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March 20, 2020 1:00 am
These days, polling data is king. In the mainstream media, truth seems to lie with the majority opinion. But when it comes to the cross, the majority culture hates it and finds it offensive. So what should Christians do to demonstrate that the cross reveals God’s power and grace?
Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)These days polling data is king in the mainstream media seems to lie with the majority opinion and so analyzing what people believe about the cross of Christ for some crucial insights stay with us. The church in Chicago this morning with Sir Mike our TVs today are filled with stories about the left-wing right wing Democrats publicans everything except that which is really important to say that it's to the point where there are times when I just turn off news. I'm so weary of all the wrangling all the name calling all of the accusations. And sometimes we just need to turn off the noise and think about what is most important, and that of course is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The cross on which Jesus died.
Paul says God forbid that I should glory except in the cross I've written a book entitled Christians politics and across the subtitle is very important and urgent plea for the church to return to its mission. So, my friend, above all the noise. Let's remember what is most important for a gift of any amount.
This book can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com and thanks in advance. By the way, for your support of the ministry of running to win without you we could not continue. So ask for Christians, politics, and the cross RTW offer.com or 1-888-218-9337 and now we go to the pulpit of Moody church and analyze what man thinks of the cross. So you see the cross clashes with our pride and clashes with our wisdom and also clashes with our value read this for consider your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God's chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen the things which are not. That's what he is chosen, that he might nullify the things that are that no man should boast before God in the early church there were many different converts.
In fact, plainly tells us that people were converted from all different walks of life and you had some who are rich and you had some who were poor and some were educated but by and large, Christianity flourished among the lower class always has it flourished there or not because it is intellectually indefensible, but usually those are going through tough times recognize their need and there were many slaves in the Empire. Remember, in those days, and a slave. According to Greek teaching was a tool as slave was a thing without any rights without any value except insofar as he helped his master that was all acted was incredibly cruel, even the children of slaves if they had children were considered to be owned by the owner and the parents were not considered. The owner of their own children tragic but you see, it was the remarkable truth of Christianity and the surprising good news that it is exactly those kinds of people that God often call us to greatness because there are not many wise according to the flesh some, but not many. Not many mighty are cold and not many noble you member Queen Victoria. She said that thank God for the letter M and she said that because she read this text, and she was so thankful that it did not say, not any noble or cold, just not many. She was among the cold. Since that time there've been some members of that royal family that at least looking out across the ocean. It appears as if they are not yet cold, but nevertheless it says not many mighty, not many noble, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God comes along and takes a slave who is a nobody in this life and elevates him to be a somebody to be a son and a daughter of God Almighty and Christianity taught that you might not matter in this life goal but you matter to God. You matter to God and that God sometimes to scandalize the human mind takes people whom we think are great and mighty and wonderful and they think that about themselves to any bypasses them and he goes to the needy and the downcast and the things of this world and he make something out of them.
He loves the unlovely and he elevates the lowly is Bonhoeffer who said that Christianity teaches the on ending worth of the apparently worthless and the on ending worthlessness of that which is apparently very valuable. That's the genius of it and why does God do it this way, that no flesh should boast before God that nobody can ever say it is because of my wisdom or it's because of who I am is it is all because of his grace, that we been singing about this morning. It is all because of his mercy is all because of the depth of his undeserved love. He has made us what we are and that's the message of the cross but run so counter to human wisdom. To summarize three lessons. First, the cross you see the cross is considered foolishness because it is actually a witness to our failure is a witness to our failure. The Jews failed the brakes failed.
We fail we are all equally under sin. We are all equally in need, and the world does not want to hear that you don't most people believe they believe that they were born normal. By the way, have you ever wondered what normal lives.
Have you ever met anybody that is normal. You know the name of anybody that is normal, but they believe that they were born normal and all of their hangups are because of what other people have done to them.
That's what they believe and there are some people today who struggled greatly because of terrible things that have been done to them.
But the point is that we have to understand that we were born the sinners already born in trespasses and sin born dead toward God and unless God were to quicken us and and live in us and grant us the gift of faith we would stay that way and across. Therefore, as it is preached, is despised and thought of as foolishness.
That's why it's not very popular today idea that there has to be a sin bearer for us and people say I'm not that bad. Thank you. It may be necessary for you, but not for me. So first of all, the cross is a witness is a witness to our failure. Secondly, to accept the cross to accept the cross is really to accept a whole new world view, whole new world view, it is a whole new way of seeing the world and seeing God think of that woman to whom I witnessed the one who is wearing you know the cross of Christ and also a pendant to the God on think of what she needs to do in order to believe in Christ. Mind you, we could have maybe had a little prayer on the plane I could've convinced her that what she needs to do is to pray to Jesus and she should sit on your shirt will pray to him. I have nothing against him is just that I have all these other gods to if she had said that she had not believed the cross in her life would've been none effect. Whatever.
