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Real Dudes,
Below is the message that I shared at our Maundy Thursday get together. Enjoy! Nate As a father of six daughters who have played multiple sports, we have become pretty familiar with a place called Urgent Care. Some of the injuries they’ve experienced needed immediate attention…there was an urgency about it all. Not tracking with me, then here’s something y’all might relate better with concerning the topic of URGENCY!!! = The board game Perfection: If you’re not familiar with it, then here’s a video to help introduce you to the game and the importance of having a sense of urgency when playing it. So, when Pastor Rob asked me to preach at Maundy Thursday, the name Zacchaeus immediately popped into my head. So where does this story about Zacchaeus land in scripture? Just Before our passage… In Luke 18:31-34 (CSB) is recorded for us The Third Prediction of His Death And then Shortly after our passage… We read in Luke 19:28-40 (CSB) about The Triumphal Entry Now, smushed between those two passages is our passage of focus… Luke 19:1-10 (CSB) Jesus Visits Zacchaeus…beginning in verse one, we read that He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” 6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” 9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Out of all the people directly in front of Jesus, God Perfectly popped up one single man that Jesus could focus on. Jesus looked up, saw Zacchaeus, and said to him in verses 5 and 6…
[Transition into Communion] What’s the Urgent Imminence within the Lord’s Supper? 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (CSB) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. The urgent imminence is His Return (He is coming again soon…at any moment) for those who have received Him as Savior. What are we doing in preparation for that day? Are we sharing the Good News with others verbally or maybe even nonverbally by partaking in the Lord’s Supper? Let’s keep these questions and thoughts in mind as we partake as the Lord leads…
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Real Dudes,
We read in the verse below that Christ lives in me...please feel free to comment on what that phrase means to you, and or just email me your thoughts? If anything, let me encourage you to just dig a little deeper on your own as to what is meant by that phrase. Hope you enjoy this study. This link is a great place to start if you're stuck https://www.gotquestions.org/Christ-lives-in-me.html Nate Galatians 2:20 (NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Real Dudes,
Do you ever wonder why something pops into your head out of nowhere? This happened to me this morning as our coffee and prayer team was serving our community. While I was waving at those passing by, this hymn kept playing over and over in my head. After reading the article below, I’m taking some time to reflect on what was going through Eiza’s mind over 100 years ago and how some of our churches are just finally getting back to this truth…making ministry about getting to know more about Jesus as well as more about showing His grace to others. Reminds me of one of my favorite verses… 2 Peter 3:18 (CSB) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Hope this hymn and the story behind it are a motivation and encouragement to each of you today. Practicing His Presence, Nate MORE ABOUT JESUS written in 1887 The Story Eliza Hewitt (1851-1920) wrote this song as she was studying the promises of God that had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The more she studied, the more excited she became as she saw Scripture fulfilled in every aspect of the life of Jesus. All Scripture, she discovered, focused on Jesus Christ. It is especially significant that Eliza was so faithfully seeking God at this point in her life. At the time, she was recovering from a severe spinal injury. A Philadelphia schoolteacher, Eliza had been struck in the back with a heavy slate by one of her students. She became a virtual shut-in for many years… but eventually was able to be involved in the ministries of her church, the Calvin Presbyterian Church. Eliza was never able to go back to teaching in public schools, but she did continue to be involved in Sunday School; at one point, her class had as many as 200 children! There, she was able to combine the 2 great loves of her life: children and Jesus. She wrote several hymns you have heard, “When We All Get to Heaven,” “Sunshine in My Soul,” “Will there be any Stars in My Crown?” and this hymn. The Song Read this hymn, and – today – commit to learning even more about Jesus! More about Jesus would I know, more of His grace to others show; more of His saving fullness see, more of His love Who died for me. Refrain More, more about Jesus; more, more about Jesus; more of His saving fullness see, more of His love Who died for me. More about Jesus let me learn, more of His holy will discern; Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me. (Refrain) More about Jesus; in His Word, holding communion with my Lord; hearing His voice in every line, making each faithful saying mine. (Refrain) More about Jesus; on His throne, riches in glory all His own; more of His kingdom’s sure increase; more of His coming, Prince of Peace. (Refrain) https://thescottspot.wordpress.com/2016/05/21/more-about-jesus-written-in-1887/#:~:text=Eliza%20Hewitt%20(1851%2D1920),of%20the%20life%20of%20Jesus. After preaching from John 8:2-20, God laid on my heart a couple other thoughts and passages. Yes, He is The Light of the World, so then why does The Gospel of Matthew communicate to us that followers of Jesus are the light of the world? Here are a few ADDITIONAL passages and articles to Consider!!!
Matthew 5:14-16 (CSB) Believers Are Light 14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. ***How does this phrase in verse 14 come alongside the fact that Jesus is THE Light of the World? How does it fit in with the passage I preached on from John 8:2-20? In John MacArthur’s NKJV study bible page 1400 (the footnote for verse 16) tells us about what it means to be the “light to shine. A godly life gives convincing testimony of the saving power of God. That brings Him glory. Cf. 1 Pet. 2:12.”
