This is a sermon that continues in our series, Vision and Values, Caring and United Community. You can watch more here.
If you are new this morning, we typically go verse by verse through a book of
the bible, but this morning we are going to go through a series on our vision
and values as a church family, because our vision and values should pull us
closer together as a community.
We might not all have the same interests. We might not all come from the
same ethnic group or culture. We might not all vote differently, but because of
our common ownership in the vision and values of our church family, it pulls
us together.
And this is a huge need in our culture right now. We live at a moment in
history that has the greatest chance to be connected. We can text anyone. We
can video call anyone. We can follow thousands of people all over the world,
but we don’t feel close to anyone.
That’s why we are taking time to go through the vision and values of our
church family. You can look our values in greater detail on page 301 in our
devotional, but let’s see a snapshot of them:
WHO WE ARE:
Anchor: February 22 nd
Repent: March 1 st
Worship: March 8 th
WHAT WE DO:
Serve: March 15 th
Unite: March 22 nd
Multiply: March 29 th
WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO. Who we are: anchor, repent, and worship.
What we do: serve, unite multiply. Who we are shapes our identity. What we
do shapes our behaviors, so that together these values will move us toward
our vision:
North Village Church is a family who are centered on Jesus, so that we become a people who are chasing after
every man, woman and child to experience the life transforming power of Jesus in Greater Austin.
This morning we are really talking about the family part of our vision,
because our fifth value is called, “Caring and United Community.” Jesus is
captured in WHO WE ARE. We’re all about Jesus. Next Sunday we will talk
about chasing but this morning we are going to draw out “Caring and United
Community.”
“Caring and United Community”
A “Caring and United Community” doesn’t mean we all live together on a piece
of land in the middle of nowhere like the Amish. Sometimes people see this
language and they assume it means we all need to be related. That’s Alabama!
A “Caring and United Community” means we refuse to gather in the same
room, lift our hands in worship and not take the time to learn each other’s
names. That’s weird. If we’re taking ownership of our values, that’s weird. A
“Caring and United Community”. means we refuse to be anonymous, because
that would be weird in a church family. A “Caring and United Community”
means we refuse to walk into a group meeting or worship on Sunday and only
talk to the same people we talk to every week. In fact, when we live that
behavior we an know we aren’t taking “ownership” of the vision and values of
our church family. Amen?
I am sure the words “Caring and United Community” sounds simple. I am sure
we can all sit here this morning and say, “We want that in a church family,” but
in our culture today it is really hard because our culture pushes us toward
autonomy. Our culture pushes us toward the type of thinking that says, “I
want to do what I want to do.” But in our church family, our value as a people
is to actually open our lives to one another and get to know one another.
Like in this room, did you know we have people who have started businesses.
We have people who work in the arts. We have people who get paid to work
with their hands and create! We have people who have raised children. We
have people who have overcome loss of loved ones and physical health
challenges. We have people who have overcome addiction and people who
are working through addiction, right now. We have people who have
struggled through marital challenges. We have Republican voters, Democrat
voters, and I think, even Libertarian voters! What an exciting opportunity we
have to own the value of a “Caring and United Community!” Isn’t that exciting!
Our culture tells us minorities can only be with minorities. Wealthy people
can only be around wealthy people. Women have to hate men. But the local
church describes this diverse gathering of people who are committed to being
a “Caring and United Community” as a place of “discipleship” (What does that
mean!) where we can learn from one another and grow deeper in our faith in
Jesus with one another. Isn’t that amazing?
This is only possible in the local church, because God’s Word teaches us we
were all created to be in unity with Him and with one another in the very
beginning, but our sin created a fracture and separation between us and God
and one another, so that we are spiritually and literally warring against one
another. Just turn on the news!
But by God’s grace, through no effort of our own, Jesus comes to gather us
unto Himself. He comes to take our hostilities upon Himself at the cross. He
comes to conquer our sin in the resurrection, so that by grace through faith in
Him we can be reconciled to God and reconciled to one another, so that when
God’s people take ownership the local church has the opportunity to put it all
on display for His glory! Amen?
In fact, let’s pray right now, “Jesus, you’ve brought us together. You’re
working in us, therefore, use these next 30 minutes to give us language and
conviction to own why you have brought us together.” Amen. Let’s look at
this in Scripture. Look at Colossians 3:12-14:
Colossians 3:12-14, “12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these
things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
If you are new to the Bible, the book of Colossians is in the New Testament. It
is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to a church in Colossae, which is in
modern day Turkey. This is after Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
The apostles have taken the name of Jesus throughout the Roman empire, and
these are men and women in Colossae, just like us today, have come to faith in
Jesus, and the Apostle Paul writes this letter to remind them who they are in
Christ. Look at verse 12 again:
Colossians 3:12, “12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Look at that phrase “chosen of God.” It’s possible this word “chosen” makes
some of us uncomfortable, but God’s Word is getting into the relational part of
our lives. Words like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience,
and forgiveness are all relational words.
