HERE IS THE

CHURCH
HERE IS THE
STEEPLE
RETHINKING CHURCH

“The Rule of God”

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 People created in the image of God . . .

responding in faith to his gracious provision . . .

under his rule . . .

serving his purposes . . .

in transformative relationships with Jesus and others

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 When we speak of God ruling we are making reference to
his sovereignty; his supreme or ultimate power and
authority. The scriptures use the king/subject analogy to
portray God’s sovereignty.

As we continue in our series we want explore the idea that

the community of God’s people acknowledge his ultimate
power and submit to his rule. We will spend some time
tracing the biblical development of the rule of God as it
relates to the community of his people.

God’s rule is intended to ensure that his image bearers

accurately represent him to creation. It’s not to show off
his power or to oppress those he’s created.

Right
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 In the Beginning
Right from the beginning we see evidence of God’s
sovereignty. Consider these pieces of evidence from
Genesis 1-3.
1. God is over everything. There is no struggle with other
Gods or with the powerful chaos which the ancient
Near East cultured understood to be water (Gen 1:2)
2. God speaks and everything obeys Gen 1:2, 6, 9, 11,
14, 20, 24)
• “God said . . . and there was”
3. Man in the image of God (Gen 1:26)
• The idea of image includes being a king’s
representative.
4. Note the opening lines of the serpent’s deception . . . .
“Did God really say” (Genesis 3:1).
5. God was able to administer consequences for rebellion
(Genesis 3:14-19)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 We’ll now take a look at God’s sovereignty over the Old
Testament community he formed . . . we are calling it the
“Sermon from the Mount Community” since this
community was guided by the words spoken by God to
Moses from Mt. Sinai.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon From the Mt. Community

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon From the Mt. Community
Evidence of God’s Authority

Exodus 19:2-6
When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness
of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel
camped in front of the mountain. Moses went up to God, and
the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you
shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You
yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I
bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now
then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,
then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples,
for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall
speak to the sons of Israel.”

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon From the Mt. Community
Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 15
If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all
his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set
you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings
will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the
LORD your God:

However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not
carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving
you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake
you:

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon From the Mt. Community
God as a King

1 Samuel 8:4-9
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to
Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and
your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to
lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they
said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel;
so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen to
all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have
rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon From the Mt. Community
Psalm 5:2
 Listen to my cry for help,
       my King and my God,
       for to you I pray.

Psalm 44:4
 You are my King and my God,
       who decrees victories for Jacob.

Psalm 46:6-8
 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
       sing praises to our King, sing praises.
 For God is the King of all the earth;
       sing to him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations;
       God is seated on his holy throne
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 Sermon From the Mt. Community
Response to Sin in the Community

1. Toward God: Sacrifices

• Leviticus 4:1-2
The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites:
'When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is
forbidden in any of the Lord's commands-”

2. Toward Each Other: Confrontation

• Deuteronomy 21:18-21
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who
does not obey his father and mother and will not
listen to them when they discipline him, his father
and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to
the elders at the gate of his town.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon From the Mt. Community
They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is
stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a
profligate and a drunkard." Then all the men of his
town shall stone him to death. You must purge the
evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be
afraid.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Now we will shift our attention to the NT community God
formed . . . .we call this the “Sermon on the Mount
Community” since it was to be governed by the updates
Jesus gives that were recorded in Matthew 5-7 in what has
traditionally been called “the sermon on the mount”.

Notice that God’s rule was still a feature of the NT faith

community.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon On the Mt. Community
God’s Testimony of Jesus

Mark 9:2-7
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him
and led them up a high mountain, where they were all
alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes
became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world
could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah
and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let

us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and
one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so
frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them,
and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I
love. Listen to him!"
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 Sermon On the Mt. Community

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon On the Mt. Community
The New Way

Matthew 5:1-2
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside
and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to
teach them saying:

I think Matthew is intentionally trying to get his audience to

hear the “echo” of Exodus 19 where God authoritatively spoke
to the first community from the mountain. Rabbis sitting down
to teach was an act of authority. Matthew alludes to this in
7:28 . . .

Matthew 7:28
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were
amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had
authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 Sermon On the Mt. Community
In Matthew 5:21-48 we encounter six cycles of “you have
heard that it was said . . . . but I say to you”.

In essence, Jesus was providing an update of what it now

means to live as the people of God under his rule. Jesus
alludes to this in 5:17 . . .

Matthew 5:17
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon On the Mt. Community
The Expected Way
Jesus expected that the community of God’s people
would welcome his rule and obey all that Jesus taught.

Matthew 6:9-10
This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
 Sermon On the Mt. Community
Response to Sin in the Community
1. Toward God: Confess
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
2. Toward Each Other: Confront
Matthew 18:15-17
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his
fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you,
you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen,
take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may
be established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the
church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church,
treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon On the Mt. Community
Romans 16:7
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those
who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to
the teaching which you learned, and turn away from
them.

1 Corinthians 5:11,12
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any
so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or
covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard,
or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For
what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you
not JUDGE those who are within the church?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sermon On the Mt. Community
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every
brother who leads an unruly life and not according
to the tradition which you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter,
take special note of that person and do not
associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish
him as a brother.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 The Eternal Community
Notice that God’s rule extends into the eternal community
as well. It was in the beginning, it is suppose to
characterize his community on earth, and it will be a reality
in our eternal state.

Revelation 22:3-5
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and
of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve
him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their
foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need
the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God
will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

 Sow What?
Spend some time reflecting on God’s rule over all
creation and the rule he has established over
those who are part of his kingdom.
1. Prayerfully acknowledge God’s rule and
express your desire to obey him.
2. Evaluate if there are things in your life that are
not governed by the teachings of Jesus. If
there are things the Spirit reveals to you
confess, repent, and share the experience
with someone who can pray for you.
3. Realize the connection between your personal
life and your faith-community and prayerfully
express your intent to live under God’s rule
and contribute to having a faith-community
that is characterized by obedience to God.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010