The Gift of Relationship

Transcript (Auto-generated)

Hey here we go. I am I'll have to give the sound team a raise or something because it seems to be every time I get up but that's okay good morning welcome whether you're in here in person or online it's good to have you here this morning how are you traveling pretty good we're going okay the end of the year is upon us this is just a little bit of a public service announcement in case you're unaware and need the prompt there's only ten days left in 2025 the end of the year is ten days away and that means that there's only four days until Christmas and so the question that I'm gonna pose to you this morning is knowing this knowing that there's ten days till the end of the year four days until Christmas how are you going to spend these final days of 2025 what are you gonna do ten days I didn't work out the hours but ten days what are you gonna do with them my guess if I had to generalize our congregation okay this is just a wild guess some might land some might not but my guess would be that the next four days especially are probably gonna be filled with final preparations for Christmas and that will have varying degrees so for some people it'll mean I need to go to the shops and get all the presents all the food do absolutely everything because I didn't realize it was coming up this quick for others it'll be just working out those final logistical nightmares of a calm going here there where wherever I hope someone else figured that out we may have Christmas traditions that kick in around this time of year maybe you go out and look at all the fairy lights in the street that you live in maybe you make gingerbread houses for some of us we're still going to be working so yeah you're pushing through you're still on the grind until the end of the year you're trying to finish well this year that was 2025 for many for most the next four days especially will be filled with anticipation and expectation for the Christmas celebrations and for others they'll be eagerly looking forward to Christmas being over that's just the reality of it and so we have this big mad rush this four days in the lead up to Christmas then Christmas day and then we're kind of left with the last six days of 2025 and it's a weird blend of prolonged Christmas celebrations and then a little bit of preparing for 2026 and then if we're being honest a weird nothingness it's almost as though we kind of sit down and just watch the timer disappear for 2025 we wait for 2026 we go I could do this but that'll be a next year problem I'm just doing nothing maybe all that relates maybe a snippet what do your next 10 days look like how will you spend them and will you make them count let's pray heavenly Father we thank you for Christmas Lord for the gift of Jesus Christ Lord thank you for your word for the joy the privilege it is to dive into Scripture this morning we just pray that as we turn our attention to your word Lord by your Holy Spirit would you be at work in us and through us reveal to each of us what it is that you're saying to us personally and show us how to respond we pray in the name of Jesus Christ amen this morning we're continuing in our Advent series looking at Jesus being the true gift of Christmas and this morning we're focusing our attention on the reality the truth that Jesus Christ is a gift of relationship now that may not make sense straight away we sort of look at that and go isn't Jesus like the gift of forgiveness yes but I think we have a tendency to stop short Jesus Christ is a gift a relationship see forgiveness we tend to focus on it especially in church and as Christians we go yeah I trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of my sins that's great that's true that's amazing but forgiveness is not the endgame Jesus didn't come with my end game is to forgive all humanity it wasn't the purpose forgiveness was the means to the end game forgiveness was the means to the end goal which was restored relationship with God forgiveness had to happen so that we could be reconciled with God our Father and so if you got your Bibles there I'll invite you to open up to John 3 verses 16 to 21 for most of you you can probably read recite verse 16 but we're gonna read the whole section verse 16 says for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God and this is the judgment the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil for everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his work should be exposed but whoever does what is true comes to the light so that it may be clearly seen that his good works have been carried out in God Jesus is the gift of relationships I feel like we need to just pause to clarify what we mean here what comes to mind when I say the word relationship what what do you think of is there a current relationship that comes to mind maybe when I say relationship you think of a spouse a husband or a wife maybe you think of a parent a child a best friend a work colleague maybe a sporting teammate the answer is yes in fact the dictionary defines relationship as the way in which two or more things or people which let's go with that one two or more people are connected it's the state of being related or interrelated it's the way in which we exist and relate with one another and as I've pondered this I've observed that usually you can gauge the depth of a relationship based on the way that the two parties act and respond what's the actions from one person to another what's the response of the second person for example we're