Compassion and kindness are moments of noticing how we speak to one
another, how we talk about one another, and how we think about one another.
Right? Humility and gentleness are people who don’t have to be right all the
time. We don’t have to address every offense with one another. We don’t
have to retaliate back and forth. Patience and forgiveness are people who go
through the ups and downs with one another. We are committed to one
another. Right?
It’s possible we hear those words this morning and those words sound
beautiful but they also sound impossible, right? Like, how does that actually
happen in a local church or even a marriage.
That’s why we see the word “chosen, holy and beloved.” This word “chosen”
isn’t about you being so great and God chose you! This is God’s Word lifting
this monster description of life in Christ and we are supposed to say, “That’s
impossible. That can’t happen.”
And the gospel reminds us, “You were chosen, holy and beloved!” It’s not
about you. It’s about Jesus in you! Amen? The word “chosen” isn’t meant to
create an argument between two people about who is and isn’t chosen! This
is God’s Word pointing us to our identity in Christ, before focusing on
behavior.
It’s why verse 12 starts off with the word “so.” Do you see that in verse 12?
The word “so” is a transition word that reminds us to look at the context of the
passage, and in verses 1-11 God’s Word is going off on the life we have been
given in Christ. It’s not about you, it’s about Jesus!
It says, “Through faith in Jesus, the old self is put to death. Before Jesus you
were alive to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greed, anger,
wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech.” This is what we bring to our
relationships with one another! But through faith in Jesus, we are made new!
This is called identity (In Christ) before behavior. We don’t practice these
values in verse 12 (compassion, gentle, kind and patient) to become God’s
people. No! We practice these values because through faith in Jesus we are
God’s people.
In Christ, we are chosen, holy, and beloved! In Christ, we are compassionate,
gentle, kind, and patient, therefore, consider the old life dead, but the new life
alive, which is why we see those two words “put on” in verse 12. Do you see
those two little words in verse 12? This phrase “put on” is language of
“putting on clothes.”
In Christ, we put on His righteousness (Romans 13). We put on the full armor
of God (Ephesians 6). Colossians 3 is teaching us to take off one set of clothes,
the old life of this world and put on the new set of clothes, the new life in
Christ. Amen? It is active. It is intentional!
Clothes were important in the first century, just like clothes are important
today, therefore, God’s Word is making it really practical to everyday life;
through faith in Jesus you are taking off the old, and you are putting on the
new!
Listen to me, if you have never come to faith in Jesus, you can’t put on the
new! You need to start with Jesus! Confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord.
Believe in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead, because in that
moment you are reconciled to God. In that moment, the lights are turned. In
that moment, you see you weren’t created to be clothed in death and
darkness. You were chosen, holy and beloved. Amen?
I know in my life, I didn’t grow up around Jesus. I didn’t grow up going to
church, therefore, when I came to faith in Jesus the Spirit of God started to
poke on areas of my life. I remember as a young adult I would go to clubs for
the sole purpose of meeting girls, and He started showing me Scriptures about
what I did with my body, He started showing me the immaturity of my words,
He started showing me about my pride, and how I spent money, and it never
felt like shame and condemnation, but instead the Holy Spirit was
empowering me to take off the old and put on the new. Amen?
Listen to me, that process started in my 20’s and that process hasn’t stopped.
The Holy Spirit is still poking on areas of my life. There are still areas of my
life to confess and repent. There are still layers of the old self that need to be
taken off, and layers of the new self that need to be put on, and I am going to
go through that process over and over with peace and security, because, “In
Christ, we are chosen, holy and beloved.” Look at verse 13:
Colossians 3:13, “13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against
anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”
Again, notice the emphasis on our relationships with one another. These are
people who are struggling to get along in verse 13, “bearing with one another,
forgiving each other, and complaining.” These are challenging relationships!
I am sure, right now, we might feel like best friends, because many of us are
getting involved in new areas and that’s awesome! Just in the last few months
we have seen Eric and Linda jump on with our worship team. We’ve seen
Deana jump in with our Kids Village. We’re seeing Nate and Laurie jump in
with our AV team. Praise God!
But, if we are around each other enough, if we are sharing meals, if we are
going to take ownership of being a “Caring and United Community” who takes
off the old, and puts on the new there are going to be times we aren’t
compassionate, gentle, kind and patient. There are going to be times we need
to “bear one another.” It means long suffering with one another. Right?
Right now, it might be sunshine and rainbows, but eventually someone is
going to drop the ball. Someone is going to hurt feelings. Someone’s not going
to get what they want. Someone is going to make a joke that goes too far. It’s
probably going to be me. And when that happens, it is an opportunity to
remember our faith in Jesus, remember we have been chosen, holy and
beloved, and we can “put on” compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience
as we have conversations, reconcile, extend grace, and forgive one another.
Amen?
