Last weekend was a great time to be in Kershaw. We participated in the Kershaw Legends concert on Friday and several events at the Springathon on Saturday. Not only did we get a chance to attend and even participate, but you also should know that Scott was in on the planning of the events, too. As you can see from the picture, Scott was all about supporting our town!

The level that we get to plan and participate in our town-wide events is a terrific reminder of why Team Church is here. In one word, it’s Influence.

Think about it…  a fellowship like Team Church in a large city is frankly one of several, but in the southern end of Lancaster County there’s nothing like it. And in a larger area, I may be one resident among tens of thousands, and conclude that there’s not much I can do. But here in our smaller town, my potential to make a positive difference is almost limitless.

I believe that Jesus has called me out to be a person of uncommon influence when he said (Matthew 5:13-16),

13″You are the salt of the earth. … 14″You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

By the way this statement is what Jesus says right after the Beatitudes, which is how we’ll close out the Uncommon message series on Sunday. In essence, Jesus tells us the way to blessing is really counter-cultural, and then he says now go share this awkward life with the world around you.  Add this flavor (salt).  Add this contrast (light).  Stand out on the landscape (a city on a hill).

In other words, be different because of Christ, and share that difference with those around you.  See you on Sunday.

Sunday’s demonstration with the drinking glasses really makes you consider how mixed up our values are.  We say we value God and purity, but then we add impure thoughts, impure feelings, and impure actions to the mix.  When Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart,” He was talking about having a value system that is undivided–completely dedicated to living holy for God.

It’s easy to see that when you take a drinking glass and begin using it in the garden and the garage and the litter box, that there’s no way you would want to use it at the table again.  It’s the same with our hearts, which is sort of like a vessel for God’s Holy Spirit.  God doesn’t want a heart that mixed up between His holiness and the filth of this world.

Romans 6:13 says, “Stop offering the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Jesus not only gives you a new clean heart when He saves you, but He also gives you the strength to keep your heart fully directed toward Godly values.

This Sunday Steve will be talking about the uncommon value of purity. What do you think of when you think of purity? For whatever reason, I think of Ivory soap. Maybe it was all the good advertising they did when I was a kid. We use soap to get us clean. After a long day of getting dirty we jump in the shower or the bath and grab that bar of soap and start scrubbing off the dirt.

And dirt comes in numerous forms. There is peat, compost, sod, sand, soil, and good old southern red clay. And that is just to name a few. When we turn to the spiritual world, there is a lot of “dirt” there as well. Envy, jealousy, spite, hatred, self-loathing, etc. But perhaps the root “dirt”, the dirt you have to dig down deepest to get to, is pride. It keeps us rooted to the belief that all that matters is that we are always right and that we always come off looking good. And if you think about it as it relates to your whole life, you can probably name several instances where this is absolutely true.

Our Ivory soap to wash away pride and all the other “dirt” is the love of Christ. He was utterly humiliated that we could be free from dirt. So wash up with the love of Christ today and feel the uncommon purity in your life.

On the Journey,
Scott

A pure life is one that looks the way God intended.  Most of us realize that we’re far from that goal, but don’t know what to do about it.  This is why I’ll be preaching on values Sunday.   Take ten minutes to check this skit out.  It’s funny and it will get you ready for an awesome day Sunday.  Hope to see you there!
YouTube – God’s Chisel – Chris Williams.