going to start very very small relationship and build our way up for example if I was just decide to catch the bus home today perhaps Ali gets called she has to go off somewhere I have to catch the bus home my action would be to go to the bus stop to pay the fare to sit and wait for the bus the bus driver would come his response would be to let me onto the bus maybe say hi that's it down and he would drive me according to the route to where I wanted to go then he'd stop I jump off maybe say bye and that would be it very truly a relationship's been established it's not a very deep one but it is a relationship there's a driver passenger relationship there two people have related in a way we can see that the actions are very shallow it's more of an obligation-based thing there's no real depth in that relationship so let's move a little bit further in consider an employee right his actions are wakes up goes to work make sure he's at work on time fulfills the roles responsibilities the duties that he's agreed to engages in some small talk with co-workers around the table with the boss around the table and then goes home these actions are met with the response that the boss at the end of the week pays him again it's a little bit deeper because of the amount of time that would be spent in close proximity with one another but there's a relationship there slightly deeper but still shallow more of a obligation-based thing as we've seen once again let's move to something with a little bit more depth just as we unpack what this means alright let's say a boy meets a girl at Bible College because apparently that's where you meet girls that's a joke okay yeah you're in that you're in the same class yeah put in the same group you have a bit of a chat at this stage you've got the same relationship as the bus driver passenger right it's just a high we coexist in this classroom together great but as you continue your line of study it moves that little bit deeper turns to the lunchtime conversations bit like the co-workers and the boss it moves that little bit deeper you get to know one another that little bit more but then you find out they're actually interesting and so you start talking more in-depth the conversation goes from surface level of like oh what did you do on the weekend to something a little bit more meaningful like hey what's actually really important to you what are your likes and dislikes and so gradually the conversation deepens the information that you know about this person deepens the information they know about you deepens to the point that you're now going actually this person's half right can we continue this conversation over dinner action the invitation the response is yes okay and so you go out you have dinner great time the boy asked the girl out on a date that's a pretty big action for any boys who have asked girls out on dates there's a bit of butterflies that happen there the girl has a response to make yes goes out positive deepening a relationship now let's say this goes on for a little while and at a certain stage the boy goes I need to make a grand gesture so he goes out he buys a ring gets down on one knee and asks this girl to marry him can we agree that this action has gotten bigger and bigger and bigger until we're at this point this indeniable point where this grand action requires a response let's say for the sake of happy endings the girl says yes it's not just a yes to the ring the response is a commitment to plan the wedding to get married to continue to journey through the rest of life side by side with this boy who has asked them to marry you grand gesture grand response and so relationships they they vary in depth but generally if you look at the actions if you look at the responses you can tell the depth the importance of that relationship humor me one more example the Bible tells us that God created you and me and all of humanity it's very clear and God being creator and sustainer of all things right he didn't just observe he actively created you and I he knows you and I so individually so intimately so deeply that he knows us better than we know ourselves every thought we've ever thought which depending on our memory we don't even remember all of them every action every emotion there's absolutely nothing about us that God is not aware of that God doesn't know about us this is the first action right and God comes out of the gates screaming it's a huge action he creates us and knows us intimately and he invites us to do life with him he invites us into relationship with him knowing everything about us and our response the Bible tells us our response to this grand gesture this grand action was to decline God we sorted it did a yeah thanks for creating me that sounds nice but it's not for me the Bible is very clear we sinned we turned our backs on God we turned our backs on relationship with him in the pursuit of self gratification self glory and selfishness that's our first response we sinned we rebelled against God decided to pursue our wants and desires over responding yes to his offer of relationship we rejected God when we sinned not only that but to kind of rub salt in the metaphorical wound we live our lives in a way that not only offends God but causes harm to other parts of his creation we hurt other human beings we make a mess of the physical world that he's created for us to live in it would be a little bit like a son or a daughter going up to mom and dad and saying hey thanks for making me I want nothing to do with you you're just too strict but here's the