Listen to me, when we encounter difficulty with one another, or our church
family disappoints us in some way, it’s not because people are horrible, or
you’re horrible. It’s called an opportunity to own “Caring and United
Community.”
This is the hope we have in Jesus. There isn’t any offense Jesus can’t bring
healing in our relationships with one another. I’ve seen it! I’ve seen Jesus
transform lives right in front of me. I’ve seen Him soften hearts. I’ve seen it!
Hard, cold, stubborn hearts that soften in seconds!
I’ve seen Jesus heal marriages. I’ve seen Him bring forgiveness. I’ve seen Him
bring courage to take responsibility and take ownership. I’ve seen men and
women washed with humility. It’s glorious! Therefore, as a church family,
let’s own “Caring and United Community.” Not because we are so “caring and
united” but because Jesus is so “caring and united” to us. Amen?
Sometimes people think if they go to a church with the same age group, same
ethnicity, same part of our town with the programs they want it will protect
them from pain, protect their children from pain, but the only guarantee is
when we are in Christ, there’s no pain He can’t step into and bring healing.
Amen? Look at verse 14:
Colossians 3:14, “14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Again, we see the active word “put on” and it is the call to “put on love,” so that
the love in verse 14 starts with the love of God, being chosen, holy and
beloved in Christ, and then in response of our new identity in Christ, we are
empowered to “put on” His love that is ultimately from Him. Let me give you
some quick application:
1. Begin with Jesus
It’s not okay for me to go through a passage that gives these behavioral
descriptions for the follower of Jesus if you’ve never met Jesus. In the end, you
would just hate Jesus, because you are trying to live a new life in Christ while
you are still spiritually dead, still spiritually in bondage and chains in
darkness.
It's like Adam and Eve in the garden trying to clothe themselves with fig
leaves, but when the glory of God calls out to them they hide in fear, therefore,
the glory of God takes life of an animal to cover them, clothe them as a
foreshadowing of the ultimate covering that comes in Jesus, therefore, turn to
Him, trust in Him, and be clothed in His righteousness.
2. Grow in Christ
Our relationship with Jesus isn’t just meeting Him, but we want to be strong
and rooted in Him. We want to go back to our first three values and take
ownership of those values, so that we don’t just meet Jesus, but grow in Jesus.
God’s Word describes the follower of Jesus like a plant, planted by streams of
water, so that we might yield fruit, but if we aren’t planted, if we aren’t
watered, if we aren’t growing it is going to be really hard to yield fruit.
3. Move Toward People
This can’t just be theoretical or hypothetical. Make a decision in your mind
right now that you are going to own this value in our church family in a
tangible way. Show up early. Stay late. Get phone numbers. Get meals. Move
toward people!
Ask them about their life. Learn their story. Share your story. Pray for each
other. Text someone throughout the week. Talk about what God is doing in
your life. And don’t let busy schedules stop you! Don’t let insecurity stop you.
Don’t let a personality trait like being introverted stop us from owning this
value as a church family.
4. Forgive Quickly
Listen to me, this one is easy to put on a screen, but this is where the rubber
meets the road. We try really hard to be own this value of “Caring and United
Community” and I am sad to say, “We have had too many people walk away
from our church family, because they can’t forgive someone over hurt feelings
and miscommunications.” That’s the challenge we’re up against! Therefore,
we have to seal this truth in our mind right now, because it’s too easy to give
into division, jealousy, envy, gossip and slander. It’s so easy!
But we are dreaming about something more! Right here! Right now! The
people in this room have an opportunity to do something special. We get a
chance to put the glory of God on display in the local church!
Can’t you see it? Can’t you imagine a church family where people know each
other’s stories? Can’t you imagine when we gather 1-1 or in worship, we can
walk up to anyone and feel connected?
Can’t you imagine a church family where struggles are shared instead of
hidden, encouragement is the norm, and new people quickly feel welcomed?
It’s a “Caring and United Community,” so that nobody has to walk through life
alone.
That’s the opportunity we have as a church family. And, when a church lives
this way, it becomes a powerful witness, not only to our community, but also
to the community around us, because we have a city that elevates diversity,
compassion, love and inclusion, but in our city, those are values that are just
aspirational. We have a chance to put them on display!
Therefore, this week, ask yourself one question, “Who is someone in this room
you need to move toward?” I am sure we are all at different places, but we all
have areas where we can grow, therefore, let’s be all done making excuses.
There’s always going to be excuses, but instead let’s take off those old life of
insecurity and isolation, and excuses and instead let’s put on this new life we
have in Christ and start a conversation, maybe pray with someone, share a
meal, maybe extend an invitation, so that we are growing closer together.
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
NVC Online
Unable to attend this Christian Church in Austin? Don’t worry, because, through God’s provision, we have created NVC online, an Online Church streaming a worship service every Sunday from 10:30am Central Time. You can also watch our short, powerful sermons on demand and follow us on Instagram for daily Christ centered content.