Almost perfect timing. I thought I matched it just right, but almost perfect timing.
If you could stand for our call to worship this morning.
Welcome to Friesland Community Church. My name is Noah, and Pastor Darren is gone this weekend, so I'm stepping in this morning.
The call to worship comes from Psalm 95, and verse 1, the Psalmist writes, "O come, let us sing to the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation."
Before we continue worship, would you just take a second to greet each other? Say good morning. How you doing? Good to see you.
There is no better way to sing and make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation than singing "He Lives." So let's proclaim that hymn number 368, "He Lives."
Be seated.
A few announcements this morning. First off, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped with the 4th of July celebration. We were just talking with the elders and deacons a little before the service, and it seems like a small miracle that the sun came out at about 5:30, so people could eat, and most of the night was great weather, and then it seemed to start raining towards the end of the fireworks, so we're glad for that.
But elders and deacons, thank you for your help and leadership, and then all those who made pies and served and did all of that. We thank you. We couldn't do that 4th of July event without you.
Next up is VBS. VBS is just one week away, and we still need, and I have a note here that says we are in desperate need of more crew leaders and a game leader. So if you feel so led and called, would you contact Pastor Darren or Denise Van Hoff, and they will try to set you up with being a crew leader or a game leader? It's a fun time, so if you don't contact us, we'll probably contact you, so try to beat us to that, and we'd love to have you help for VBS as well.
The college-age ministry is still meeting today, but they will meet in the old basement downstairs. The upstairs is under some VBS renovations, so if you could go downstairs for the college-age ministry group, that would be wonderful.
And our final announcement, I believe, this morning is the consistory accepted an offer on the 2nd Street Parsonage, and we are hoping to close on July 17. So thank you so much for your prayers. It's been a long process, but we're excited and thankful to the Lord that He's provided the correct buyer for that house, and we are excited to get it closed on very soon.
And I think that is all of the announcements that we have for you today. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
So if you would bow your heads and join me in prayer.
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for today. Thank you for the holiday extended weekend where we can spend time to not only celebrate the beauty of our country but, Lord, also a time for us to reflect and to remember.
And so, Lord, I ask that even as we finish up the weekend, that we would still do that—remember your goodness to our country but remember your goodness to our people. So we take this as a reflection in our heart and pray for the color and mood of our celebration as we truly enjoy the face of worship, the praise, and the story of your goodness every day.
And so, Señor, we thank you for coming together this evening to pray to you. When the time comes, we want to thank you that you dig through the Bible and welcome us. We thank you for being available to answer our questions.
We thank you so much for the VBS that's going to happen in just over a week. And we ask that kids' lives would be changed through the message of the gospel, but also through you. And so, Lord, we ask that you would be in that week and be in the preparation even this next week as well.
Lord, we remember our shut-ins and those who can't be with us this morning. We ask that you would be with them, provide a comforting spirit to them, and, Lord, just continue to work and comfort them in their lives as well.
And, Father, we pray for our country, the upcoming election. We ask that you would give us wisdom in how to move into voting this fall. And we ask that you would have your will with our nation. But, Lord, would you give us wisdom as we are your kingdom bearers here on this earth.
Father, as we move through the rest of the service, we give you the glory. We thank you for what you're going to do. And we ask that you would bless our time and that it would be honoring and glorifying to you. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you could stand again, we'll sing hymn number 273, "Good Christian Men Rejoice."
You may be seated.
If you have your Bibles with you, you can turn to Galatians chapter 6. Galatians chapter 6 is where we're going to be this morning. It's page 1,081 in the Pew Bibles in front of you.
Galatians chapter 6, verses 1 through 10. If you're new with us this morning, we are plugging our way through our summer series, "Through the Fruits of the Spirit." And as a church, we're going through each one of the fruits of the Spirit and really examining them in our own lives.
And we're asking a question: Are they evident in how we live? Or more specifically, am I living a life that shows that I am a follower of Christ? And I know that we're all sinners, so we, of course, can't exhibit them perfectly. But I think, including myself, we have to have kind of a holy discontent as we seek to become more like Jesus.
And so, I want us to understand we will never be done in this pursuit until we see Jesus face to face. And what a day that will be.
