No rules will ever be enough

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Take time to gather informally and preview the service outline. If you'd like to participate in communion, please be prepared to do so.

Service

I. Opening

Welcome and Introduction: Today we gather to explore the relationship between God's law and His grace. Let us open our hearts to understand how grace breaks the boundaries set by laws and invites us into a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with our Creator.

Opening Prayer: Lord, thank You for gathering us today in Your name. As we explore Your Word, open our hearts to the truth of Your grace that surpasses all understanding. Help us grasp the freedom found not in law but in Your loving mercy, that we may walk faithfully in Your ways. Amen.

Scripture: Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

II. Worship and Praise

For the worship and praise this week, there are two links to choose from: the song is “Ya Got Trouble” from Meridith Wilson’s musical The Music Man and the two links are to a modern-day recording that has wonderful sound, and the second is from the 1962 movie production performed by Robert Preston.

Video Links: Ya Got Trouble

Reflection: Here are a few points of reflection that connect the lyrics from "Ya Got Trouble" from The Music Man to the theme on the limitations of rules and the necessity of grace:

False Alarms and Real Issues: As the song humorously exaggerates the perils of a pool table, reflect on how often society, or we ourselves, inflate minor issues into major ones. Consider discussing how this tendency to overemphasize can distract us from focusing on more significant, underlying spiritual needs.
The Role of Persuasion in Our Beliefs: The song’s protagonist uses charismatic persuasion to instill fear over something relatively harmless. How does this relate to the ways in which rules or laws are sometimes imposed within religious contexts? Discuss the difference between being guided by fear versus being led by a true understanding of God’s grace.
Exaggeration to Make a Point: The song uses a chain of exaggerated consequences to warn against the dangers of pool. Reflect on the parallel of how religious legalism often uses extreme consequences to enforce adherence to rules. How does understanding grace free us from the cycle of fear and allow us to live more authentically in faith?
Recognizing What Truly Corrupts: In the song, ordinary activities are depicted as gateways to degradation. Discuss how this mirrors the often unrealistic rules imposed in religious contexts that may label normal behaviors as sinful without understanding the heart’s intent. How can we apply Jesus’ teachings about what truly defiles a person (coming from the heart, not external actions)?
Community Influence and Individual Responsibility: The song taps into community fears to control behavior. How does this reflect the way some religious communities might use rules to shape behavior? Discuss the balance between community influence and individual responsibility in spiritual growth and moral decisions.

These reflections can help create a deeper conversation about the themes presented in the sermon while using a familiar and entertaining song as a starting point.

III. Communion

Communion is a sacred time to remember Jesus' sacrifice, offering us forgiveness and eternal life through faith. This act is for those who have welcomed Jesus as their Savior and leader. If you're still on your journey of faith, please feel free to observe and reflect during this time. Know that you're valued and respected, regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey.

For those who have chosen to follow Jesus, let's share in communion together. We'll start with the bread, symbolizing Jesus' body given for us, and then share the cup, representing His blood shed for a new covenant of grace and forgiveness.

"Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, 'Take, eat; this is My body.'" (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22) -- Please partake of the bread.
“He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" (Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:23-24) -- Please partake of the cup.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we humbly thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who established this new covenant of love and forgiveness with His sacrifice. May this communion deepen our connection to You and to each other as Your family. Guide us to live out the grace we've received in our words and actions every day. Amen.

IV: Message-No Rules Will Ever Be Enough

The citizens of River City were led to believe that a pool table could cause their moral downfall. They feared the sin and corruption that would follow the pool table as they would skip medicinal wine from a teaspoon, and then drink beer from a bottle. Then gambling at the pool hall would lead to horse racing where a jockey actually sits on the horse. Of course, that led to the fear that kids would stop doing their chores and use words like “swell” and buckle their knickerbockers below the knee. Then it would be a dance at the armory with ragtime music.

Of course, Professor Harold Hill had the solution: buy band instruments, uniforms, and instruction books from him and the problem will go away.

Humans have long sought to establish their own righteousness through rules and laws, believing that strict adherence could make them worthy in the eyes of God. However, Romans 3:20 tells us, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."

What this means is simple: laws cannot save us. No matter how well written and good, and even if they are reflective of God's moral standards – we will fail at following laws if we go under our own direction. Laws only point out our shortcomings.

