Seven Mile Road Church

Participating in the Missio Dei

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

So here’s how Matthew’s Gospel and our sermon series ends. The Resurrected, triumphant, sin-defeating, Satan-conquering, death-overcoming, sinner-saving, victorious Lord Jesus stands with his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. He’s standing right in front of them and yet some can hardly believe it’s really him and that he’s really alive. He gathers the eleven for one last conversation.

“Go therefore and make disciples.” Jesus sends his disciples on mission to the world even as the Father had sent him. They are to continue his work so that people from every culture and country on earth might come to know salvation in him. They are to baptize in the name of the Triune God. They are to teach them to walk in obedience to the Lord. And they are to do all this with the assurance that Jesus will be with them till the end.

Today, Seven Mile Road Church has been swept up into this same mission. We get to participate in making disciples by making Jesus known here and to the ends of the earth.

The King On Trial

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

As Jesus emerges from the garden, he’s no longer trembling and troubled, but composed and calm. He is unjustly arrested and brought to trial trumped up on false charges. His accusers move quickly, acting under the cover of night. They have concocted a case filled with lies and empty accusations. Yet Jesus does not resist. He does not protest. He does not defend himself, for it for this hour that he has born.

His case is finally brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor. On the surface, it appears that Pilate stands in power and Jesus powerless. Yet the conversation reveals Jesus’ true identity; that of a king. Ultimately it is Jesus who displays courage and Pilate who plays the coward. The outcome of the trial is sealed even before it begins. The King is to be crucified.

The Garden & The Cup

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Fearless. Authoritative. Composed.

Those are probably some of the words you would used to describe Jesus as you scan his life across the pages of the Gospels. He went toe to toe with the tempter and didn’t flinch. He challenged the establishment and stared down religious leaders exposing their hypocrisy. He defended the defenseless.

No wonder then we are so startled by what we see as Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane. He appears distressed and troubled. Anguish and sorrow have gripped his heart. He appears crushed, sweating drops of blood. Within hours, Peter would deny him. Judas would betray him. The disciples would abandon him. The crowds would mock him. The Jews would try him. The Romans would crucify him.

And the Father would abandon Him.

This is the cup that Jesus would have to drink. It’s a potent drink filled with humanity’s sin and God’s wrath. Jesus stares into this cup in the Garden and says, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Bread & Wine

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

For centuries, Jewish families gathered to celebrate the Passover. On a special night of the year, they shared a meal remembering how the Lord had delivered them from bondage and captivity in Egypt. God freed them from slavery. God’s judgment passed over them. God graciously saved them.

Centuries later, Jesus sat down with his disciples to eat one last meal before his death. The disciples could have never imagined that the supper they would share would become the most important one of their lives. Jesus gives bread and wine even as He would give His body and blood to establish a New Covenant.

Today, Christians gather to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. We share a meal remembering how Jesus has delivered us from bondage and captivity in sin. Jesus freed us from our slavery. God’s judgment has fallen on Jesus and passed over us. God has graciously saved us.

Why Jesus Hates Religion

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

“Don’t go there. Don’t touch this. Don’t do that.” The Pharisees were first century kings of following the rules and calling others to do the same. Actually, they didn’t just follow the rules; they invented them. Their whole lives revolved around religion, commandments, and obedience. You would think that Jesus and the Pharisees would be best of friends.

They weren’t. In fact, they looked more like enemies than friends. As you read through the Gospels, you can’t help but notice that Jesus and these religious leaders were always at each other’s throats. Jesus saw these men for who they were – men who knew the law but failed to love God. He was wise to their charade, their pious pretenses, and exposed it whenever he could. Hypocrites, blind guides, fools, serpents, whitewashed tombs – these were just some of the terms Jesus used to address the Pharisees. His tone is fierce. Jesus cuts into these moral leaders longing for them to abandon their self-righteousness and come to him in repentance and faith.

Sell It All and Follow Me

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

He's rich. He's young. He's a ruler. He’s perfect. You could hardly imagine a better recruit to join Jesus’ ministry team. To top it all off, he’s even religious. He has spent his whole life obeying God’s commandments. The disciples drool at the prospect of adding this powerful, wealthy, young man to their team.

Then why does the conversation end with sadness?

The man walks away sad for in calling him to follow, Jesus demanded that he give up everything. Everything. Jesus calls the rich man to sell it all for the sake of the poor and follow him – a cost he is unwilling to bear. Likewise, Jesus is saddened too. The young man had traded life in Christ and treasure in heaven for trinkets on earth. The call to follow Jesus is no less costly today. If only we could see the treasure that is Christ and follow him.

Our Father Who Art in Heaven

Angelo Juliani — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

If you want to learn to shoot a jump shot, you ask Michael Jordan. If you want to learn to cook, you ask Gordon Ramsey or Rachael Ray. If you want to learn to build something, you call Bob Villa.

If you want to learn to pray, you ask Jesus.

That’s what the disciples did. Being around Jesus all the time, they couldn’t help but notice his prayer life. It seemed like Jesus was always praying. Jesus would wake up early before everyone else to meet with His Father. He would take trips to the mountainside for solitude and prayer. Jesus prayed with people and by himself. He prayed at different times and in different places. Jesus prayed.

So no wonder the disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And he did. Listen in as Jesus teaches his followers about prayer.

Who is My Neighbor?

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

A self-righteous expert on the law approaches Jesus to give him a pop quiz on God’s law. Jesus responds by turning the tables so that the one with the questions becomes the one being questioned. As they discuss God’s law, the lawyer rattles off the two great commandments with ease, namely, to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. However, wanting to justify himself, the lawyer pushes Jesus further, asking him to define ‘neighbor.’ Exactly who is it that God requires us to love? Who qualifies as a neighbor?

