Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

Scripture

 Core Idea, Purpose & Summary

Summary:   We often hear of athletes being ‘in the zone’. This occurs when an athlete is totally focused on the game and is unaware of his surroundings. The athlete is also unaware of him/herself. At this point, the athlete is not consciously thinking about anything but is automatically performing the movements with near perfect precision. When an athlete is ‘in the zone’, he/she has surrendered the ‘self’ to the game. At that moment, nothing matters but the game.

In a similar way, we Christians can get ‘in the zone’. At the moment all our thoughts, words and actions reflect love, we are ‘in the zone’. Have you ever been in the zone? Once there, have you stayed there? How do we get ‘in the zone’?  How do we stay ‘in the zone’? We get ‘in the zone’ and stay there through self-surrender. Daily, continuous surrender of the ‘self’ to the Lordship of Jesus is the only way to get in and stay ‘in the zone’.  This is the essence of walking with God.

 The Sermon

I. Introduction: Being ‘In the zone’

     A. We often hear of athletes, actors and musicians being ‘in the zone’.

• This occurs when a person is totally focused on the game/performance and is unaware of his/her surroundings.
• The person is also unaware of him/herself.
• At this point, the person is not consciously thinking about anything but is automatically performing the movements with near perfect precision.
• When a person is ‘in the zone’, he/she has surrendered the ‘self’ to the game or performance.
• At that moment, nothing matters but the game or performance.

     B. We Christians can be ‘in the zone’

• We are ‘in the zone’ when we surrender ourselves to Jesus.
• Jesus wants us to love God with all our hearts, souls, mind and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40)
• At the moment all our thoughts, words and actions reflect love, we are ‘in the zone’.
• Have you ever been in the zone? Once there, have you stayed there?

II. Surrendering the ‘self’ to Jesus

     A. Jesus tells us that we must surrender the ‘self’ in order to follow Him

• Matthew 16:24 – ” If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Emphasis added)
• ‘Denying himself’ is another way of saying ‘surrender yourself to my authority’ – It’s surrendering the ‘self’ to Jesus

     B. Why would Jesus state that we must surrender the ‘self’ in order to follow Him?

• In our sinful state, we are automatically selfish
• We worship ourselves: Depend on our own abilities, seek to gratify our own desires, put ourselves first. We want what we want when we want it. We center our lives around us
• We make ourselves a god
• We can’t worship ourselves and God at the same time. It’s one or the other.
• So, in order to worship God, we must surrender the ‘self’

III. What it means to surrender the ‘self’ to the Lordship of Jesus

     A. Steadfast, laser focus on Jesus’ desires

• A person who has surrendered the ‘self’ cares about absolutely nothing except the desires of Jesus Christ
• When we begin to consciously think in terms of what Jesus desires, the Holy Spirit can work on our hearts to change us.
• Remember, Jesus’ desire is for us to love God, self and neighbor with all our thoughts, words and actions – Surrendering the ‘self’ gets us ‘in the zone’

• A basketball player who is ‘in the zone’ could receive a foul and not realize it because he’s so focused on the game.
• Likewise, when we Christians are ‘in the zone’ we are so focused on loving God, ourselves and others, it doesn’t matter what others say or do to us.
• The more we surrender the ‘self’ the more we automatically react to situations in a loving manner. We begin to do it without having to think about it.

• Many conflicts arise because people don’t get what they want.
• People who surrender the ‘self’ to Jesus don’t become angry when they don’t get their own way. They just want to do what Jesus desires
• The more people surrender the ‘self’ to Jesus, the more peace we have

IV. Examples of surrendered and unsurrendered ‘selves’

     A. Luke 18:18-30: An example of an unsurrendered self

• The rich man had a problem with loving money more than God. That’s a really bad problem. It wasn’t, however, his underlying problem
• His underlying problem: He never surrendered the ‘self’ to God.
• If he had surrendered the ‘self’, he wouldn’t care about money. He would have been totally focused on loving God, self and neighbor. Giving away all his money would have been a small thing to do.

• Council chairperson: “I’m tired of talking about this issue. We’re making a decision tonight. I want to put this behind me. We must decide whether or not to go to three services instead of two. Let’s vote right now!”
• Mrs. Doubtfire: “Just hold on a minute!! I want a say!!! I don’t want to go to a third service because that would change my Sunday morning routine. My Sunday school time would change and we’ve been meeting at the same time for over 20 years. We don’t want to adjust our schedules!”
• Mr. MacGoo: “Wow!! You’re always thinking about yourself! What about me and my family? A third service would give us another option. If we wake up to late for the first two, we can make the third. It’s rough getting 4 kids ready for church. You wouldn’t know about that!!!”
• Larry: “Would a third service offer something to people we are not already reaching?”
• Mr. MacGoo: “Nice question Larry but we need to first consider how this would affect us!!! It’s all about us!!!”
• Council Chairperson: “It’s hopeless. You’re all hopeless. I quit!”

     C. Church council meeting full of people who have surrendered themselves to Jesus

• Council chairperson: “We’ve been discussing this issue for quite awhile but we can discuss it some more. We need to discern what Jesus wants. This means prayerful discussions. So, should we go to three services or stay at two?”
• Mrs. Doubtfire: “Well, I’ve been praying about this and it seems to me we need to consider what will attract more people to worship. We can make any necessary adjustments in order to open the church up to more people. Will three services do that?”
• Mr. MacGoo: “As a family with five children, I know it’s nice having choices. I think we might attract more families with three services.”
• Larry: “Could this third service be something radically different that ministers to some part of the community that is usually unchurched?”
• Mr. MacGoo: “Great question!! Maybe that’s the question God wants us to ask. What group of people is the church not currently reaching? Hmmm..it could be punk rockers. A service geared towards punk rockers. Yea, that’s an idea!”
• Council Chairperson: “Let’s pray on this. Mrs. Doubtfire, could you draw up a tentative Sunday schedule that would incorporate a third service? Larry and MacGoo, could you work with the pastor to design a worship service geared towards punk rockers? We’ll continue to prayerfully discuss this at the next meeting”

V. Conclusion: Now, imagine:

     B. Businesses and major corporations run by people who have surrendered to Jesus