9/15/24 “Sheep of the Flock, Unite!”
“Sheep of the Flock, Unite!”
Romans 15:1-13
The older I get, the more I’m amazed by the animal kingdom.
I get more excited going to a zoo these days in my 50’s than I did as a kid…anyone else here like that?....maybe we should all take a field trip to the zoo sometime.
I look at the intricacies and the interdependence of life on this planet and I am filled with awe as I ponder the genius of our creator….
I marvel at how God even allows animals of the same species to exhibit individual personalities…If you have more than one pet at home, you know this to be true.
For instance, my parents have two 10-year-old cats from the same litter, Bosco and Vespa – you’ve heard me mention them before.
Bosco loves being around humans and exhibits a very gentle spirit….he even tucks my mom into bed every night at 10:00 PM sharp.
His sister Vespa, on the other hand, doesn’t really have time for humans - she would much rather be outside killing the neighborhood rabbits for sport….
Animals are amazing – and it’s a blessing to be able to share this planet with them.
One of the most impressive things about the animal kingdom is how certain kinds of animals exhibit a strong natural inclination to work together toward a common goal…
We especially see this in wolves, ants, lions, dolphins, meerkats, orcas, beavers, and buffaloes….just to name a few.
But probably the award for best teamwork in the animal kingdom goes to the…drum roll, please…..The Honey Bee.
Honey Bees are in groups called swarms (or colonies), and they form some of the most unified & efficient teams in the natural world.
In order to pollinate plants and produce honey, they utilize an ingenious role-delegation system which ensures maximum efficiency – and results in every singe bee profiting from the labor of others…
There can be as many as 60,000 bees living in one hive, with 3 different types of bees living there.
First, you have the queen bee.
There is just one queen – and she is the only bee capable of producing and laying eggs.
The queen can actually control which type of bee she produces – talk about a powerful HR manager!
The second type of bee are the drones.
Drones are male bees who spend all of their time fertilizing the queen’s eggs. Without these large drone bees, the colony would have no means of reproduction – and they would die out.
The third (And final) type of bees are worker bees. These are all female bees who are responsible for the daily running and maintenance of the hive.
Worker bees clean and polish the cells, care for the queen, build beeswax combs, and defend the hive…
Is it just me, or do the male drone bees seem a bit lazy compared to the female worker bees?....some of you ladies are like “That’s my house!”
Proportionally, there are about 100 female worker bees to every male drone bee…yet another reason why the males have it pretty good in the hive.
The queen, drone, and worker bees are all acutely aware of their individual tasks and responsibilities – resulting in a strong and unified assembly of individuals working toward the mutually benefitting goal of producing honey.
This idea of a unified community working toward a mutually benefitting goal is also one of the primary themes in our passage for today from Romans chapter 15.
The unity of His people has always been of central importance to God.
David writes in Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prays. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)
Those of us living today in the church age of redemptive history experience unity – not through a task or assignment – but through a person…the person of Jesus Christ.
When explaining how gentiles will also experience salvation, Jesus uses the illustration of sheep following a shepherd.
John 10:16 reads, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Sheep are naturally social creatures.
If you remove a sheep from the rest of its flock, it becomes anxious and agitated –
Sheep need the comfort and security of other sheep around them to experience peace and satisfaction.
That should be the general behavioral mindset of Christians as well.
As Christ-followers sharing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we should all experience the most peace and satisfaction in life when we are in the company of other believers…
Just as a honeybee colony is considered to be one organism….so to the Bible-believing Church ought to experience a level of unity that makes it appear to be that of a single organism….
….free from division, quarreling, and strife.
If you recall, last week we covered Romans chapter 14 – and we looked at the importance of accepting a brother or sister who may have a different opinion than you do regarding a disputable matter of the faith….
Paul continues that theme of acceptance of a fellow believer in verse 1 of chapter 15 (Romans 15:1) “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
Here, Paul is transitioning from the topic of acceptance in disputable matters – to that of bearing one another’s burdens in a spirit of service within the church.