But this Sunday, we're going to talk about goodness and how it can play out in our everyday lives. So, if you point your attention to the screen, let's read our umbrella text together in Galatians 5, and then I will read our text for this morning.
So, Galatians chapter 5, we'll read this together: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
And now we'll point our attention to Galatians chapter 6, and I'll read this for us this morning.
Galatians 6, 1 through 10. And hear the word of the Lord.
Paul says this: "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, for you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions, and then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else. For each one should carry his own load."
Verse 6: "Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
Verses 9 and 10: "Let us not become weary in doing good. For at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have every opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
And we say this together: This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Heavenly Father, would you help us as we look into your word, and we ask that you would open our hearts, open our eyes, help us as we listen and hear the words of the Apostle Paul.
Lord, we can't do this without you. We can't even sit and listen to a sermon. I can't preach a sermon without your grace covering us. So, Father, we humbly ask that you would invade our space this morning.
And Lord, ultimately we ask that you would be glorified as we look into your word. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Well, this morning I want to ask you a question. I like asking questions because when I read God's word, it seems that a lot of questions can pop up, good or bad.
But one of the questions that I want to ask you this morning as we talk about goodness is: What is goodness?
One of the things that has stuck out to me, and I think Pastor Darren, we were talking about it this week as well, is as we look into this series, as we've gone through this series, one of the things we've realized is, do I really know what each fruit of the Spirit means? Like, do I personally know what it means to have goodness played out in my life by the grace of the Holy Spirit?
And at the beginning of the series, I can tell you my answer is no. I remember in Sunday school, and I was blessed to go to Christian school, so all throughout that time, we had learned the fruits of the Spirit. I could sing you a song from Friesland VBS of how I remember the fruits of the Spirit. You want me to do it? Okay, here, no, I'm kidding.
But all of these fruits of the Spirit, I remember learning, but as we looked into this series and examined each one, we were like, okay, I guess I don't know what each one means. And goodness, for me, fell into that category when Pastor Darren and I met some months ago to talk about the fruits of the Spirit.
To talk about the series, he said, I think you're gonna land on goodness. And I said, oh. And I remember for the last month or so, I've kind of looked through commentaries and researched online, and I'm trying to figure out what does goodness mean? And I found not a lot of people preach on goodness, especially when it comes to the fruits of the Spirit.
Oftentimes, if anything, I saw kindness, what Pastor Darren just preached on last week, kindness and goodness mushed together, so they just hid goodness in it because they didn't want to be in it. They didn't want to talk about it because it's kind of difficult to distinguish.
But goodness comes from the root word "agathosune." Agathosune, it's a Greek word, and it's closely related to generosity and love. Goodness, or being good to others, we could say, means this: It's very simple, actually. To seek the benefit of others.
Goodness, in the fruits of the Spirit, means to seek the goodness of others. Chapter 6 sums up what it means to be good to others. I believe that's what Chapter 6 in Galatians is talking about, and Paul is talking directly to the church in Galatia and is giving specific instructions on living a life in the Spirit. That's what Galatians could be summed up as.
So remember, Chapter 6 comes right after Chapter 5, of which we've been reading this whole month. And so let's walk through the passage as we like to do, and let's let the words of Paul convict and encourage us this morning.
Verse 1: "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Our first point this morning, if you have your notes with you, and as I like to say, if you saw me at the Fourth of July, I was sporting one of the cool Fourth of July tattoos on my cheek, and as I like to say at churches, if you don't have your notes with you, grab your child or something and write on their forehead the point number one.
Living out God's goodness to others is shown by spiritual care. Living out God's goodness to others is shown by spiritual care.
In verse 1, it seems Paul calls us to something very obvious. He calls out something very obvious in the Galatian church. If anyone is overtaken in sin, if anyone has sinned, if anyone has slipped into sin, if anyone is in a sin battle, the church as a whole should restore that person with grace and mercy and compassion.
See, Paul gives a stern warning at the end of verse 1, though. He says that, restore them gently, but he says this: be careful. Be careful that you do not join them in their sin.
See, it's so easy to slip into sin out of compassion for others. This is just one example, but I've heard countless people say something like this: Well, I know my friends, they get drunk, so I try to drink a little to keep up with them so I can reach out to them.