What she needs is a whole new vision of God.
She needs to see God's holiness. The fact that he is so holy and so far removed from us in terms of moral holiness that there is no way that we can just come to him on our own terms. Luther spoke about the mystics in his day, who thought that they could come to God on the ladder of their own works. To see God naked.
He said talking about those who think that the cross does not have to intervene. Why there are many different ways to get to him. Somebody believes that is not yet seen the cross. They've not seen the holiness of God, and they most assuredly have not seen themselves. That's why it's so important you know to get people lost to before they are saved because if so, will be praying prayers that are meaningless down the road because they have not seen the fact that the cross of Jesus Christ is not just average to God.
The cross of Christ is the bridge to God and that there can be none other non-because there is no other name given among men whereby we must be safe there is none other like thinking to yourself that you come to adore it doesn't really matter what key you use because somehow there's a lock on the door and old keys fit know the door to heaven is only one key that fits. And that is the cross of Christ when he died for sinners and became the sin bearer of those who believe you see in our postmodern day how people don't understand the gospel little thing they say wonderful things about Christ and this lady is going to have to learn someday that actually the more you add to the cross, the more you subtract from it.
The minute you try to amalgamate it and bring it in with another view you dilute its power that its power is in the purity of its message cross of Christ and then third and most important the cross is the power of God is the power of God. This messages you see what I fear is that you we come now to the end of the message and are some of you say what you know if what you say is true, why should I bother witness.
Why should I bother telling people about Christ because you're saying they considered foolishness.
They see it as something that goes to the heart of really who they are as sinners and they don't want to acknowledge that, why should I bother event your conclusion you most assuredly have missed the point of it all. Notice what the text says in verse 21. It pleases God.
It pleases God through the foolishness of the message as it is shared. Don't get hung up on the word preached to think that you have to preach a sermon.
The foolishness of the message to save those who believe.
Yes, it is a scandal yes by Summit is considered to be foolishness, but it is accept leak at that point and that it's genius is most clearly seen and its most power is released is then that it explodes in people's hearts. That's why I'm not discouraged if people don't immediately believe that woman for whom I prayed several times after I witness to her on the plane. Who knows, but that by now, she has already come to saving faith in Christ, not only because I left a witness with her and explain why the cross has to stand alone, but I also gave her a copy of a book I like to carry with me entitled how you can be sure that you will spend eternity with God, which I she promised she would read. Who knows there are many people who think that the cross is foolish but you present the message and it begins to wear on their soul and they begin to think about it and God begins to change their heart and somewhere down the road they come to saving faith in Christ and the message that they thought was stupid is now a message of strength and glory and liberation and power and release and blessing. That's where its power lies is in the content of explaining the gospel, you realize that there are thousands of people in America every single day come to saving faith in Christ.
Thousands of them scattered throughout this nation and if you were to add all those throughout the whole world. There are there are tens of thousands of people throughout the entire world and all the different countries of the world who every day experience the power of the cross. Yesterday I was at a meeting where a couple shared for 1/2 an hour is quite an experience. They talked about an impossible marriage. They were both into the drug scene, not only because they use drugs, but they actually sold drugs and so because they know whether they should be married. They lived together for six years and because they had so many arguments they thought you know if we get married. Maybe our arguments. I do like that for now. That's really the wisdom of the world to me now or talk our talk and really really wise. Well, of course, the arguments didn't stop and they thought to themselves, you maybe if we had a baby then our arguments would stop so they had a baby and a little girl but eventually he left and began to live with other women go back to his lifestyle and do drugs again.
But meanwhile she became friends with some Christians who introduced her to Christ and now she said she's going to Bible studies and people would say to her at work, you know, what are you doing for an exciting evening and she says here I'm a woman who got blitzed every night and now I tell them I'm going to Bible study.
They think will that really is foolish. Might as long as you're into drugs. You're not stupid, but to go to a Bible study. Now that is stupid for 3 1/2 years, she hung onto that marriage with an entire church praying for her husband. He became friends with the pastor. The pastor shared with him. They became friends. You see, the purpose of friendship evangelism is not to dilute the message of the cross is to build some credibility so that we can get people's ear and that's what the pastor did it can't just dump this that the message on them and expect people to respond to what they got all of these misconceptions. They wonder who we are. They wonder who this strange person is that loves the Bible and goes to Moody church. It takes a while for them before they actually know that your authentic and that you are believable and it gives you them the right to share the gospel. Let's what happened.