Those words “Not to please ourselves” carry a lot of meaning…
Paul is saying that not only are we to accept others who disagree with us on the small stuff…
But we are to go one step further and actually adjust our behavior in assisting a weaker brother or sister carry their spiritual load…
We do this by not being critical or condescending….
We do this by showing respect for sincerely held beliefs concerning disputable matters….
We do this by acknowledging the validity of a fellow believer’s preferred style of worship and ministry….
I thank God every day that so many of you here show grace to each other concerning our worship service…
I know some of you prefer hymns to many of the contemporary praise songs we sing here…yet – in grace and humility – you haven’t made a big deal about it…
I know some of you prefer contemporary praise songs over hymns….yet you haven’t made a big deal about our blended worship style when it comes to the music we sing…
This is exactly what Paul is talking about in these passages…
having enough love, respect, and patience for brothers and sisters in Christ to the extent that you put your own feelings and preferences aside…
THAT is what Christian unity is all about!
…And THAT attitude is what will help attract more and more people to the savior!
When the world sees a church free of division, infighting, and drama – it intrigues them….because it goes against human nature.
…And it most likely goes against what they most likely experience at home.
In verse 2 (Romans 15:2) Paul informs us that the reason we are to help fellow believers in a self-less way is so that it will provide much needed encouragement in their lives…
We all like to be encouraged, don’t we?
Doesn’t it just make your day when someone acknowledges you for something positive you did – or something you said.
Folks, this hardly ever happens in our world today.
Want do absolutely shock someone out of their mind?....Do something considerate for them without expecting anything in return…
People simply do not know what to do when this happens to them….so many people today literally never experience it…
The other day, I was standing in line at Menards and the lady two spots ahead of me had quite a few items to purchase…
She noticed that the lady behind her had just a couple of items…she politely invited the lady to take her place in line so she wouldn’t have to wait so long.
The other lady simply didn’t know how to respond….
She just stared at the lady in front of her for a few seconds, not knowing what to do…was she being set-up?....did the other lady want something in return?....
What a sad commentary on society….BUT what a great opportunity to show the love of Jesus to others!
…and especially to those who are members of the household of faith.
Paul continues in the next few verses of our passage for today, teaching that when we encourage others, we are following the example of our savior.
Verse 3 (Romans 15:3) says, “For even Christ did not please himself….”
Jesus – of all people – would have had the right to demand others cater to him…He was GOD in the flesh, after all!
But, rather than being served….He chose to humbly serve others…
He served others to an extent that we will never fully understand.
Paul elaborates on this further in his letter to the Philippians – remember that?
He says in Philippians 2:5-8 “Your attitude should be the same a that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
Jesus had more intrinsic right to receive glory than anyone who has ever walked the earth - Yes, including Taylor Swift! - ….don’t get me started on that whole idolatry train….
But Jesus didn’t use His credentials for His own benefit.
Rather, he gave them up for the benefit of people around Him – and ultimately – for you and me.
The theological word for this is ‘Kenosis’…
‘Kenosis’ literally means “To Empty”… or “The act of Emptying”
Through an incredible act of love & mercy – by taking on human flesh - Jesus temporarily emptied Himself – to a certain degree - of His divine power, knowledge, and regal authority.
Part of why He did this was to teach us all what real service to others ought to look like.
Serving others and putting the needs of others before those of our own doesn’t come naturally for human beings…
It’s been said that we are never more like Satan than when we serve ourselves…and we are never more like Jesus than when we serve others.
The story is told of a mom with two boys, Kevin (Age 9) and Ryan (Age 7)
Well, Kevin and Ryan were arguing one morning about who was going to get the first pancake off the breakfast griddle…apparently, the griddle was only able to make 1 pancake at a time.
Their mother heard them arguing and thought it would make for a good opportunity to teach them both a lesson in generosity and humility.
So, she said to the boys “If Jesus were here waiting for a pancake, what would he do?”
The boys thought for a minute.
Finally, Mom answered the question for them: “Jesus would let his brother have the first pancake.”
