Title: “Called Out Ones” Sermon by Nate Wells Matthew 16:13-20 When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Greek word for church; “ekklesia.” translated from the original language means "called out ones" Exile; People in exile still have an important mission from God. Four images may help us reimagine what it might look like to be a missional people in exile… 1. The Embodied Word; We can’t just go to church; we have to be the church. 2. An Open Table; Gather around the Table of the Lord and become one body. There is always more space at the Table, so people are constantly being invited into the body of Christ. 3. Clean Hearts; Holiness people believe God wants to cleanse us and make us the people he wants us to be, not just tolerate us until we get to heaven. 4. Dirty Hands; It is not enough to worship; we need to participate in the transformation of creation “It is not enough,” God says, to simply protect you; I want to “appoint you as light to the nations” (Isa. 49:6). A Rule of Life is a helpful tool to organize your life in order to live intentionally in your apprenticeship to Jesus. Guiding rules to flourishing; Sabbath Prayer Solitude Generosity Scripture Community Service Witness Personal/Physical Goal What is a rule of life? A rule of life is a discipline by which I order my worship, work, and leisure as a pleasing sacrifice to God. Why do you need a rule of life? I need a rule of life because my fallen nature is disordered, distracted, and self-centered. A rule of life helps me to resist sin and establish godly habits, through which the Holy Spirit will increasingly conform me to the image of Christ. What is included in a rule of life? In addition to Scripture, prayer, and worship, a rule of life includes witness, service, and faithful stewardship of my time, money, and possessions. Why is prayer an essential part of a rule of life? Through prayer, I rely upon God for strength, wisdom, and humility to sustain and guide me in my rule of life. Without the love of God and the power of his Spirit, I will not attain to the fullness of Christ. Action Step Create a rule of life… RULE OF LIFE BUILDER Blessing… Rejoice in knowing that we never walk alone. Know the grace and peace of Christ walking beside us, guiding and protecting us. Share this comfort with one another and feel his presence each moment of each day. Amen
