Sermon Notes for 9/22/2013 Your Church 20th Anniversary Message Series IV
A Church Like New Wineskins
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, `The old is better.'" (Luke 5:37-39)
A. The "You" in "Your Church"
1) God
"Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message: "`Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, (Jeremiah 7:2-6)
2) Other people, particularly those who don't know Jesus
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
B. New wineskins: "Your" Church vs. Old wineskins: "My" Church
1) When new wineskins become old
And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, `The old is better.' (Luke 39)
2) Becoming wineskins that can always accommodate new wine
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. (Luke 5:37,38)
Summary
Jesus likened himself and his teachings to new wine. Jesus is always fresh and new and if we become like old wineskins, we will not be able to receive him. If we can be new wineskins, flexible and open to change, not only will Jesus dwell among us, but other people (the other "you" in Your Church) will also feel welcome in this church.
For Discussion
1) Who is the "you" in Your Church?
2) What kind of church are we aiming to be?
A Church Like New Wineskins
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, `The old is better.'" (Luke 5:37-39)
A. The "You" in "Your Church"
1) God
"Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message: "`Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, (Jeremiah 7:2-6)
2) Other people, particularly those who don't know Jesus
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
B. New wineskins: "Your" Church vs. Old wineskins: "My" Church
1) When new wineskins become old
And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, `The old is better.' (Luke 39)
2) Becoming wineskins that can always accommodate new wine
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. (Luke 5:37,38)
Summary
Jesus likened himself and his teachings to new wine. Jesus is always fresh and new and if we become like old wineskins, we will not be able to receive him. If we can be new wineskins, flexible and open to change, not only will Jesus dwell among us, but other people (the other "you" in Your Church) will also feel welcome in this church.
For Discussion
1) Who is the "you" in Your Church?
2) What kind of church are we aiming to be?