provisions you're going to have to provide for me you're going to have to make sure I eat three times a day you're gonna have to continue to pay electricity and rent and do all that but in the meantime I want nothing to do with you and actually I'm gonna trash the house while I'm at it this is Dylan's elaborate illustration of what scripture says we're in rebellion and sin against God but here's the thing God created as he knows it's better than we know ourselves he knows the good the bad and the ugly we cannot hide anything from him and if we're being honest if we look in the mirror of our innermost selves we can be overwhelmingly ugly as human beings overwhelmingly sinful and despite knowing all of this we get these words in John 3 16 and 17 for God so loved the world he so loved you he so loved me in the midst of our messiness God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him isn't that miraculous isn't that just amazing isn't that a level of love and grace that humanly we cannot even fully comprehend a grand action after we denied his first one after we rebelled against the first invitation seeing us decline into messiness and sin God doesn't even grander action he sends Jesus his one and only son the true gift of Christmas as a gift of relationship to save the world to save you and I but see it wasn't just a gift of salvation and cool God were made right thanks for letting me not burn in hell for eternity hell is the absence of God it's being removed from God by sin and so the forgiveness of sins that's not the end game the forgiveness of sins is for restored relationship with God but here's the thing about any relationship right depth is defined not only by the action but by the response God's action is a gift an opportunity to be reconciled with him an invitation for deep meaningful and the lasting relationship for all of eternity what's our response going to be we continue to read John 3 18 to 21 whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God and this is the judgment the light has come into the world and the people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil for everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light less his works should be exposed but whoever does what is true comes to the light so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God there's a couple of different responses to this grand action that God extends to us that we remember at Christmas with the birth of Jesus very truly if we believe in Jesus Christ if we respond wholeheartedly accepting him as our Lord and Savior trusting in him for the forgiveness of our sins through that means we are reconciled with God to accept forgiveness of sins is to accept God's invitation for an everlasting ongoing relationship that like any other relationship should deepen with time when we accept this gift we're no longer condemned by our sin we're completely forgiven may completely righteous through the blood of Christ we're able to walk with God to seek him to be led by him in day-to-day life it's a little bit like when a woman might say to a man yes after a marriage proposal they take the ring but the rings only symbolic what they're saying yes to what they're committing to is the rest of their lives walking side by side through the ups and downs together whoever believes in him is not condemned it would be great if it just stopped there that bit of Scripture but it doesn't let's continue reading on the second option is not as nice it's not as pretty as we read as we unpack this it's the reality of where we once were if we if you haven't accepted Jesus it's where we are now see God sent Jesus the gift of relationship he was born in a major over 2,000 years ago he lived a perfect life he died paid the price of our sin invites us into relationship this is what we remember when we remember Jesus birth but the second option is to reject Jesus and decline God's invitation and gift of relationship see we know regardless of the level entering relationship especially the deeper you go entering into a relationship with someone causes sacrifice causes compromise and very truly entering into relationship with God accepting that invitation is to turn away from our sin to turn away from darkness from wickedness we can't have it both ways to accept light is to be removed from darkness and so to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour to be reconciled with God we lose the right to be completely selfish we lose the right to be completely self-glorifying we lose the right to seek and stay in our sinful wicked ways we can't imagine the marriage proposal we can't go this is amazing I'll take the ring I'll take the forgiveness but I want nothing to do with you and turn away that's not how it works the forgiveness is the means to the restored relationship just like the rings is a means a symbol of ongoing marriage covenant and the sad part is as we're gonna read in a moment there's many in our world there may be many sitting here who like the darkness who go God's gift of forgiveness of reconcile relationship with him that seems nice but that means I have to stop doing this insert any sin there it means that I would have to change yes because we're sinful and wicked and no good we need Jesus there may be some who when they consider the birth of Jesus when they consider this restored relationship go but if God really knew everything about me like if he really knew I've got stuff that no one knows if he really knew there's no way he changed the terms of the deal because I'm just rotten I'm