Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

Scripture

 Core Idea, Purpose & Summary

Core Idea: The Christian life is a progression towards perfection

Summary:  Perfection is such a lofty ideal we often discount people who demand it from us. After all, who can go through life without making a mistake? ‘Nobody’s perfect’ is a common yet true statement. Jesus, however, commands us to be ‘perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect’. This means we are expected to have the same loving heart that God has (Matthew 5:43-47).

How can this be? How can Jesus demand perfection from us? Well, He does but there’s good news. Jesus knows we aren’t perfect and we can’t hope to be perfect on our own. Jesus knows we need the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also knows we must go through a lifelong process that brings us closer and closer to perfection. What Jesus expects from us is to continually work this process by participating in Bible study, prayer, fasting, worship, fellowship and service. This process can be like a long, grueling marathon. Bad things will happen to us as we seek to become ‘perfect as our Father is perfect’. During the tough times, Jesus expects us to stick with it, trusting Him to get us through. In this way, we’ll get closer and closer to perfection. In other words, we’ll become more and more like Christ.    

The Sermon

I. Introduction: The unrealistic ideal of perfection

     A. The movie “Remember the Titans”: Coach Boone preaches perfection

• The exhausted football players are conducting drills as Coach Boone explains his philosophy
• Coach Boone explains that they will do everything perfect, all the moves, all the plays, everything will be done with perfection
• When we hear such talk, we think, “Now come on!! That’s an unrealistic expectation!!! You can’t demand perfection!!! Get a grip!”
• Coach Boone, however, sounds a lot like Jesus

     B. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, demands perfection. 

• Matthew 5:48: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
• Jesus doesn’t say, “I would like for you to be perfect” or “I suggest you attempt perfection”. He says, “You must be perfect”
• So, what is this perfection Jesus is talking about?

II. The perfection Jesus expects of us

     A. This perfection is explained in the verses just prior to Mat. 5:48. (Verses 5:43-47)

• Matthew 5:43-47: “You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
• This passage explains the heart or character of God. It demonstrates that God loves us with an unconditional love and we are expected to love others with an unconditional love

     B. Perfection: Loving others with the same type of unconditional love God has for us

• Love becomes our sole motivation in life
• Our every thought, word and action is loving
• Our love is directed towards everyone, which includes people we would not normally like or associate with

• Jesus knows we are sinners and can’t be perfect on our own. We need the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit
• Jesus also knows it is a lifelong process.

III. The process of getting closer and closer to perfection

• This is a process that begins the moment we first repent and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.
• This process will continue throughout our lives
• Our desires, attitudes and outlook will change
• The Holy Spirit changes us through prayer, fasting, worship, Bible study, fellowship and service.

     B. This process is often compared to a running a marathon

IV. Going on to perfection as a long, endurance race

     B. Paul talks about pressing on towards the goal. The goal is perfection.

     C. Pressing on towards the goal is like running in a long marathon

• At some point in a marathon, you get tired and feel like stopping.
• Once you stop, however, you won’t want to start again. You may not finish.
• In a marathon, you may slow down considerably but you never want to stop. You keep moving forward.
• It’s the same thing with going on to perfection. Once you stop, you may start to go backward and become less perfect. (You become a backsliding Christian.)
• We must continue to move forward towards perfection. In this way we become more like Christ.
• We must never stop with prayer, fasting, worship, Bible study, fellowship and service. We must participate in these activities even when we don’t feel like it or we will go backwards.

V. My journey towards perfection

     A. My time as a backsliding Christian

• I first trusted Jesus as my Savior and Lord in the sixth grade. I did it during          confirmation class.
• At first I attended worship every Sunday, attended Sunday School and weekly Bible study
• This, however, lasted a little less than a year. By the time I was in 8^th grade my family stopped going to church and I lost interest in Church and the Bible. I still believed in God but didn’t pursue a love relationship with God
• So, I stopped going on towards perfection. I started to go in the opposite direction
• By the time I was in college, I was drinking, partying and having premarital sex. I also became arrogant and self-righteous, thinking I was better than most people
• This backsliding continued into my Army days

     B. Getting back on the journey towards perfection

• Although I wandered away from God, God never stopped pursuing me.
• In 1995, while stationed in Korea, I rededicated my life to Jesus. This was the turning point.
• I became active in church, participated in Bible studies and developed a prayer life
• Although I’m still a long way from perfection, I am not the same person I was prior to rededicating my life to Jesus. I’m closer to perfection than I was 16 years ago. Let me give you a specific example.

     C. Specific example of how I’m closer to perfection

• For  last three years I’ve participated in KAIROS Prison ministries
• I’ve fallen in love with the prisoners. These are people who have committed horrendous crimes, yet I’ve fallen in love with them.
• Sixteen years ago, I was way too arrogant and self-righteous to fall in love with people I considered to be immoral, much less with criminals.
• For 16 years, however, I’ve been praying, worshipping, studying the Bible, fasting and fellowshipping with other Christians. This gave the Holy Spirit something to work with.
• Now I can love people who I would normally not associate with. I can love prison inmates.

VI. Conclusion: You too can love people you would normally not associate with

     A. Press on towards the goal of perfection.

• Continue in prayer, fasting, worship, Bible study, fellowship and service.
• Give the Holy Spirit something to work with
• Look for opportunities to love people you would normally not associate with.

     B. In this way, you will become more and more like Jesus.