark, it may be close but if it isn’t right in the middle it is false not true

                                                             e.      Things can be false even if the person who says or believes them is well intending.  It is simply false because it doesn’t correspond to how things really are.

                                                             f.      Truth is important and it matters that we know truth

                                                                                i.      Famous last words: this is not as dangerous as it looks.  He does it all the time, he knows what he is doing.  We’re not that close.  I’m sober enough.  We’ll be perfectly safe under here.  No, this is how you connect the wires.  If it wasn’t safe, they wouldn’t let us do it.  My point? There is an absolute difference between truth and falsehood and it really does matter what we believe.

III.             Conclusion

a.       What is truth?

                                                             a.      John 14:5-7 – “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

                                                            b.      Jesus claims he is truth.  Jesus is saying that with that he is also the only way to God, therefore all other ways (religions that claim a different route to God) are false.

                                                             c.      That is okay to believe and that is okay to say…as long as it is true.

b.      How many of you actually believe this to be true…that Jesus the only way to God?

c.       So what should we do with that truth?

                                                             a.      Know the truth – Jesus

                                                                                i.      Spend time with him to get to know him, study and learn about him

                                                                              ii.      Don’t assume you know him because you attend church or know someone who does

                                                            b.      Live the truth

                                                                                i.      Act out what he says we should or shouldn’t be doing

                                                             c.      Share the truth

                                                                                i.      Share Him with your actions, words, and love

040214: Do You Understand What I Have Done For You?

Do You Understand What I Have Done For You?

I.                    Introduction

a.       Our goal this year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together

b.      One way we are doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.

II.                 Body

a.      Read John 13:3-12 – “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,  drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.”

b.      Washing Feet

                                                             a.      Washing feet was a slave’s or servant’s job.  It provided a needed service (in a time when shoes were sandals and most transportation was walking)

                                                            b.      It provided a needed service, but also showed social status (how important you really were)

                                                             c.      Jesus, who had been sitting on the throne of heaven being worshipped by angels, came to earth, lowering himself to become a man

                                                            d.      Jesus leads a group of men around for 3 years: teaching, preaching, and healing.  They all expect that he is in Jerusalem to claim his throne as the descendant of David, and show himself to truly be the Messiah, God in flesh.

                                                             e.      So what does he do:  He dresses down to look like a servant and begins to wash their feet…God of the Universe is lowering himself to slave.

                                                             f.      Then he asks our question for the night: Do you understand what I have done for you?

                                                             g.      Do you?

c.       John 13:13-17 – “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

                                                             a.      If Jesus, God of the universe was willing to lower himself to serve, we should as well.

                                                            b.      Being a servant is accomplished when we provide a needed service with humility.  Meaning I do something to help without thinking it below me.

d.      How could you serve me?

                                                             a.      I’m a lot like Peter in this story, I would have had a hard time allowing Jesus to wash my feet, I could do it myself.  I still have a hard time allowing others to serve me, instead I show pride and don’t allow many to do anything for me. 

                                                            b.      Maybe you are this way too, never letting people in on what is going on, and when they offer help saying no thanks to it.

                                                             c.      So how could you serve me?

                                                                                i.      Pray – I’ve been hiding it but I could really use prayer

                                                                              ii.      Encouragement – Call, email, notes, facebook, talk to, tell me when a message is meaningful

                                                                            iii.      Don’t be a destroyer – Stop taking apart chairs and pens, pick up your messes

                                                                            iv.      Help out – video, sound, event clean-up/set up, event ideas, kid’s ministry, opening videos, call and invite/remind people about things, etc…

III.               Conclusion

a.       How could I serve You?

                                                             a.      You won’t be able to help me in everything I just said, and I won’t be able to help you in everything you need help with.  But I am willing to be a servant, but I need to know how I can serve you.

                                                            b.      During our last group time you will have a sheet to fill out, just turn it in after you fill it out and I and the other leaders will do the best we can to be your servants

b.      Who can you serve?  How can you serve them?

                                                             a.      You can be a servant, and you can start tonight, think of who you can serve, and how you can serve them, then go and do it!

Worship – Communion

·         Jesus came to serve and one way he served was by dying for us.  Taking our place and our sin on the cross with him.

·         Tonight we are going to take communion together.  Communion is a reminder of Jesus’ death and the new covenant he made with us, until he returns.  It is something that should only be taken by believers (as it is meaningless to those who don’t believe) and by those who have examined their own lives (correcting areas where they have drifted away).

·         It has two elements (the bread and the juice). 

·         The Bread is a reminder of his body, which was broken and hung on the cross, where he sacrificed his life for ours.  It is a reminder that though we are broken and sinful we can be made whole because he was broken for us.

·         The Juice is a reminder of his blood, which was spilled as he died.  This blood was able to cleanse us from our sin, reestablishing the broken relationship between us and God.

·         Tonight as we take communion we are going to go through 3 steps: Examination, Bread, Juice

·         Examination: During this part I want you all to look at your life and write down any area where you see that you are broken, maybe it is a sin, maybe an addiction, maybe it is emotional pain.  After writing it down, confess it to God and ask him to make you whole.

·         Bread: During this part we will take the bread together.  Come and take a piece and as you do throw away your paper, reminding you that you are now whole because he was broken.  Then we will eat it together.  Pray and thank him for making us whole

·         Juice: During this part we will thank him for forgiving us.  As part of this we are asked to also walk in his steps and forgive those who have hurt us. So grab your juice but as you do take a moment and forgive anyone who you haven’t forgiven yet.  We will drink it together.  Pray and thank him for forgiving us.