A. The Failure in the Garden of Eden

In the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam and Eve amidst an abundance, including two significant trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He commanded them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17).

Despite the clarity and simplicity of this single command, they failed to comply, resulting in the fall of humanity. This early disobedience underlines a profound truth: if humanity could not follow one straightforward rule in an otherwise perfect setting, the problem is inherent within human nature, highlighting the inadequacy of attaining righteousness solely through law adherence.

We call this “The Fall” and it marks the point when Humans were removed from Paradise because we just couldn’t handle it.

So we couldn’t follow one rule. How do you think we did with ten?

B. The Ten Commandments and Israel’s Struggle

When God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, it was a covenant meant to guide the Israelites in living a life pleasing to God. Despite these clear instructions, the history of the Israelites is marked by cycles of rebellion, judgment, and repentance. This pattern demonstrates that even with direct commands from God, the Israelites were unable to maintain their righteousness through the law alone. As seen in numerous biblical accounts, the law highlighted their moral weakness rather than correcting it.

The Ten Commandments are commonly called the “Thou Shalt Nots” because in the King James Bible translation, that’s how they were presented. Here’s what they really mean today:

Sure, here's a modern language rendition of the Ten Commandments, which were originally given in ancient Hebrew and are listed in the books of Exodus (Exodus 20:1-17) and Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 5:4-21) in the Bible:

No other Gods
No Idols
Respect God's Name
Keep the Sabbath Holy
Honor Your Parents
No Murder
No Adultery
No Stealing
No Lying
No Coveting

To be perfect in God’s Judgement, you have to live your entire life without violating any of these. And we’ve blown it.

Absolutely, that's a powerful example to illustrate the immediate failure to adhere to the commandments. Here's a draft paragraph for your sermon:

When Moses descended Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, he was met not with obedience but with rebellion. The Israelites, hardly able to wait for Moses' return, had already turned to idolatry, crafting a golden calf and engaging in revelry that broke several of the very commandments Moses brought down with him (Exodus 32).

Even in the direct presence of God's power and provision, the Israelites couldn't uphold the law for even a short period. Left to our own devices, we fail to live up to God's standards, often spectacularly and swiftly.

So we couldn’t follow one rule and we couldn’t follow ten rules. How about hundreds?

C. The Complexity of Jewish Laws

Over centuries, the religious leaders expanded the Ten Commandments into hundreds of detailed rules, which Jesus criticized for missing the heart of God’s law (Matthew 23:23-24). This complexity did not lead to greater righteousness; rather, it fostered legalism that overshadowed the more important matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. This development serves as a testament to the inability of human-crafted rules to produce genuine heart change or spiritual fulfillment.

The Jewish laws, commonly referred to as Halakha, encompass a vast and detailed system covering various aspects of life. These laws are derived primarily from the Torah, specifically the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, but they are extensively developed in later rabbinical writings, including the Mishnah, the Talmud, and various legal codes and responsa. Here's a list of some areas covered by Jewish laws that highlight their complexity:

Dietary Laws (Kashrut): These include detailed rules about which animals are considered clean and unclean for consumption, how animals must be slaughtered, prohibitions against consuming blood, and the separation of milk and meat products.
Sabbath Observance: Extensive laws govern activities on the Sabbath (Shabbat), detailing what constitutes work and what is forbidden, such as cooking, carrying items in public spaces without an eruv (a boundary that allows carrying), and using electricity.
Ritual Purity: Numerous laws pertain to issues of ritual purity, including the purification process after childbirth, contact with dead bodies, and regulations concerning menstrual impurity and the subsequent immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath).
Prayer and Religious Observances: There are detailed rules on how and when to pray, the use of phylacteries (tefillin) and prayer shawls (tallit), as well as the specific prayers and readings for different times of day and religious festivals.
Family Law: Jewish law covers marriage, divorce, and family relations extensively, including the requirements for a valid marriage contract (ketubah), the conditions under which divorce is permissible, and laws regarding the treatment of widows and orphans.
Civil Law: This includes laws on business ethics, contractual obligations, property rights, disputes, and damages, employing principles of fairness and justice as interpreted by rabbinic authorities.
Agricultural Laws: These include tithing produce, the sabbatical year (Shmita) when land must lie fallow, and the jubilee year (Yovel) rules concerning the release of slaves and the return of land.
Festivals and Holy Days: Specific laws dictate how each Jewish festival is to be observed, including Passover (avoiding leavened bread), Sukkot (dwelling in booths), and Yom Kippur (fasting and atonement rituals).
Charity and Social Justice: There are commanded practices like tzedakah (charity), which dictate how much to give and to whom, and laws ensuring justice for the poor, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.
Clothing and Appearance: Laws concerning modesty and specific garments, such as the prohibition against wearing mixed fabrics (shatnez) and the commandment for men to wear tzitzit (fringes on garments).