And my friends, nine times out of ten, they end up getting drunk with them. And I've done this in different situations myself, maybe in a different way like this. Maybe if I talk a little bit more, more like them, they will maybe be a little more comfortable around me. Then I can share the gospel with them.
See, maybe if I act a certain way, they will come around more often, and then I can share the gospel with them. Often I would join them in their sinful pleasure. And those were the people that I was trying to serve. It happened a lot in high school.
And so to some of Paul's instruction, he is saying, brothers and sisters in Christ, have grace on the sinner, but be careful not to join them. This is a part of being good to others.
Here at Friesland Community Church, and I pray at all biblical local churches, our heart's desire for the Christian who is caught up in sin is restoration. And let our church be known for that. Our goal for the sinner is restoration.
And this plays out in many different ways. And we could have a whole Bible study on it. And there's podcasts on church biblical restoration. But as a church, we seek restoration for the sinner. But we can't do it. Only by the cross of Jesus Christ, this is possible.
So my prayer, and our prayer as a church, is that we would be known for grace, mercy, and compassion on the sinner. And now, I have to make an important distinction here because a lot of churches say they have grace and mercy and compassion on the sinner.
But I want to make a distinction about Friesland Community Church. That doesn't mean that we approve of the sin, but we rather seek to walk alongside of them as they battle temptations that we may also face ourselves.
David Guzik, a commentator, said this about this verse: The job of restoration is often neglected in the church. See, we have a tendency to either pretend the sin never happened or we tend to react too harshly towards the one who has sinned.
The balance between the two extremes can only be negotiated by the Holy Spirit. It should be normal to do what God says here, but it isn't. It's all too easy to respond to someone's sin with gossip. Did you hear what they did? I heard they did this. Can you believe it?
Or he goes on to say, harsh judgment. I can't believe it. I can't believe that they would do that. I would never do that. Or undiscerning approval, the total opposite.
And I love this church. And we're a family here. And as the last few years, I have seen our church grow together so, so much. If we would fall into any of these categories, the gossip, the harsh judgment, or the undiscerning approval, it's the latter. The undiscerning approval.
A lot of us like to go, whoop, no. I don't know. Never. I'm not looking. I love how Martin Luther puts it as well. He says, let the ministers of the gospel learn from Paul how to deal with those who have sinned.
Brethren, he says, if any man be overtaken with a fault, do not aggravate his grief. Do not scold him. Do not condemn him. But lift him up gently, restore him.
See, those ministers of the gospel happen to be all of us. Not just the preachers, but those who would say they are in Christ. Those who are seeking to exhibit goodness.
And this theme flows right into verse 2 where we are instructed to do this: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
This command is actually very simple. But it's very hard to do. It's a command to look out into your church. Look around you. Find those who are tired. Find those in the church and in the Christian community who need help.
They may need help spiritually. As our point one said, as they endure trial or fight sin, they may need simple help in the everyday things of life like their children or their marriage.
My friends, let's all look around us for those who are weighed down by the baggage of life. And ready? You can make a TED Talk on this point right here: Help them.
In this, in helping them, Paul says, in this you will fulfill the law of Christ. In a sense, Paul is saying, in this you fulfill one of God's greatest commandments to the Christian, and that's this: John 13, 34 through 35, Jesus says, a new commandment I give to you.
The old commandments still apply, but this one outweighs them. The old law still, some of the old law still applies, but it's gone compared to this. A new commandment I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus says, so hold on, as I have loved you, you know I love you, love one another. See, as God has showed his goodness and mercy and love, so we must do the same. It's much of the Christian life.
Look at Jesus, look what he's done for us, and we do the same. And I tell you this, you don't have to look far and you will find someone you can show goodness to, even in our local church.
Verses 3 through 5: "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions, and he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else. For each one should carry his own load."
In verse 3, Paul calls out something that can so easily get in the way of doing good to others and exhibiting goodness in our lives. Paul says, if there are some of you in the church who think they are better than the sinner or better than the person who may need help, you're actually tricking yourself. You're deceiving yourself.
Romans 3:23 tells us this: for all have sinned, every single one of us, and fallen short of the glory of God. We're no better than the other. From the moment we were born, we are no better. We have been born in a sinful nature.
