Rooted: Jesus Is Our Message

January 23rd, 2022/Riverside & Lookout

Story: Mixed Signal Photos

Anybody ever had that relationship that you thought was going so well, just to hear those all dreadful words “it’s not you, it’s me.” Wait, what?! I thought things were going so well.

Or…

At Pinewood Church we have no mixed signals, no mixed message. Our message and mission are clear! We meet people where they are and point them to Jesus.

“And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?” - 1 Corinthians 14:8

I want to make it clear, say it plain, and declare today that we are a Jesus centered church! We focus on Jesus, we preach the Good News of Jesus, we put our trust and confidence in Him and Him alone! Ready yourself for battle!

Title: Focus On This

Over the next several weeks we are going to focus our attention on what it means to be Rooted in Jesus and His Word. As we go through each value, I want you to hear why we are, who we are. Values aren’t meant to look good on a banner, or sound good in announcements, they are meant to be lived out in our everyday lives.

I want to look at not only the historical foundation for each value, but the present implications if we truly lived out each value in our day to day lives.

Big Idea:

Throughout this series we are going to be talking about why we are who we are.

Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NLT

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

Pray:

Background:

Paul is writing this letter to a church in Corinth that he planted on his second missionary journey. Some time has passed, approximately 5 years, and he heard of the struggles they were facing. He writes this letter to address some problems in the church, he goes on to provide clarity and to teach believers how to live in a corrupt city.

Main Points:

1. From the beginning we came with a message, not a method.
   1. When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters

   2. From the beginning it’s been about Jesus.

      1. How you start matters.
      2. The Apostle Peter preached the same Gospel to the crowd in Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection.

      3. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.” - Acts 2:38-41 CSB

         3. What’s your motivation for “when you first came to” your work, meeting your spouse, starting a family, going to the gym, posting online…

      4. There’s always going to be a #1 priority. There’s going to be a message that you’re sending out into the world through your words and actions.

      5. What’s your message?

         4. Our message is our mission! Methods come and go, but FIRST we pursue and preach Jesus!

      6. The message of Jesus dictates our message and it aligns our mission.

      7. When you know your message, you know your purpose. When you prioritize your message, your methods find their rightful place in your values.
      8. We will do everything short of sin to point people to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
      9. Don’t make your preference your priority.

      10. You have a brand.

          5. Application:

      11. From the beginning it’s always been about _______?

          1. Community
          2. Good vibes
          3. Serving
          4. If your why gets hard, it’s going to be a challenge to stay. 2. Nothing other than the saving power of God through Jesus is worthy of laying down our lives! From the beginning it’s been about Jesus, TODAY it is about Jesus, and it will always be about Jesus!!! 3. When we say “Jesus is our message”, we are not just referring to the organization of Pinewood, we are referring to the followers of Jesus that call Pinewood home. 4. Jesus is your message. Jesus is the message that you preach, teach, and live on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
          5. Lofty words impress, but lack the power to change lives.
             1. I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.
             2. Just because you are intelligent, doesn’t mean you are compassionate. Just because you can read the original text, doesn’t mean you see people. Just because you know the history, doesn’t mean you know His story.

      12. Philosophy and deep theology are beneficial, but preaching Jesus Christ and the simple Gospel is the deepest truth you could possibly communicate.

      13. The Gospel is not a secret, it’s simple. It’s the Good News to all who believe.

      14. We’re not trying to keep the Good News a secret or profound mystery. We’re trying to make it plain!

          3. Question: Who are you trying to impress?

      15. When we make deep conversations and liturgical practices the cornerstone of our faith then we are missing the foundation of our faith.

      16. The plan is no longer a secret. What was hidden has been made evident in Jesus.

          4. Illust:

      17. What I find with people that want to “go deep”, It’s not that they want to go deep in the Gospel as much as they want to grow tall in their knowledge.

      18. If you’re not going deep then you’re not letting the Gospel permeate every aspect of your life. The question is “Do you want to know more, or do you want to grow more?”
      19. When you have a hunger, you run after God. You read his Word, you fall on your knees, you cry out in worship, you don’t need permission, you don’t need an inspirational message, you don’t need accountability, you run HARD after the Father’s heart!
      20. Is there anybody in the house hungry?
      21. “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.” - Galatians 6:14 CSB

      22. Sometimes you have to forget to remember.

          1. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.
          2. It would have been easy for the Apostle Paul to leave his audience spellbound by his knowledge and his great display of communication. It might even boost his credibility and earn him great status. Who then is the focal point of this message? Jesus or the Apostle Paul?

      23. Paul is saying he made Jesus Christ crucified his one focus with them. Here’s how I’d apply that: Paul set aside the former ways of doing things, former methods and strategies.

          3. If people know your strategy more than they know the Gospel then there’s a problem.
          4. Unlearn traditions, habits, and teachings, to remember the simple truth of the Gospel.
          5. Story: Growing up in a legalistic church.
      24. You can have weakness and power at the same time!
          1. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.
          2. Paul admits he came in weakness, with fear and trembling. That weakness did not disqualify him. It made room for the grace and power of God.
          3. To be weak is a sign of a humble spirit, not a lack of courage.
          4. 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
          5. ““My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT
          6. What’s your posture?

      25. The Holy Spirit can do more in a second than you can do in a lifetime in your own effort.

          1. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
          2. Make it plain. The preaching is simple. Bring clarity.
          3. Who are you relying on?
          4. Jesus is our message, the power of the Holy Spirit is our method!

      26. We do not strategize beyond the Holy Spirit.

          5. The Gospel is persuasive and offensive, it doesn’t need your help.
          6. We do not strategize beyond the Holy Spirit. He is our guide to lead us back to the presence and power of God!
          7. “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” - Romans 1:16
      27. Leave people in awe of the power of the Gospel, not the wisdom of your words.
          1. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
          2. Charisma that is people centered is dangerous. It can build a sense of trust in an individual that will fail you, but charisma by the power of the Holy Spirit points only to Jesus.
          3. If you trust only in human wisdom, then you will love according to earthly priorities and you will get temporary results.

Closing: Where else can I go?

“At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” - John 6:66-69 NLT

Jesus declares that He is the bread of life, the living water, the Salvation of the world, where else can we go? What other message in all of human history can produce such profound hope and truth? What other message can bring