Jeremy Hoover

Thanks to one of our church members, we have a transcript of last Sunday's sermon from Mark 12:28-34.

We need to watch out for the hypocrites and their destructive behavior and attitudes and avoid being one ourselves by focusing on our own actions.

In this audio devotional, I look at what the writer of Hebrews means when he says that Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice and that when he comes again, he will not come to deal with our sins, but to bring us salvation.

In this audio, I look at John 15:1-2 and what Jesus means when he talks about being pruned by God.

Here's a thought: What if, in trying to recover the "pattern" of the early church, we overlook the actual patterns that exist?

It's interesting that in the Church of Christ, we claim to represent and follow the biblical "pattern" for worship that is supposedly so easy to find in the New Testament yet is spread out through several different books by different authors. But we ignore the "patterns" that exist.

For example, let's look at two passages: Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Cor. 14:26-40.

Acts 2:42-47, of course, relates the church experience of the very first church. I fall in line with those who see no reason why this report shouldn't be normative for all churches. Several things describe this church:

• They are devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, sharing in meals and the Lord's Supper, and prayer.
• They seek God's presence and are filled with awe.
• The take care of each other in radical ways.
• They are together and share community in ways we crave but largely don't experience.

Equally so in 1 Cor. 14, we find a church experience that is very participative. The whole church ought to actively contribute to its worship, not spectate or consume what "professionals" offer.

These two examples are found in actual passages where details unfold. They are not scattered throughout the New Testament and we do not have to pick through a verse here and a verse there to "uncover" the "clear"(?) pattern.

What if we focused on these patterns? One thing we might learn is that there never really was a uniform "pattern" that all churches followed. There appears to be a more free-flowing attitude of sharing, fellowship, and ministering together. This was, of course, expressed in many different ways.

What can we do to recover these elements of the early church today?

In this audio, I look at how the widow in Zarepheth learned to trust God through the wisdom of Elijah. Today, how are you hearing God's voice through another person?

Video summary of our bible study from Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 on Acts, the missionary activity of the early church, and the Holy Spirit.

[Sermon download link is at the end of this post.]

Beginning in Mark 11, as Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, he has a series of encounters with the religious leaders that don't go well. He curses a fig tree to represent the unfaithfulness he finds in Jerusalem, he clears out the temple, he tells a parable about the lack of leadership by the "leaders," and then finds himself being confronted by the people he's offended!

In three separate scenes, the religious elite challenge his authority, a political group argues with him about paying taxes, and a bible study group questions how he reads the bible!

After this, one man steps out from the shadows to talk with Jesus. The surprising thing is, it's a teacher of the law! But this teacher is different--he sees that Jesus gave a "good answer" and he genuinely asks a question about how to please God: "Which is the greatest commandment?"

Jesus answers by rolling two commandments into one--love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Then, the teacher submits to the true teacher by restating this and showing his understanding by adding that to do such is better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

This teacher is trail-blazer for those who would follow Jesus. This is why Jesus tells him he is "not far from the kingdom." This does not mean the man "close to getting to heaven" or "almost saved," but means that this teacher understands the values of God. In telling him he is "not far from the kingdom," Jesus is encouraging him to remain committed to the journey he is on.

We're called to love God and our neighbor more than ourselves. Complaining, criticism, control, and manipulation are not the ways of the kingdom. Love is, and to love another is to sacrifice some of yourself for that person.

If you find yourself sacrificing yourself a little more day by day in service to God and others, you will find yourself "not far from the kingdom of God."

Sermon: Loving God and Neighbor More Than Yourself

You can view the accompanying slides here.