I'd like to help, I heard a pastor say this about this verse. He said, it would be like going in, he wants you to, I want you to understand this, it's like going into a nursery with a bunch of two-year-olds and saying, you're all sinners.
It doesn't seem like a fair judgment, but that's where we are. That's where we began. And Paul says, look into your own life, examine it.
See, I know personally, I have a problem with pride. I struggle with it, and I've told you this before, and I will say it again, one of the biggest downfalls in my walk with Jesus is my desire to take credit for things He is obviously giving to me or doing in my life.
See, this leads to sometimes looking at other people and going, really? You're doing that? Really? You're struggling with that? Until, get this, until I look into my own life and I realize I struggle and fight with the same things, maybe in different forms, but the same things.
I'm on the same road as all of you. We're on a road to try to see Jesus. For those of us who are saved, that is a sealed promise.
I'm quickly reminded of Jesus' lesson in Matthew 7:3 through 5. If you went to Sunday school, you know it. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How could you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite. There's one person who ever walked this earth who's allowed to use that kind of harsh language. It's Jesus.
You hypocrite. First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. I can't tell you how many times Jesus has said to me, you hypocrite.
See, what a lesson for all of us as believers in Christ. Look into your own actions. See if they honor God and do without comparing with others sitting in the pew a few sections over. Paul says, look at yourself.
And he continues in verse 5: "For each one should carry his own load." It almost seems like there's a contradiction here because he's been taught, he said, carry each other's burdens. Oh, but carry your own load.
Carry your, you're like, Paul, what are you doing here? And I thought as well it was a contradiction, but Paul is actually doing quite the opposite. He's having the church in Galatia remember, but also us this morning, Romans 14:12, that one day before the throne of God—and I can't wait—we will give an account of our lives and how we lived.
It says this: "So then each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." What a joyous day that will be, but also what a terrifying day that will be when we literally give an account of how we lived.
We're still called to help those who have had a hard time. We have burdens because the Christian was not meant to live life alone. We were made as humans for sweet Christian fellowship and help, but at the same time, we must remember we'll give an account of our own lives.
So let us put to rest the age-old question that I get asked all the time. My friend Billy doesn't go to church, but he says he's a Christian. Is he actually a Christian? Am I? My answer every time is, I haven't met Billy. I have no idea.
But the mature Christian understands that we were never meant to live and do life alone. We were made for the church. And I think the moment that we see the church as a gift to us rather than a checklist item, that's when it springs up and becomes sweet Christian fellowship.
In verse 6, it says, "Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor." And that leads us to our second point this morning. I promise you, the points are spread out. And so it's like, what, we're just at the second point? Ron's probably having a hoot down. So he's like, oh my goodness. But we're getting there.
Point number two: Living out God's goodness to others is shown through physical care. It's shown through physical care.
This verse is interesting. Scholars and pastors widely across the country, across the board, believe this verse is actually touching on caring for the financial needs of your pastor.
And I love how Martin Luther put it. He says this: these passages are all meant to benefit us ministers. I'm excluded. I'm not a pastor, so I'm excluded from this. But Martin Luther was. He said, these passages are meant to benefit us ministers.
And I must say, I do not find much pleasure in explaining these verses. I am made to appear as if I'm speaking for my own benefit. And I feel the same way a little bit this morning, but it's a reminder to take care of those who are called to disciple and shepherd you.
For example, as Pastor Darren, week after week, shares the word of God with you and shares his gifts with you, we as a church must share our gifts with him. And this is done through generous giving every week and your gifts throughout the year and pastor appreciation.
And even, I think Pastor Darren would say, even watching at Fourth of July, seeing all of you serve, that's a gift as well. So more than an exhortation to you, I say, good job. Keep it up.
And for those of you in the church who are like, you're squirming in your chair, you're like, I do not do any of that. Do better. But for most of us, for all of us, it's a good job. I think we do that well.
And more, it's our heart's desire that we see you share your gifts with those around you. I think the greatest privilege as a pastor one day for myself will be to see the church serve each other. That's the greatest gift that I could see.
And so that's our heart's desire here at Friesland Community Church as well. And we touched on it earlier how we can show God's goodness through spiritual care, lifting up gently people who have fallen into sin or who are struggling with life in the spiritual.
