Cow Tipping - 1
August 7, 2011
Dan Southerland, Senior Pastor at Westside Family Church (as broadcost via their Online Campus).
Follow this link to watch Pastor Dan give this message.
Intro Thoughts:
- Sacred cows are commonly held beliefs that are considered to be immune from question or criticism.
- Sacred cows can be a problem because they are often based on non-biblical ideas. Example: God's Will is always done. Do you think God's happy with the condition of this world?
- Sacred cows make great hamburgers. Shoot 'em and eat 'em. Vegetarians ... don't e-mail Pastor Dan. He claims the word vegetarian is ancient Greek for 'bad hunter.'
"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to observe what is right."2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
... Scripture is not for our entertaiment or to make us feel good. Basing your belief on logic or emotion will not get you the whole picture.
In other words - we should have no sacred cows!
What happens when we do not examine our beliefs in the light of scripture?
"These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. They have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." Mark 7:6-9 (NIV)
.. so said the Son of God.
... Why is this so important? What we believe eventually determines what we become.
Today's sacred cow: God picks us, God saves us, and God keeps us - and that is all there is to it.
... The first part of that statemen tis totally true, but the second part is totally false.
... 'That's all there is to it." NO!!!! That's just the start. Why has Pastor Dan called this 'Christians in a Pickle Jar'? Anecdote about his Aunt's garden, cucumbers into sweet pickles ... the point being to give those away.
The truth of scripture: God does pick us, save us and keeps us - but that is only the start! God also calls us, sends us and uses us.
... What was Jesus's number one invitation? "Come and follow me."
"Come and follow me and I will send you out to fish for people."Jesus in Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
The invitation - Jesus calls us.
Come and follow me ...
The ordination - Jesus sends us.
and I will send you out ...
... means you have sent someone with a mission. If you read a harmony of the gospels, after four months, Jesus sent the disciples out.
The expectation - Jesus uses us.
to fish for people.
... God uses me becuase I expect God to use me. And I expect God to use me because he's promised that he'll use us.
If God picks us, saves us, and keeps us - and that is all there is to it - then it is all about me.
... Here's the problem ... it makes it think it's all about me. Christian in a Pickle Jar theology.
That belief system leads to a self-centered life.
... Pastor Dan ... the most self-centered people I've ever met are at church.
If God also calls us, sends us and uses us, then it is all about others.
... Do you hear the difference?
That belief system leads to a service centered life.
... Who else can we rescue?
What do you believe? Which life do you want?
Next week: Jesus and politics. Pastor Dan guarantees he's going to offend everyone in the house.
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