The boys thought about it a bit more…then Kevin (The older sibling) said to his brother: “Ok, Ryan – You be Jesus”
We don’t naturally want to forfeit the pancakes of expectation in our lives, do we!....whatever that pancake in your life might be.
Maybe it’s not competing with someone else at work for that promotion because deep down, you know they are more qualified than you for that particular position.
Maybe the pancake in your life is giving up money making opportunities in order to spend more time with your aging parents….
Maybe the pancake in your life is sacrificing time fishing on the lake in exchange for visiting a friend who has terminal cancer.
Or…maybe the pancake in your life is putting away your pride and asking forgiveness from someone you hurt a long time ago.
Speaking of pancakes, on the topic of food, Jesus said in John 4:34 “My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
Humble obedience to the Father – and, by extension, to others – was the most important aspect of Jesus’ ministry….and it needs to top the list of our lives as well.
The more we serve others in humility of heart – the more we will experience the kind of unity that Paul is describing.
Verse 4 (Romans 15:4) reminds us as to the importance of understanding proper doctrine when it comes to unity within the Church.
If you recall, the first 11 chapters of Romans was primarily about doctrine – the depravity of man, the holiness of God, God’s sovereignty, salvation, justification, faith, righteousness, sin, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, God’s future plans for Israel….
….all of these topics are important for us to understand in order for us to fully implement the actions and attitudes that will help to bring about unity in the church rather than division, drama, and divisiveness.
Verse 4 (Romans 15:4) also tells us that by having a proper understanding of God and His Word, we will experience – not only unity amongst the faithful – but hope within our hearts.
There is absolutely nothing better than this book (The Bible) to encourage you….and to give you hope.
Our world is saturated with hopelessness.
Maybe you saw the video from a few days ago of rock singer Jon Bon Jovi talking someone off the ledge of a bridge in Nashville, Tennessee…
Sadly, this is repeated multiple times every day within the borders of our country…some people turn back…and some people don’t – and their lives are over.
In 2022, a record high 49,500 people died by suicide in this country – that was the highest rate in our since 1941….anybody remember what was happening in1941?.... (The great depression was still lingering and the US had just entered a world war – not exactly a time oozing with hope)
Folks, the current suicide rate matches up with levels seen in those desperate times…
People are filled with hopelessness because they don’t spend time in God’s Word – the source of true hope and joy.
Even believers – you and I – can fall victim to an absence of hope & joy in our lives if we fail to continually stay in God’s Word.
Paul sums up this particular section on unity in verses 5&6.
Verse 5 (Romans 15:5) is a reminder that the encouragement we receive from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit enables us to experience a greater level of unity within the local church.
In other words, the more time all of us spend reading our Bibles, the more unified and strong this congregation will be….it’s a direct correlation.
…Knowing this should provide motivation for all of us to stay in the scriptures on a daily basis.
Lastly, in verse 6 (Romans 15:6) Paul tells us that the ultimate goal of cohesiveness in the church is that we may glorify God as a unified church – His bride.
There was a short story written awhile back called “The Brawling Bride.”
The wedding day had come. The guests were all in place. The bridegroom (Jesus) was at the front of the church waiting for his bride to come down the aisle.
Just as the bridal march began to play, everyone stood up and looked back at the bride….
Just then a loud, collective gasp was let out as people set eyes on the bride (The Church)
You see, the bride was full of mud, she had a black eye, her dress was torn, her hair was a mess, her bouquet was ruined…she was a complete mess!
…she had been in a fight. She had been brawling.
Brothers & Sisters, when there is disunity and disharmony in the church over inconsequential matters…we resemble this bride.
Where there is division and drama in the church over disputable topics – we resemble this bride.
Where there is jealousy, bitterness, and anger in the church over the way in which God chooses to use certain individuals and their gifts…we resemble this bride.
Bruised – beaten – battered – dirty…in a word, pathetic.
Here at LaValle Advent Christian Church….let us NEVER resemble this bride.
Let us exemplify true UNITY!
Let us be committed Christians – genuine believers who are glorifying God through our thoughts, actions, words, and deeds.
Then – and only then - will we be a beautiful bride for our savior.
Let’s Pray.