This episode was really a summary—very much a summary—of a a five-part sermon
series, recently completed at Roosevelt Community Church (August
9-September 6, 2015). There’s a lot to say here, and the best way to get going
is to refer you to the actual sermons—so check them out!
I think I’ll just highlight a few things. Pastor Vermon set
the parameters of the series by saying that Gospel-living is a way of living a
life shaped by, dictated by, and motivated by the Gospel. This very idea is packed with punch. Is your
life Gospel-shaped? Yikes! Is it?
Perhaps this is the terminology to live with, to let sink
in: a Gospel-shaped life. I’ve got an
anecdote, of course. I’m in the process of writing a pretty personal nonfiction
book, and I’ve decided to close it—it’s book-length—with a letter to my
children. I’ve made a point, one I’m still a little sketchy on, of separating
my writing into writing aimed at Christians and writing aimed at a secular
audience. But, well, I want to write this letter as the epilogue to my book. I
want to tell them stuff, the things I want them to know in life, parting words
(if you will).
How, though, does one separate the secular from the sacred?
Is anything truly secular in the Gospel-shaped life? What aspect of life is not
under God? Can I really tell them my thoughts on Art or Being a Girl or Finding
a Job or What to Look for in a Guy without referencing the Sacred, without
referring to a Gospel-shaped life?
This is one thing I’m thinking about in my own writing, and this
sermon series and episode really hit on that.
The other aspect of this that I thought was notable was the
practicality of the series/episode. There were opportunities for application.
I’m not sure that the points made about money, work, friendship, marriage, and
parenting were the kind of points that one can just go home after hearing and ignore.
I’m only hitting on three things. All of the sermons were
great.
Jim Mullins’ (guest from Redemption in Tempe) August 16 sermon on work gave me some good things to think about. He said, “Work will never be a good platform for evangelism until it’s more than a platform for evangelism.” Yawzah. I believe this wholeheartedly.
Vermon Pierre’s August 23 sermon on friendship did not
neglect the power of loving friendships. The friendships he described were deep
and not stark or dry, not easily pulled asunder. They were the kind of
friendships built for the long-haul, and I was honored to be able to hug one of
my own friends at the end of it. (I think the church really often fails in the
area of understanding emotional connections between people.) Christians,
shockingly, are often the first to write people off!
Bob
Korljan’s August 30 sermon on marriage was awesome because it was one of the
first sermons I’ve heard on marriage that didn’t tacitly railroad women. Sorry
for saying this, but it’s true.
There
you go. I didn’t say anything about money or parenting. Check out the sermons!
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