These are just examples—very incomplete examples—that illustrate the depth and breadth of Jewish law. And we couldn’t follow those either.

It’s clear: we struggle with hundreds of rules, we stumbled over ten, and we even broke the very first one. I believe God always knew this about us. He guided us through these historical lessons to bring us to an understanding of grace.

D. The Necessity of Grace

Here’s the point… we couldn’t obey the thousands of rules set up by Jewish Law. We couldn’t obey the Ten Commandments. And we couldn’t even obey the two simple rules in the Garden of Eden.

People suck at following directions. And I believe that God knew that already—but all of humanity had to go through the layers so we could know it too.

The New Testament brings a shift from law to grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Grace, unlike the law, does what the law cannot: it changes us from the inside out. It offers not only forgiveness for our transgressions but also empowers us for true spiritual renewal and personal transformation.

Conclusion: Embracing Grace in a World of Rules

Let's reflect on our own tendencies to rely on self-imposed rules or legalistic frameworks as ways to prove our righteousness. Instead, we should embrace the grace offered through Christ, which liberates us from the impossible burden of trying to achieve perfection on our own. Let us live in the freedom and joy of God’s grace, allowing it to truly transform our hearts and lives.

V: Offering

As we continue in our worship, we have the opportunity to participate in the act of giving. The Bible reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV), "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Join me in prayer as we prepare our hearts for this act of giving. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the blessings You have bestowed upon us. As we bring our offerings before You today, we do so with hearts full of gratitude. May these gifts be used for the furthering of Your Kingdom and the spreading of Your love. Bless each giver abundantly, and may our cheerful giving be a reflection of Your generosity toward us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

As we collect the offering, we do want to remind everyone that this part of the service is an opportunity to give but is in no way considered a requirement. We have the special opportunity here at Prepper Church to give all of the offering to a good cause that we choose.

Thank you for your generous hearts and faithful giving. Your contributions play a vital role in supporting the causes that we support. May God bless you abundantly as you continue to be cheerful givers. Amen.

VI: Closing

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to us the limits of law and the boundlessness of Your grace. As we reflect on the lessons learned today, may Your Holy Spirit guide us to live not by the letter of the law but by the freedom of Your grace. Strengthen us to trust in Your righteous path and help us to embrace the life of grace You have called us to. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Closing Remarks: As we close today's service, let's carry with us the understanding that no array of rules can secure our righteousness. Let the grace of God be our guide, not the fear of failing at self-imposed standards. Remember, we are not just rule-followers; we are grace-embracers, transformed by Christ to live beyond the constraints of the law. Go in peace, knowing that in every moment of inadequacy, God’s grace is sufficient for you. Let His love lead you this week

Local Group Discussion and Fellowship

Here are a few points for the congregation to consider and discuss after the service:

Reflecting on Personal Rules: Discuss some of the 'rules' you've set for yourself in your spiritual life. How do these rules align with or distract from the grace that God offers? Share experiences where you found freedom in letting go of these self-imposed rules.
The Role of the Law: Reflect on the role of the law in understanding sin. How does recognizing our inability to fully keep the law lead us to a deeper appreciation of God's grace?
Grace in Daily Life: Share how embracing grace over law has changed your daily life. How does this shift affect your interactions with others and your personal spiritual practices?
Community Support in Grace: Discuss how we can help each other as a community to live under grace rather than under the law. What practical steps can we take to remind each other of God’s grace when we fall into legalism?
Responding to Failure: How should we respond when we or others fall short of God's standards? Discuss the balance between accountability and extending grace, both to ourselves and to others within the church community.

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Prepper Church: April 21, 2024