Bradley United Methodist Church

October 28, 2007
Rev. Terry D. Campbell

God’s Truth-tellers
Ephesians 4:11-16

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

God has given his church an enormous responsibility—to make disciples in every nation (Mat. 28:18-20). This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building, and many other tasks. If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we might as well give up without trying—it would be impossible. But God calls us as members of his body. Some of us can do one task; some can do another. Together we can obey God more fully than any of us could alone. It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do by ourselves and to underestimate what we can do as a group. But as the body of Christ, we can accomplish more together than we would dream possible working by ourselves. Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ

If apostle-types keep reminding the church to be reaching out to open up new areas for the Lord, prophet-types keep us reminded of the standard of God. They hold up God’s plumb line. They are prophets—“pro fete”—God’s forth tellers. They call people to . . .

I. Know the word of God.

It is important for someone to keep reminding us, “Thus says the Lord.” We are the Church of Jesus Christ—from the universal body of every Christian throughout the world, down to every Christian individually. This is the call to live God’s way. We’re not ruled by the by-laws of the favorite service organizations or of Scouting. We are not guided by the desires of any political party or national government. We are not under the direction of any one person or a group of human beings. We are the Church of Jesus Christ and responsible to, “Thus says the Lord.” That is our rudder, our plumb line!

Prophet-role Christians have a special drawing to God through prayer and Bible Study so that they can become more deeply aware of the mind and heart of God. This is not to say that EVERY Christian shouldn’t be drawn to praying and studying God’s word. But this is a special goal and passion for the prophet-role Christians.

Some people might look on them as fanatics or accuse them of worshipping the Bible, but they are reminding us all that we are the people OF JESUS CHRIST and we need to think and live in ways pleasing to Him. John Wesley himself said that Methodists are to be people of one Book.

Scriptures like these are especially significant to the prophet-role Christians:

Psalm 119:105-“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

2 Timothy 2:15-“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17-“and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Know the word of God and. . .

II. Show the word of God.

They must not speak contrary to the Scriptures. Since the mind and heart of God are so important to them they take special care to show the word of God by their living. In the Bible that was often manifest by living a very simple life, dressing, eating, and living with just the bare essentials.

Today, they make a special emphasis on living out God’s character. Why would people want to hear the word of the Lord from someone who does not act in a way that reflects they know or care about God? God was hard on the prophets of old who were unfaithful and our witness for Him is still supremely significant!

When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was taken prisoner, He prayed for the church saying, (John 17:17)-“’Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.’” “Sanctify” is to make holy. So Jesus prayed for the Church to live according to God’s word and exhibit the holiness, the character of God. Prophet-role Christians remind us of this goal we should have. We are to know and show God’s word with our lives.

