Monday, November 15, 2010

sermon notes and reflections from a few weeks ago. but still chewing on this.

religion says "work for salvation."
the gospel says "work out salvat
ion."
-we tend to do good works, deep down inside it's because i think i can/need to earn the salvation of my soul, whether to gain peace in the moment, or gain peace for eternity
-rather, christ already lived a perfect life for me. he already paid the punishment for my sins. i don't have to work to be saved. i only need to accept it.

religion says "focus on my work"
the gospel says "focus on Jesus' work"

-we tend to focus on how good our works are, what we have done. what is MY destiny, what is MY calling, what should I do?
-instead, i should acknowledge that i can't do anything alone, but Christ works in me and through me. when i think about the future, i want to ask God, what are YOU doing already? and can i join you?

religion says "i'm seen by others"
the gospel says "i'm seen by God"

-we tend to do good works, and deep down inside long for affirmation/approval/recognition from others. if i gain these things, then i feel more important. or we tend to do bad works in secret, thinking that no one will see us, so perhaps it is okay.
-i need to know that God sees me. and what God thinks is what matters most. ("what matters most", rather than "the only thing that matters". i think.)

religion says "do the minimum to get by"
the gospel says "what can i do?"
-we tend to think, deep down inside, that "if i am a good person, at least i am not a BAD or TERRIBLE person, then if there is a heaven, i will make it." at least i am better than him/her. at least i am more moral than him/her. i think the good that i do outweighs the bad. i think the nice things i do for people or for society/volunteer work/success in my career/money i donate to charity/being a good citizen will outweigh the times that i lie/think bad thoughts about someone/flicked off a bad driver/wasted time at work/stole some office supplies.
-instead, i should see that as a human there is always going to be someone more evil or more angelic than me. i am ultimately selfish and would rather have what is best for me or those i love compared to what's best for someone i don't like. the distance between me and a serial killer is great. the distance between me and ghandi/martin luther king junior/[insert amazing humanitarian here] is far too. but these distances are teeny tiny compared to the distance between humans and God.

religion says "self-righteous"
the gospel says "holy awe"
-i tend to think that i am moral and good because i can follow a set of religious rules. i go to church. i pray. i give to the poor. i help others. i'm better than people who don't do those things.
-instead i should be in awe that God would even pay attention to me. that i can't impress God by having perfect attendance at church. i can't impress God by choosing a career that makes less money and in a 'dangerous' neighbourhood to help people in need. i can't fathom that God knows all these things, meanwhile he actually cares because he is personal.

religion says "slavework"
the gospel says "work like a child"
-religion tells me i gotta keep working and it's a drag.
-working for God is like a child trying to help a parent with house chores.

religion says "grumble"
the gospel says "joy and gratitude" - (philippians 2:15 - shine like stars)
-religious duty is difficult, inconvenient, unpleasant and i want to complain about it.
-because of christ, it's a joy to work for him. i'm so thankful for what he's done for me that i would do anything for him.
lcc yg playlist.
tryin to memorize these. but they all sound the same!
i guess this is better than filling my brain with raunchy rap.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=FB7800332EAE9404