The Good of Others and the Glory of God
Sermon Recap
In our fall preaching series, we’ve been having an extended conversation about the focus of Refuge Church heading into our next season of life and ministry together. We’ve already discussed our vision statement (“To see the goodness of God’s kingdom fully realized in the Refuge family and in our city”). And over the last few weeks, we’ve been exploring our mission statement, “Being transformed through life with Jesus.”
In previous sermons, David discussed the activities of our mission, under the 3 headings “Learn from Jesus, Practice his way, Be healed by His love and power.” Last week, Gary spoke on the environments of that mission – “In community, by the Holy Spirit.” This week, Toshi focused our attention on the purposes of our transformation: “for the good of others and for the glory of God.”
When we speak of transformation, it can be easy to assume that spiritual formation is only something that happens inside of us. Just like being in a gym, where we are surrounded by mirrors that keep our attention on our (hopefully) increasing fitness, we can be tempted to keep our focus inward, on our own selves. The process seems to be about who I am becoming and how I am growing.
Those are good and important questions, but as Robert Mulholland wrote, “All of God’s work to conform us to the image of Christ…has as its sole purpose that we might become what God created us to be. If we forget this…we don’t have Christian spiritual formation, we have a spiritualized form of self-actualization.”
So then we ask: what does Jesus intend us to be?
In Matthew 5, Jesus uses the picture of light to describe how we are called to live for the good of others and the glory of God. Just like no one lights a lamp and hides it under a basket, so we are intended to live in such a way that others see our good works and give glory to God.
Christian formation moves outward. We are called to live in such a way that our light shines (out) and others see for themselves how beautiful God is. Like the call to God’s people to seek the good of the city while they were in exile. Or like the ancient Celtic monastics who spread though Ireland and Scotland building wells for the good of their communities instead of walls to keep others out. The goal is not retreat, but renewal.
Christian formation leads to solidarity with those around us. In the late 1800s, Father Damien volunteered to serve the needs of a leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. He shared so life so closely with them that eventually he, too, contracted leprosy. His ministry took on a different power when he opened a sermon saying, “We lepers…” He was not just with them, he was one of them.
Christian formation shows up in the ordinary. Like Toshi’s grandma, whose faithful work of prayer on behalf of the ministry of her family accompanied her daily meal-making and dishwashing. There are so many ways that the work of formation shows up in unspectacular – yet powerful – ways: being a listening neighbor, opening your homes and tables to friends and strangers, parenting, running a business with integrity, being a friend who forgives. That is the light of Christ, the kingdom in slow motion.
And all this, not for our own sake, but so that others will encounter God. The biblical authors don’t treat God as an idea to be defined, but as a presence to be encountered. The glory of God isn’t a showing off, but a shining through. The light of his presence opens our eyes to see the sacred and the beautiful in ordinary places.
The secret of the kingdom is that in giving, we receive. In blessing, we are blessed. In loving others, we find our own hearts expanded, our own souls healed. We learn that we are healed to heal, blessed to be a blessing. Called to be light to point to the One who is light everlasting. For the good of others and for the glory of God.
Entering Conversation
1. What stood out to you from this week’s sermon? Was anything new? Did anything especially connect with you?
2. What attribute or posture of Jesus do you admire most and/or want others to see?
3. This is a difficult question and you may not arrive at tidy answers, but it is also the best part of our work together. We’ve said that our transformation happens in community, by the Holy Spirit. Think about what you most admire in Jesus. What might it look like to cultivate in community a habit/practice/virtue that points to that aspect of who He is? What are the practices and habits of community that will help?
Practice for the Week
You may have identified an appropriate practice in the last part of your conversation together. If not, use this week to reinforce how community isn’t a weekly meeting, but ongoing relationship. Find a way this week to connect with another member or two from your group, through texting, a talk, walking together, sharing a drink – whatever. And make plans to be together at the 10-year celebration next Sunday!