Rev. David Holwick ZR "A FRESH LOOK AT JESUS" sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
December 27, 1998
Matthew 12:46-50
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SERMON SUMMARY: Jesus grew up in a family and had tension with his
siblings [an 80-year-old couple in my church never realized this!].
Spirituality is one area where we have family tensions and we need
to find a balance between God and loved ones - and church.
I. How did the family get-togethers go this Christmas?
A. Differing family reactions.
1) Grandparents have a great time.
2) Dads are oblivious.
3) Moms take the heat.
a) Tension between kids.
b) Dissension between relatives.
B. Christmas can be a very tense holiday.
1) High expectations for a perfect holiday expose imperfections.
2) Every family has its glaring weaknesses.
C. If your family is tough, think about Jesus's family.
1) Ancient speculation and legends. Gospel of Mary?
2) What was his family life like?
3) How would family members react to a perfect son?
II. Jesus knew all about family tension.
A. There was obvious external pressure at the first Christmas.
1) They were poor.
2) Weird prophecies and visitors.
3) Fleeing country at persecution from Herod.
B. Internal pressures came soon enough.
1) Jesus was first child, but there were others. Mark 6:3
a) (Catholics must categorize them as cousins.)
b) Gospels mention four brothers by name as well as sisters.
2) Their reaction to Jesus.
a) They were not regular followers of Jesus.
1> They had to make a special trip to see him.
b) They thought he was nuts. Mark 3:20-21
1> Try to "rescue" him - deprogram?
c) They rejected him at his trial.
1> They flee at arrest, along with others.
III. How Jesus VIewed his family.
A. He saw God as his true father. Luke 2:49
1) At age twelve, Jesus stays in temple.
a) He had to choose between pleasing his family and
pleasing God.
b) He chose God.
2) But he graciously submitted to his parents and honors
parenthood. Luke 2:51
a) He warns about religious ploys to neglect them
and shirk duty to them.
b) Even from the cross, he took care of his mother.
B. His felt his mother tried to push him too fast. John 2
1) Mary wants Jesus to do something - a miracle?
2) He resists, and to our ears sounds rude to his mom.
a) He responds, literally, "Woman, what do I have to do
with you?" (NASB)
b) NIV carries the intent: "Dear woman, why do you
involve me?"
c) He valued her input, but had to decide for himself.
C. He felt rejected by his family. Matt 13:57 // Mark 6:4
1) Brothers didn't like his popularity. John 7:3-5
a) Did they think he was fake?
b) Prophet not honored in own town, in his own house.
2) Does faith require weirdness?
a) We must admit, Jesus was different.
1> Should all Christians be different or weird?
2> Do we "go along" too much?
b) The place for distinctives.
1> How we usually establish distinctives.
A> Our group vs. your group.
B> I am more moral than you.
2> How we should be distinctive.
A> More caring and loving. (examples)
B> Eternal priorities, perspectives and values.
D. He sensed more of a closeness to his disciples. Matt 12:49
1) Church is his highest family.
a) Families only last in this life.
b) Heaven is different.
2) Faith can be thicker than blood.
a) Jesus is not rejecting his family, but widening it.
b) Our family is not limited to biological relatives.
1> Example of Jim, who is rejected by his own family.
IV. How Christians can deal with spirituality and family.
A. Try to be an influence.
1) Gentle, positive witness.
2) Sharpen each other.
Diana Garland, a Southern Baptist teacher, says a special
love can exist within families.
While Christians are called to love their neighbors
unconditionally, expecting nothing in return, family
love makes demands and confronts conflict.
Family is based on covenant, a mutual commitment.
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Expect more out of your families.
3) Have a spiritual effect. 1 Cor 7
a) Our stand on the truth, coupled with love, may
eventually bring members of our family closer to God.
b) It worked for Jesus - his brothers believed after his
resurrection.
c) There is no better place to learn about God.
Mother Teresa was interviewed on American television
a few years ago.
She said, "It is very, very important, that families
teach their children to pray and pray with them."
Then she added, "And we have enough reason to trust
God because when we look at the cross, we understand
how much Jesus loved us.
It is wonderful to be able to come to Jesus!
That's why God made Him -- to be our bread of life,
to give us...new life!
New energy! New peace! New joy! New everything!
And I think that's what brings glory to God, also, and
it brings peace."
Then she said, "I've seen families suffer so much, and
when they've been brought to Jesus, it changes their
whole lives."
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B. Realize that not every tension can be resolved.
1) Problems divided families can present.
a) Resentment at going to church, tithe, time.
2) Areas we cannot compromise in.
a) Prayer and personal devotion.
b) Commitment to a church body. (perhaps some time limits)
c) Moral obligations.