ARTICLE FROM gotquestions.org In the analogy of light to the world, the good works of Christ’s followers are to shine for all to see. The following verses in Matthew 5 highlight this truth: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NASB). The idea here is similar—the presence of light in darkness is something that is unmistakable. The presence of Christians in the world must be like a light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings light to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also in the sense that our good deeds must be evident for all to see. And indeed, our deeds will be evident if they are performed in accordance with the other principles that Jesus mentions in this passage, such as the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11. Notice especially that the concern is not that Christians would stand out for their own sake, but that those who looked on might “glorify your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16, KJV). In view of these verses, what sorts of things can hinder or prevent the Christian from fulfilling his or her role as salt and light in the world? The passage clearly states that the difference between the Christian and the world must be preserved; therefore, any choice on our part that blurs the distinction between us and the rest of the world is a step in the wrong direction. This can happen either through a choice to accept the ways of the world for the sake of comfort or convenience or to contravene the law of obedience to Christ. Mark 9:50 suggests that saltiness can be lost specifically through a lack of peace with one another; this follows from the command to “have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” And in Luke 14:34-35, we find a reference to the metaphor of salt once again, this time in the context of obedient discipleship to Jesus Christ. The loss of saltiness occurs in the failure of the Christian to daily take up the cross and follow Christ wholeheartedly. It seems, then, that the role of the Christian as salt and light in the world may be hindered or prevented through any choice to compromise or settle for that which is more convenient or comfortable, rather than that which is truly best and pleasing to the Lord. Moreover, the status of salt and light is something that follows naturally from the Christian’s humble obedience to the commandments of Christ. It is when we depart from the Spirit-led lifestyle of genuine discipleship that the distinctions between ourselves and the rest of the world become blurred and our testimony is hindered. Only by remaining focused on Christ and being obedient to Him can we expect to remain salt and light in the world. https://www.gotquestions.org/salt-and-light.html ADDITIONAL ARTICLE FROM gotquestions.org In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Of course, it is not technically our light that should shine before others. It is the light of Christ, entrusted to believers as light-bearers (cf. John 1:8). In other words, we do not produce the light within us. God does. And through our good works, people may glorify the One who gives that light. One of the ways to let our light shine before others is to show compassion to others. Jesus expressed deep compassion for all people, regardless of their ethnic background, social status, gender, or personal beliefs (Matthew 9:36; 15:32; Mark 6:34). As Christians, we should follow His example by showing compassion and kindness to everyone. Another way to let our light shine before others is to practice humility (Philippians 2:1–11). Christians are called to be humble in all things, knowing that it is only through the grace of God that we “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Humility also means the willingness to confess our sins before God and others (Luke 15:21; James 5:16). In doing so, we demonstrate our receptivity to correction and guidance (Proverbs 15:32). Generosity is another means of letting our light shine before others. Christians are called to be generous with their money, time, resources, and love (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:16). After all, everything that we have belongs to God (Deuteronomy 10:14). So, we should share our God-given blessings with those in need and give without expecting anything in return (Luke 6:30). Forgiveness, too, is a means of letting our light shine before others. Jesus taught that we should forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 18:15–20; cf. Ephesians 4:32). Thus, we should seek reconciliation with those who have wronged us—and with those whom we have wronged—to promote peace and unity (cf. Ephesians 2:14). There are many ways to let our light shine before others. We can volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, donate money to a charity, or be kind and compassionate to someone in need. We can also lend an ear to a friend who is going through a tough time and offer words of encouragement, or we can simply smile and say, “Hello,” to a stranger on the street (cf. Hebrews 13:2). Perhaps the best way to let our light shine before others is to share the gospel, the “good news,” with others. The good news is that God redeems sinners through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). If we believe in the person and work of Christ (who He is and what He did), then we are saved from eternal condemnation. We should not keep this message to ourselves; good news is meant to be shared, and we should make it visible for everyone to see (Matthew 28:19). The ultimate purpose of letting our light shine before others is not to draw attention to ourselves or to promote our own interests; rather, it is about living in such a way that others will glorify our Father in heaven. Of course, this is not an easy task. It can be difficult to maintain a spirit of compassion, humility, generosity, and forgiveness in a world that is often characterized by hatred, anger, and division. We may even be met with resistance and opposition (Matthew 10:16; John 15:18). But we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit within us, and He empowers and guides us to reflect the glory of God. https://www.gotquestions.org/let-your-light-shine.html Lastly, in Genesis we read that we are image-bearers of God. Which means that we too can share in some of His characteristics. As He is The of the Light…we too can reflect His character and be a light to the world.
Practicing His Presence, Nate Real Dudes,
Below is the link to the message I had the opportunity to preach last Sunday. Also, below are the notes if you'd rather read through some of it. Don't feel obligated to watch or read, just something available to each of you. Was thankful for what God spoke to me and would love to share that with each of you as well. Hope y'all are doing amazing...miss ya! Nate Link to message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ZxHBRf8b4&list=PLapnQlqbrLuJhPsDYnDxpr89ly2c27aAX&t=6s Message Notes: John 8:2-20 (CSB) An Adulteress Forgiven 2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” The Light of the World 12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” 14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” “You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. The Light of the World
The First Truth about what The Light is capable of exposing…is Himself through The Word. The Light Exposes/Reveals Himself through The Word
The Second Truth about what The Light is capable of exposing…is one’s Flaws. The Light Exposes/Reveals one’s Flaws
6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. Two objects in Scripture that are used as examples to expose one’s flaws are…
and may you forgive, act, and give to everyone according to all their ways, since you know each heart, for you alone know every human heart,
The Third Truth about what The Light is capable of exposing…is His Mercy!!! The Light Exposes/Reveals His Mercy and Forgiveness.
14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.
Take Aways…
If you’re here today and you want to follow Jesus but are unsure of what that looks like, then again, please see me or reach out to me. Excited to see how God is going to work through this I AM series and in your life. |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
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