sinful I'm broken in so many ways we all are God knows that's the good news church if that's the only thing holding you back God knows and his offer remains the same Jesus is the gift of restored relationship with him so hell you spend the last 10 days of 2025 and four days we celebrate Christmas we might sing carols or eat food we might say grace before we eat whatever Christmas looks like I want to encourage you on a challenge you don't just go through the motions this Christmas very truly Jesus Christ is the gift of relationship with God he's made it possible for our sins to be forgiven for us to be reconciled for us to grow in relationship day after day with God our creator and sustainer and so if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior can I encourage you consider this consider this this Christmas consider this here and now if you want to know more after the service as the last song plays all the pastors are going to be up in this front row come and see one of us don't leave without having a chat the office there he won't make you take it but he won't stop you from accepting it either I'm conscious that I'm preaching to a room that's filled with Christians who have known Jesus for probably longer than I've been alive for most of us but the question remains the same how are you going to spend these last 10 days of 2025 if you've accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior fantastic don't be distracted don't find your way at the first of January 2026 going wow that was a whirlwind we met with everyone we had food we had fun we had celebration I guess I should go back to church now I guess I should turn my attention to Jesus make sure Jesus isn't just who you pray to for grace for Christmas make sure you truly reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby lived a perfect life as an example for us of true obedience to the Father died for our sins so that we could be reconciled with God so that we could grow each and every day in deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father and in the six days that follow Christmas continue to reflect how has your walk with Jesus been this year have you actually grown any deeper in your faith this year have you grown closer to God like any relationship it requires both action and response and I can promise you that this year God has been knocking on the door of your heart I can promise you that he's been revealing things to you have you been listening have you been distracted by the other things in this life that very truly a meaningless not only have you been listening have you been obedient to what he's been telling you to do have you grown closer in your walk with Jesus have you become distracted by sin and temptation have you actually forsaken your relationship with God tried to take the ring and leave God behind take the forgiveness but actually when it comes to change or anything I'm not gonna have a bar of that if that's you you've got a wrong you need to spend time with God very truly as we celebrate Christmas Jesus Christ is God's action to invite us into deep meaningful and lasting relationship with him that was achieved through his death on the cross through forgiveness of our sins but forgiveness wasn't the end game forgiveness was the means so that we could be reconciled with God that each and every day we could grow deeper in obedience and relationship with him so in the next 10 days how are you going to respond I'm gonna pray and then as the worship team come up as they play us through the final song our pastors are gonna be here down the front if you need prayer for anything if you just want to chat please come down and talk to us I'm gonna ask that after the service because this may be happening don't start conversations in your seatway at just quietly exit the auditorium and then start your conversations out there but let's pray heavenly Father we thank you that you loved us you loved me Lord we thank you that you loved us you loved me you loved the world so much that you gave your only son Jesus Christ that the world could be saved rather than condemned that I could be saved rather than condemned so that we could be saved rather than content when we ponder the magnitude of your love action towards us how overwhelming is your love that even while we were sinful and wicked even while we were in rebellion against you you loved us so much that you sent Jesus Christ to earth Lord we thank you for Jesus thank you that he modeled for us complete obedience to you the Father we thank you that your word tells us so clearly that all who believe in him will not perish but will have eternal life Lord thank you for the forgiveness that is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who helps us to grow more and more in relationship with you our God thank you that you've made it possible for reconciliation to happen for us to be made right with you our God to walk with you each and every day of our lives Lord I pray that over the next 10 days Lord that you would be a work by your Holy Spirit in and through us your people Lord God would you prompt us help us to reflect truly how has our walk with you been this year if we don't have one Lord help us to ponder truly is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior Lord help us to reflect well in these coming 10 days and as we enter into the new year as we enter into 2026 would you help us to commit each and every day to grow deeper in relationship with you our God help us not to take this gift for granted we pray in Jesus name amen