V. Your family can be dynamic.
A. Jesus understood the importance of family.
1) We need to listen to and value our family members.
2) We can still show consideration and love for them, even
when we have to go against their specific wishes.
B. Don't neglect God.
==========================
Church Handout:
FAMILY DYNAMICS
Matthew 12:46-50
I. How did the family get-togethers go this Christmas?
A. Differing family reactions.
B. Christmas can be a very tense holiday.
C. If your family is tough, think about Jesus's family.
II. Jesus knew all about family tension.
A. There was obvious external pressure at the first Christmas.
B. Internal pressures came soon enough.
III. How Jesus viewed his family.
A. He saw God as his true father. Luke 2:49
B. His felt his mother tried to push him too fast. John 2
C. He felt rejected by his family. Matt 13:57 // Mark 6:4
D. He sensed more of a closeness to his disciples. Matt 12:49
IV. How Christians can deal with spirituality and family.
A. Try to be an influence.
B. Realize that not every tension can be resolved.
C. Your family can be dynamic with God's help.
One area in my family life where I could be a better spiritual influence is:
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
This series was inspired by Issue 56 of Discipleship Journal, March 1990,
and this sermon is modelled on the article "A Son's Dilemma," by
RuthAnn Ridley, page 29.
#2787, "Time to Do Something About the Piano," Dynamic Preaching, Winter
1993, Seven Worlds Publishing. A quote from "Believe in the
God Who Believes in You," by Robert H. Schuller; Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, p. 126.
#3717, Online Christianity Today (America Online), Baptist Press, "Church
Has Family Role, Garland Tells Texas Christian Life Commission,"
by Ken Camp. May 22, 1996. [see below]
These and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=======================================================================
OTHER RELEVANT ILLUSTRATIONS:
CATEGORY: Adoption, Family, Kinship, Covenant, Relationships, Conflict
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TEXT: Gen 7:1, Exod 12:4, Deut 15:16-17, Matt 10:35-37, Matt 12:46-50*,
Luke 9:61, Luke 12:52-53, John 8:35, John 14:18, Acts 10:2, Acts 16:33-34,
Rom 8:23, Rom 9:4, Gal 6:10, Eph 1:5, Eph 2:11-19, Eph 3:15, Heb 2:11,
Heb 11:7
Number: 3717 Hard copy:
SOURCE: Online Christianity Today (America Online)
TITLE: Church Has Family Role, Garland Tells Texas Clc
AUTHOR: Ken Camp
PAGE: DATE: 4/22/96 Typist: ENTERED: 5/4/96
DATE_USED: 12/27/98
ILLUSTRATION__________________________________________________________________
: DALLAS (BP) -- The adopted family, not the nuclear family, is the New
Testament model, according to Diana Garland, who recently resigned from the
Carver School of Social Work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
Louisville, Ky.
"It is the job of the church to cut across boundaries of blood and marriage
and define family the way the Bible defines it, not as culture does," she
told the governing board of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.
Garland led members of the Texas CLC in an examination of Jesus' teachings on
family at their April 18-19 quarterly meeting near Dallas. At that meeting,
the commission adopted a comprehensive proposal to enhance family life in
Texas.
"All of God's children need family. We are created not to be alone. Jesus
linked the people he loved into family in a new way," she said.
Garland took Jesus' words from the cross commending his mother to the care of
the apostle John and his special relationship with Mary, Martha and Lazarus
as examples of family formation.
"Jesus did not sit down on the hillside and talk to us about how to be
family. Sometimes I wish he had. But what he did was model it for us. And
that is more powerful," she said.
Shared faith creates stronger family ties than bloodlines, Garland said.
Pointing to Jesus' words in Matthew 12 regarding his own mother and siblings
and the wider family of God, she noted, "Jesus doesn't paint them out. He's
widening the circle, breaking the bounds. He is saying that family is not
limited to biological and legal kinfolk.
"The New Testament model is not the nuclear family. It is the adopted
family. In God's kingdom, nobody has to be alone. Family transcends kinship
for us."
Garland drew a distinction between universal "neighbor love" and the special
love that exists within families. While Christians are called to love their
neighbors unconditionally, expecting nothing in return, family love makes
demands and confronts conflict. "Family is based on covenant, and that is
mutual," she said.
Strengthening families is central to the church's task in evangelism and
ministry, Garland said. "It is the church's job to seek out lonely -- to mend
families that need mending," she said.
Specifically, Garland said churches should:
-- Foster "family" relationships among groups of 15 to 20 people within the
larger family of faith. "Strengthen families by building community
around them," she said. "We need to be about the task of making sure
there is nobody alone."
-- Find ways to recognize and celebrate family ties as they are biblically
defined.
-- Give families the tools for facing conflict and life's struggles
together.
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