But I think there's an underlying biblical principle of taking care of the physical needs of those around you as well. And so I think we do that well as a local church. And I really do. I thank God for your kindness and goodness to your fellow believers.
I think of the recent funeral as well. Many of you brought food, and we're thankful for that. Many of you helped at Fourth of July. We're thankful for that. Many of you are visiting each other without us knowing, checking in and making sure. And we're thankful for that.
Verses 7 through 8: "Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
It seems in verse 7, Paul gives us an even more stern reminder. And he reminds us that being good to others is not a suggestion, but a command. And I think even more, Paul reminds us of a simple truth.
Whether we choose to share our gifts with others and be good to others, or if we choose not to, we will see the fruits of either choice. If we choose to live a life of the world and of the flesh, we will see a life of fleshly gain. And it may seem really good, but it has a terrible end.
If we choose to plant seeds and live a life in the Spirit, we will see the profitable spiritual fruits of that life. A life lived in Christ, and our ultimate goal is eternal life.
So this is not to promote a works-based salvation and say, do this so you can get this. But it's a timeless, biblical truth. You will reap what you sow, good or bad. If you've ever had a great-grandparent or grandparent tell you, you will reap what you sow. You'll get what you deserve.
Verses 9 and 10 to close out the passage: "Let us not become weary in doing good. For at the proper time, and we don't know what time that is, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. So therefore, as we have every opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
And our final point this morning: Living out God's goodness requires dedication. Much of Paul's letter up to this point has been stern exhortation. And he almost pulls back at the end here.
And he concludes the section of the letter by saying three simple words that can sum up the whole life of the believer. If I could tell people in our church who are struggling, these were the three words that I would say: Don't give up.
"Let us not become weary" is in the verb for give up. For I'm telling us not to be discouraged. Don't be discouraged. We might not see the fruits of being good to others, but we are still called to do it and to press on.
And Paul says, as we have every chance, let us show God's goodness through physical and spiritual care to all people, but with a specific emphasis on those who are, as we like to, in-house, those who are part of our local church.
And Paul includes himself in that statement as he says, as we have every opportunity. And I hope you see my heart and my sermons as well that I am called to do everything that I call you to do through God's word.
See, I think for us as a church this morning, the sermon is more of a good job, keep it up kind of sermon. Because I see you taking care of each other and walking alongside of each other, and it really brings me joy.
But I'll encourage you with this. While we have many teams that you can serve on to exhibit goodness to others, I encourage you that you don't have to be on that team to do it. I'm not saying quit the team. If you're on the team, stay on them, we need you.
But you don't have to have a name tag to do what we have talked about this morning. Look around you. Pray that God would enable and equip you to serve others, to show goodness, and go for it. This is the work of ministry.
And thanks be to God that He chooses to use ordinary people like you and me to accomplish His great work. And I pray that Friesland Community Church is known for joining in on God's work of renewal around the world and even here in the little village of Friesland.
And so let's remember this morning: first, living out God's goodness to others is shown through spiritual care. And second, living out God's goodness to others is shown by physical care. And finally, living out God's goodness to others requires dedication.
It's not easy. It's not easy for me either. I'm right where you guys are at. And so I end with three words that Paul says and is a theme throughout the scriptures: Don't give up.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your word. Thank you that it's sharp and that it pierces our hearts. And I've read this sermon countless times this week, and it still pierces my heart straight to the core.
So Father, would you help us to live out goodness to others because you have been so good and kind to us. And Lord, after all is said and done, we will still not take the credit. We'll give you all the glory because you're the one who deserves it.
In Jesus' name, all God's people said, Amen.
Well, you can stand with us again for hymn number 670 as we continue in worship, "Make Me a Blessing."
What a fitting hymn. If you're visiting with us for Fourth of July weekend, we want to say thank you. Thank you for joining us this weekend.
Again, like we say every week, following the service downstairs in the gym, there will be some treats and coffee, and that is part of this sweet Christian fellowship. We're going to be celebrating that.
So we look forward to seeing you downstairs as well. Our benediction comes from Numbers 6:24 through 26: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."
And all God's people said, Amen.
Let's close in singing "Because He Lives."
on Jul 11, 2024
