WHERE THE GOLDEN RULE, RULES

Sermon Summary, 11/26/17, “Where the Golden Rule, Rules” (Ex Matthew 5:48; 7:12)

Today is “Christ the King” Sunday.  You know about kings?  They make the rules.  The earliest Christian creed was “Jesus is Lord.”  For the first century Christians who lived where “Caesar was Lord,” their creed, “Jesus is Lord,” came with great risk.  For us, it is but a slogan.  What would it mean for us if Jesus was really Lord of our lives?  How would we make that normal? 

This is the second in a two-part series on Wesleyan based small groups.  Wesley believed that Christian conferencing, coming together in a group to talk matters of faith was a means of grace, a means by which the Holy Spirit formed us.  Wesley believed in sanctifying grace, the grace that draws us toward Christian maturity.  “You, therefore, must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  The Greek is “teleos,” meaning mature, whole.  Wesley believed we needed to become “grown-up Christians.”  For Wesley, becoming grown-up Christians would for us make “Jesus is Lord” normal.

Groups come in all forms.  Bowling teams are groups, great fellowship.  We would call them “affinity groups.”  Sunday schools and bible study are small groups.  We would describe them as “informational groups.”  Information is great, but by itself it doesn’t change you.  Wesleyan groups are intended to be “transformational groups.”

Rev. Tom Albin, Dean of the Upper Room, says that three things are required for transformation: Information (necessary but not sufficient); experience (spiritual or from a mentor), and community.  I recently talked to a young man just our of rehab.  He told me that the meetings he attended were far more important to him than the counselors, the psychologists, anything.  Being with and sharing failures and successes was vital to his journey.  Transformation requires community.

Community groups are lay-led.  No preacher, teacher, counselor, advisor.  That is not the purpose.  Simple known questions are posed, eg “Are you enjoying your prayer life?” and group members can respond or not.  It is not a place where are deepest, darkest secrets are shared.  But just knowing the simple questions will be asked, makes us accountable.  If I’m going to be asked about prayer, I’ll pray.  I might even pray differently.  Even if I don’t vocalize, the community is holding me accountable.  

Questions might be as simple as the Golden Rule. “What did you do this week for others, that you would have like them to do for you?”  Or “What did you avoid doing this week…” Simple questions to lead us over time, and as a part of a community, to become a grown-up Christian.

November “Reader’s Digest’s” cover story was “The nicest places in America.  The criteria?  Kindness, respect, and most importantly, a place where everybody agreed that “the Golden Rule, rules.”  Teleos.