Jesus answers with a parable. He tells a story of a man on a journey who is attacked and robbed along the way. Three men pass the wounded traveler. Yet only one stops to show compassion. But here’s the twist. Jesus changes directions and shifts the focus. The question is no longer who is my neighbor, but rather what kind of neighbor are you?

Come Follow Me

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jesus has a mission. He has to save the world from their sin and extend God’s salvation to humanity. Check. He has to entrust this mission to some men that they might continue his work. Check. He will call these men to be his disciples, to learn from him, and to be his representatives on the earth. Check. It’s obvious then that he needs to select some good men. Check. Check. So he heads straight to a tax collector’s booth and finds a sinful liar and cheat to make him a disciple. Wait…what?

One might question Jesus’ selection in choosing his disciples. Their pedigree is not exactly what you would expect. Matthew is a prime example. He’s one of the “sinners” on the Pharisee’s hit list. They couldn’t imagine even sitting down with such men, let alone befriending them. Yet, Jesus walks by this man in his place of business (a shady business to be sure) and says to him, “Follow me.” And you know what? Matthew does.

Let the Children Come

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The demands of ministry on Jesus were intense. It seemed like every person in Israel wanted some time with the teacher from Nazareth. Rabbis approached him with questions. Rich rulers fell before him. Authorities investigated him. With all these important appointments, the disciples figured Jesus had little time to deal with babies in diapers. And so when some eager parents brought their little children to be blessed by Jesus, the disciples figured the best thing to do was to chase them away. Jesus had no time for kids.

They were wrong. In fact, Jesus is infuriated by their response. Rather than dismissing them, Jesus receives the children. He takes them into his arms and blesses them. He even uses the moment to illustrate an important truth; that those who receive the kingdom of God would have to do so like a little child.

As followers of Jesus, our desire is for his rule and reign and blessing to cover all of life. That includes our children. When God blesses us with the gift of children, our deep impulse is to bring them before him that they too might know his grace and blessing. Today, as a church, we bring some of our little ones before Jesus that he might bless them as he did that day.

Jacob's Well

Reid Monaghan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

She always made her way down to the well after all the other women had left. She couldn’t bear to see their stares or hear their whispers. She knew what they were thinking. So she went when no one would be there.

Except on this day.

On this day she found a tired Jewish man sitting besides Jacob’s well. He asked her for a drink and so the conversation began. “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” she replied. And yet despite all the barriers between them – cultural, racial, religious, moral – the Jewish man kept talking with her. He spoke to her like no one ever had. He seemed to know all about her dark past and yet instead of casting her away, invited her to discover who he truly was. By the end of their conversation, the woman runs back to her town to tell everyone she knows about him. “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

Today we consider the conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well. Her call to us would be the same; “Come, see a man…”

The New Birth

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Everything about Nicodemus’ first birth was perfect. He was born into a good Jewish home. He devoted himself to keeping all the religious laws. If that wasn’t enough, he grows up and becomes a Rabbi, a teacher of Israel. Like his fellow Pharisees, Nicodemus dotted every “i" and crossed every “t” when it came to the law. Moral. Decent. Upright. Religious. If anybody is in with God, it’s this guy right?

No.

The teacher of Israel approaches Jesus at night and their conversation reveals that rather than having a front row seat in God’s kingdom, he’s actually in danger of not even getting in. Nicodemus needed to start again…like a new start…like a new birth…like being born again. Jesus teaches this teacher that God’s kingdom is seen not by those who gain it through pious performance, but have a new heart and a new birth through faith in him.

150 Gallons

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

You remember Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh? He was the sad looking donkey with the gloomy face, drooped head, and depressing voice. You’d rather sit through traffic on Roosevelt Blvd. than hang out with Eeyore. For a lot us, the idea of following Jesus is no different. Jesus is associated with words like boring, dull, dry, and dreary.

Yet the people in Jesus’ day accused him of being at too many parties, not too few. In fact, the first place we see Jesus take his disciples is to attend a wedding celebration. That’s right; they show up at a party. Moreover, it’s here that Jesus performed His first miracle – turning water into wine. Instead of ending the party, Jesus actually performs a miracle to keep it going. Jesus’ life and ministry was marked by joy and a conversation with his mother Mary reveals that he hadn’t come to steal our joy but to give us joy unspeakable, even at great cost to himself.

A Battle in the Desert

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

After being baptized and before entering public ministry, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted. There he goes toe to toe with the tempter. Three times the enemy of God tries to get Jesus to falter and fail. But where his predecessors had failed, Jesus succeeded. Unlike Adam and Eve in the garden, or Israel in the desert, or you and I basically everywhere we've been, Jesus remains faithfully obedient to his Father's word.

Three temptations. Three responses. And the devil is sent away defeated. What a Savior!

A Confession

Ajay Thomas — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The opinions surrounding the identity of Jesus were as varied in his day as they are in ours. The crowds in Israel were buzzing about Jesus the carpenter turned itinerant preacher. Is he Elijah? Jeremiah? John the Baptist back from the dead? Amidst the multitude of possible answers, Jesus steers the conversation away from public opinion to a personal one. "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter, one of the disciples, replies with a stunning, beautiful, Spirit-revealed confession of just who Jesus is. It's a powerful confession. In fact, Jesus promised to build his church upon it. As we launch Seven Mile Road Church today, we rest on the same confession Peter made then.