He came to saving faith in Christ five years ago and and he stood up there just in tears in tears telling what got it done in their life and how we restore trust in their marriage.
The power of the cross. No other message can do that. There's there's no way that we can turn to do some theory to say that that's what is going to happen.
Why it pleases God. He said that when the pastor asked him about his relationship with God. He was offended. He said I was a good Lutheran, but it pleases God by the foolishness of the message shared to save those who believe what a message and at the very time when the evangelical church should be excited about this message. It is losing its nerve. We cast about looking for an answer to our problems and we think it's in politics or we think Shirley they answer the people's problem is in psychology or its and it's in taking the cross and dressing it up and and and making it look a little better so that we can have some some real entertainment now battle really do at work were looking for some way to do something because our nation is in such need. God says I'm pleased I'm pleased by the foolishness of that message to save those who believe Jesus was not crucified between two candles in the Cathedral. Jesus was crucified on a cross that was in an area that was so cosmopolitan that the message above his cross had to be written in three different languages Hebrew, Greek and Latin crucified in a place called this place of a skull because so many skulls apparently had been there. It was was kind of the the garbage heap of Jerusalem and that's where he died, and when he died there. There was one thief on one side and there was another thief on another end and you remember the one who was on one side represents all those who reject the cross of Christ. Remember what he said if you're the son of God will then come down from the cross and save us.
Show us a sign that we might believe the on the other side there was a man who said to the guy across the way as they were dying look, you better watch what you're saying.
This man is innocent and you and I were dying because we deserve it, but this man didn't do anything amiss and then he turns to Jesus and what does he say is is remember me when you come in your kingdom. Think of the faith that had much greater faith in you and I need to believe on Christ because he never even saw the resurrection all that he saw was was a man who is dying who is in the same mass as he was. Christ appeared to be as helpless as the thief next to him. He saw in that death, something that was for him.
He saw the cross adjusted. Remember me now you think about it.
Jesus died before he did, because it says that when the soldiers came they found out they were surprised Jesus had died already in the other two guys had not yet died. The soldiers make sure they did that, you know that means, don't you means that when that thief died first person he saw he got to Paradise was Jesus there waiting for him. What I message because it pleases God by the foolishness of the cross to save those that believe and we can say with William Cowper the dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, but there may I know Violet is he a wash all my sin away there at the cross when Jesus Christ died he did something for sinners that no other God can ever do. He died for us and if you believe he died for you and even in this great auditorium today. There are probably dozens of people have never believed on Christ you have never finally ended all of the jockeying of control of your life to say Lord Jesus, if you died for sinners I receive you as mine, that you also may be in paradise. It pleases God from the foolishness of the message to save you.
If you believe let us pray our father, we thank you today for the message and all of its starkness and in all of its revolt fitness bike and save it of a man dying gruesome blood sweat smells and yet father as we look at that event we say with the apostle Paul Godfrey bid that I should glory in anything except the cross of Christ. Thank you for taking a moment of darkness and turn to get into a moment of blazing light.
Today we pray that even today that you might reach out and call some to yourself. Now this is your opportunity to pray again, you want to reach out to God wherever you are. You say pastor Luther right now.
I believe on Christ. I give up all attempt to save myself.
I know that God is holy and that I'm a sinner right now as best as I know how to transfer all of my trust to the one who died on the middle cross you tell them that right now. Father in grace. We pray that you might complete the work that has been begun in May no one leave here today without knowing that they belong to you forever.
Jesus name we pray. This is pastor Luther and my friend today. It's possible for you to listen to this series of messages. Perhaps you think that I think that politics isn't important. Course it is.
But my burden is that the church would return to its mission and to understand the superiority of the cross above every flag above every commitment. I believe that this sermon series could be of tremendous help to you as you listen to it again and again. Share it with your friends for a gift of any amount. It can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337, the burden on my heart is simply this.
We as Christians so easily can take side roads we can sometimes take things that may be relatively important and put them in the wrong place as if they are most important.
So in the face of this deed generating culture.
It is so important for us to realize that the cross of Christ stands above all other commitments so if you wish to have this series of messages and by the way thanks in advance for your generosity because we are dependent upon you for the continuing ministry of running to win and holding high the cross all the way to the finish line. Here's how you can connect with us. RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 thanks in advance for helping us because together we are making a difference running to win is all about helping you find God's roadmap for your race of life. You can write to us at running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 as we run life's race. Let's not forget that mercy is getting what you don't deserve God was not obligated to save any of us and he has next time I'm running to win. We begin an awesome look at how far God went to provide redemption for lost mankind will look like.
The cross represents more than just the suffering of Jesus will learn on the cross, God the father also suffered. Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin Blitzer this is Dave McAllister running to win is by the teacher