Theme: Core values

Message: “We Value Relevance”

Date: May 16, 2010

INTRO: “The good ol’ days.” When was the last time you heard that one? I think most of the time we are referring to days long ago when life was simpler (if it was?) and things were cheaper (and they were!) We get a magazine in the mail every other month that both our parents received and really enjoyed … and we kind of like it ourselves now. Wonder why? It’s called “Reminisce” and is subtitled “The magazine that brings back more of the good times.” So many of the pictures and some stories are really fun to look at and read about because they are all a part of “the good ol’ days.” Now I ask you as I ask myself, “What made them so good?” It seems to me that most of those “good ol’ days” were much worse than today! When you had to start your car with a crank and there was no indoor plumbing and riding on a stagecoach with no shock absorbers was difficult at best. They weren’t so good.

It all depends on one’s perspective. Charles Dicken’s now famous line still applies, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” Some look back and remember only the best of times – an easier pace, closer ties, more honest relationships. Others see inconveniences, prejudices, and enormous inefficiency. When you really stop to think about it, YOU REALIZE THAT NO TIME IS IDEAL, NECESSITATING THE IMPORTANCE OF FLEXING WITH THE TIMES!

Ah ha! That’s why WE VALUE RELEVANCE. Now, it’s going to be a challenge for an old guy to talk about being relevant. Or is it? What is really important is to consider WHAT CHANGES … AND WHAT DOESN’T. If you brought a Bible with you today, I invite you to join with me for a moment in Daniel 2:20-21. Daniel is a prophet and a man of God who spoke about this subject way back in “the good ole…” No, they were pretty bad days, but he spoke for God and the message has been the same in every generation. Listen to this, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.”

What great assurance for us. It is not mere chance that determines the sweeping changes that impact every generation. Our sovereign God takes full responsibility. He tells us it is He who affects change. And the good news is this: when changes occur, they are never out of His control. THE TIMES ARE IN HIS HANDS. If we truly believed that, changes would not be nearly so difficult to accept. Nor would they cause such anxiety because there is the realization that God is in control. If you believe God is sovereign, then you cannot believe He is ever out of date. He lives and rules in timelessness.

Let’s think for a moment biblically some things that NEVER CHANGE! After all, I believe there are some things, quite candidly, that we are to keep our hands off, regardless of how modern the era.

To illustrate this, let’s consider some wise words from the apostle Paul (who was probably 61) writing to his much younger associate (who was probably 30 or so) at the time this letter was penned. Turn with me to II Timothy 2. These two men had grown together, learned together, and suffered together. And now Paul is in prison and knows that Timothy is the one to carry the torch as pastor in Ephesus. Do you have it?

2 Timothy 2:14, “Remind them Brother Tim of these things and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.”

Pastor Tim is to remind his congregation of the TIMELESS truths of God. Some of those truths have been mentioned earlier in the letter but he is now urging his friend to MAJOR ON THE MAJORS, NOT THE MINORS. That is, not to get caught up in word battles and verbal arguments, but to stay at the essential issues that are worth his time and effort. He then urges Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (v. 15)

Truth. The word is truth. Clearly a reference to God’s holy Word, the Bible. It is this Book that will literally change lives. Therefore, my friend, stay in the Book and “avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness and their talk will spread like gangrene.” Today, we’d say “like cancer.” God’s Word is Truth and it is always RELEVANT in any age. God’s truth stands firm like a great rock and nothing can shake it.

What am I getting at? It’s pretty simple. Everything in this Word of God is foundational. This truth never changes. What God states and teaches and demands never changes. There will NEVER be a day when God comes back on the scene to say, “You know, I’ve been rethinking My Book. Some of those truths I wrote about well, they’re no longer RELEVANT and that includes some to the doctrine and stuff.” He will never do that. His truth will never be shaken. So listen to me as I speak to myself as well: He will NEVER change and His Word will NEVER change, but almost everything else will change and MUST change.

Our challenge then is to stay up with times, to serve our generation … s, yet in no way alter the truths of His Word. Styles and methods change and must be kept up to date. Here’s my point: WE ARE TO BE WILLING TO LEAVE THE FAMILIAR WITHOUT DISTURBING THE ESSENTIALS! Many churches today (perhaps ours as well) are making a grave error. Afraid of change, they have somehow connected “yesterday’s” methods with today’s truth. There is a strange idea that if we hold true to Scripture, we must resist any alteration of method as if INTEGRITY OF THE TRUTH REQUIRES RIGIDITY OF STYLE! NOT SO!

So, I have TWO SUGGESTIONS for all the Paul’s and Timothy’s here this morning.

First, CHANGING TIMES REQUIRE THE WILLINGNESS TO RETOOL AND FLEX WHERE NEEDED. We may have a certain style about worship or music or study or whatever that has worked well for us in the past. Trust me, we need to keep rethinking that. Will it compromise Scripture to alter the style? Probably not. How willing are we to flex? How open are we to change?

Allow me a moment to identify THREE AREAS where we are presently adapting. #1) It’s something called “On the City.” For years we have relied solely on one database and a printed directory to communicate to our church family. Now we are adapting to a new format that will give you one place to go to CONNECT with each other and find phone numbers and email addresses. It will be a secure environment. You will have an account and control who sees your contact details. Communication has advanced dramatically and your staff and Board of Elders are prepared to lead this change. You will be able to see what is going on in the life of the church; see and send prayer requests; hear of news, events, and thoughts from your friends at Mountain View. This will require flexibility, but I am excited about it.

#2) It’s something I’ve been calling “Connect Groups.” Rather than only a large group meeting place (here) we will connect better and grow better together as we become a church of small groups. That is occupying a big part of my week, but it is so valuable and I am excited about this change that is happening.

#3) It’s something we call “teams.” All of our past boards and committees have been re-structured and called “teams” so we will work together better, and I am excited about that and seeing some important changes in the way we do business. These are areas where we are retooling and flexing where needed.

My second suggestion is …

CHANGELESS TRUTHS REQUIRE THE DISCIPLINE TO RESIST AND FIGHT WHEN NECESSARY! No modern technologies or advancements in knowledge give us the right to deny God’s Bible or alter its truths.

One of the greatest challenges at Mountain View is INTERGENERATIONAL. It is one of the best things about our church: we have a wide range of generations, which I believe can be our strength if we are willing to be flexible and adapt to a CONSTANTLY CHANGING CULTURE with a CONSTANTLY UNCHANGING STANDARD OF TRUTH.

Look, there was no more security or hope in the “good ol’ days” than there will be in the “bad new days.” But by the grace and mercy of God, as we stay open to the need to change and flex, we’ll survive. Check that. We won’t simply survive. We will triumph! Let’s pray.