III. Grow the word of God.

	Bradley United Methodist Church AN HISTORIC CHURCH LIVING FOR TODAY, WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW 210 W. Main Street, Greenfield, Indiana 46140-2097 Telephone: 317-462-2662 E-Mail: info@BradleyUMC.org Our purpose is to grow people to: magnify God, become members of Christ and His Church, be mature in Christ, minister through Christ, and be in mission with Christ.
Home Bradley's Staff Calendar Sermons Programs Current Newsletter (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader®) Bradley Preschool Video Tour (requires Real Player®)	October 28, 2007 Rev. Terry D. Campbell God’s Truth-tellers Ephesians 4:11-16 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” God has given his church an enormous responsibility—to make disciples in every nation (Mat. 28:18-20). This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building, and many other tasks. If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we might as well give up without trying—it would be impossible. But God calls us as members of his body. Some of us can do one task; some can do another. Together we can obey God more fully than any of us could alone. It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do by ourselves and to underestimate what we can do as a group. But as the body of Christ, we can accomplish more together than we would dream possible working by ourselves. Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ If apostle-types keep reminding the church to be reaching out to open up new areas for the Lord, prophet-types keep us reminded of the standard of God. They hold up God’s plumb line. They are prophets—“pro fete”—God’s forth tellers. They call people to . . . I. Know the word of God. It is important for someone to keep reminding us, “Thus says the Lord.” We are the Church of Jesus Christ—from the universal body of every Christian throughout the world, down to every Christian individually. This is the call to live God’s way. We’re not ruled by the by-laws of the favorite service organizations or of Scouting. We are not guided by the desires of any political party or national government. We are not under the direction of any one person or a group of human beings. We are the Church of Jesus Christ and responsible to, “Thus says the Lord.” That is our rudder, our plumb line! Prophet-role Christians have a special drawing to God through prayer and Bible Study so that they can become more deeply aware of the mind and heart of God. This is not to say that EVERY Christian shouldn’t be drawn to praying and studying God’s word. But this is a special goal and passion for the prophet-role Christians. Some people might look on them as fanatics or accuse them of worshipping the Bible, but they are reminding us all that we are the people OF JESUS CHRIST and we need to think and live in ways pleasing to Him. John Wesley himself said that Methodists are to be people of one Book. Scriptures like these are especially significant to the prophet-role Christians: Psalm 119:105-“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” 2 Timothy 2:15-“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17-“and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Know the word of God and. . . II. Show the word of God. They must not speak contrary to the Scriptures. Since the mind and heart of God are so important to them they take special care to show the word of God by their living. In the Bible that was often manifest by living a very simple life, dressing, eating, and living with just the bare essentials. Today, they make a special emphasis on living out God’s character. Why would people want to hear the word of the Lord from someone who does not act in a way that reflects they know or care about God? God was hard on the prophets of old who were unfaithful and our witness for Him is still supremely significant! When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was taken prisoner, He prayed for the church saying, (John 17:17)-“’Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.’” “Sanctify” is to make holy. So Jesus prayed for the Church to live according to God’s word and exhibit the holiness, the character of God. Prophet-role Christians remind us of this goal we should have. We are to know and show God’s word with our lives. III. Grow the word of God. In the church . . . prophet-role Christians keep us all reminded of what God has said. If they will do it with the love and grace of Christ, they have a good chance of challenging and deepening our faith commitment to the Lord. Ephesians 4:15-“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” 1 Cor. 14:3-“But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” From the Bible we can offer help of salvation, grace, forgiveness, hope, and wisdom. Wisdom for example: When the world tells parents not to discipline children we learn from God to discipline your children, but don’t do so to the point that you exasperate them—frustrate them and keep them from accepting the lessons they should learn. Husbands and wives respect each other. Wives honor your husbands and husbands love your wife with completely Christ-like self-sacrificing love. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Prophet-role Christians should speak the written word of God and then let it, through the power of the Holy Spirit convict, convince and correct in people’s lives. In the community. 2 Timothy 4:3-4-“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” How do you act around people who know you—and know that you are a Christian? Prophet-role Christians remind us of our witness for—or against Christ. As you interact with people, don’t just think about your needs but about the needs of the community today and into the future. In the country. Matthew 5:14-15-“’You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.’” “Sometimes the prophet is the one who can stand back from circumstances and get a clear picture of what is happening. This clarity of vision results in creative solutions and a vision for situations that others don’t see. Prophets understand the times and what people should do. They enjoy being alone with God, waiting, and listening.”^[i] People may not want to hear from God. They may want to kill the messenger. Prophet-role Christians encourage us to stand up and be counted. When others may be voting their pocketbook, their party, their power struggle . . . vote your Christian conscience. Know, show and grow the word of the Lord in our world. That is the message of God’s Truth-tellers. Amen.
	^[i] Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad, A Passionate Life, Colorado Springs, CO, Cook Communications Ministries, 2005, pp. 145-146.

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Bradley United Methodist Church

AN HISTORIC CHURCH LIVING FOR TODAY,WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW

AN HISTORIC CHURCH LIVING FOR TODAY,
WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW