CMLC 2025-07-06 Sermon

I was watching a video that was not too long

ago about Buzz Aldrin. There were some interviews

from him. Now, not everybody may remember the

name. How many of you were around when people

landed on the moon for the first time? All right,

all right. We got plenty, we got plenty. I will

just not respond in that regard. But hey, I heard

it was great. So 10 out of 10 so with that is

realizing that there are many of us that are

trying to look back and understand about this

because there were Six landings on the moon over

the course of a few years and it hasn't happened

again in little over 50 You know Buzz Aldrin

was the second person to actually walk on the

moon But you know, what's astounding is not just

walking on the moon, but also how many people

Believe it didn't actually happen. You know,

we live in a world that still gasps when people

do things that seem impossible, when someone

stretches a rope between two skyscrapers and

tightrope walks across it, or when somebody can

hold their breath underwater for an extended

period of time, or whenever somebody has jumped

from outer space down toward the ground and is

able to parachute and land safely. To be honest,

what makes the moon landing such a big deal is

not just that it happened, but that we didn't

really even think it could happen. It's too big.

It's too bold. It was too far beyond what we

thought was even achievable. And even today,

because it's so astonishing, One out of every

ten people is convinced it actually didn't happen.

So in this room right now, there could possibly

be a handful of people that are like, nope, could

not have happened at all. So my apologies to

you this day. See, even with six different missions

arriving there and multiple countries confirming

it, and there are even reflectors on the surface

of the moon that light can shine to it and come

back to us and we can actually measure how far

away the moon is from us at any given point in

time. Even so, there are many people who discuss

how fake it is. The hours of training simulations.

that were mocking up the moon environment built

on sound stages or outdoor sandlots that were

used for training or public education or media

outreach, the staged recreations for the press

to visualize what the astronauts were going to

do on the moon or even to understand what was

happening when they couldn't see on the footage

and promotional footage that was used for TV

specials and classroom use and museums. In today's

world, they're oftentimes seen as an attempt

to trick the public. And even videos of Buzz

Aldrin, a man who was in his 80s at the time,

who's now 95, trying to answer questions and

getting his words twisted, because it's easier

for some people to believe a massive deception

than to believe that we actually saw the moon,

decided to go, and made it. And I think that's

part of the point. Sometimes we're tempted to

dismiss the amazing if we can't wrap our heads

around how we could possibly make it happen or

without us being the ones who are in control.

We think if we don't have the plan or we don't

have the strength or we don't have the resources

then surely it cannot be done. We are in a country

that has people who came over after the world

was convinced that there were dragons if they

were to sail too far across the sea. So I think

that we've discovered that there are things we

may think were impossible that just haven't been

done yet. But the Apollo mission, it didn't start

with somebody saying, you know, let's take this

a little bit at a time. Let's go slowly, okay?

Let's just spend some time. We'll make sure that

our space shuttles orbit around the Earth for

a while. We're going to stay there. And then

we're going to make a space station. Okay, and

we'll do that for a while first. Okay, we'll

hang out there for a bit, and then we'll send

William Shatner and Katy Perry into space, and

if it's safe for them, then it's safe for us.

You cannot blame that for how William Shatner

talks. But instead, it started in this point

of time of President Kennedy saying, we choose

to go to the moon not because it is easy, but

because it is hard. The goal itself called the

people into action. It didn't happen because

humans believed they could easily do it. It happened

because they believed it had to be done. We've

even seen the movies where they've got people

desperately doing the mathematical calculations

realizing that they didn't have it all figured

out as people were going around the moon and

trying to find their way back. But the belief

that it would be done, they rose beyond their

limits. And while politics and funding, and believe

it or not, the boredom of landing on the Moon,

kept us from going to the Moon for over five

decades, the plan is to land there again in two

years. Not because we fully understand everything

about space, but because we're called by that

mission, and because now, apparently, we want

to go to Mars. I'm sure it's made out of chocolate.

It'll be great. See, that idea, of being sent

into something bigger than ourselves. It's exactly

where Jesus meets His disciples in Luke 10. It

was one thing for them to be going out into the

world with the Messiah there, doing miracles

and preaching these amazing sermons, but now

you're going to go do it. He sends out 72 of

them, so not even just the 12. We're talking

about the larger grouping of disciples. sending

them out in pairs saying, I am sending you out

like lambs among wolves. Wow, that's encouraging.

Do not take a purse or bag or sandals. Could

you imagine hearing that? Not just go, but go

unprepared. Don't bring a bag. Don't bring money.

Don't even bring extra shoes. I keep an extra

sport coat in the car just in case. I cannot

get my mind around this. Just go. Could you imagine

if that were us? We'd probably say, well, let

me make sure I've got my whole support base ready

for the next 10 years. Or let me make sure that

my message is polished. How many times whenever

we say, hey, would you be willing to speak in

front of people and people already start to shake?

Or, well, could I just go where the people are

friendly and I already have a place to stay and

have it all figured out? Or... Let me make sure

I have an app for that. You know, Jesus is sending

His disciples out with nothing. This isn't because

they were always going to go out with nothing.

But He needed them to understand something about

this. Because He needed them to be amazed, not

by their preparation, but by the gospel itself.

See, He sends them out with nothing except the

gospel. Jesus sent His disciples out with nothing,

and what happens? Did they end up going out there

and saying, wow, that's unfortunate, we really

messed up on that, let's just go ahead and write

it off on our taxes, we should be okay? No. They

come back amazed. Lord, even the demons submit

to us in Your name." They didn't go out with

any power. There was no power in them. It was

coming through them from the Gospel. They didn't

carry healing in a bag like a bottle of hot sauce.

They became vessels of healing themselves. They

didn't carry resources. They carried the Kingdom.

They didn't wait for the world to make it easy.

They stepped forward. and found out that God

was with them. Without a plan, without certainty,

without sponsors, they went wherever they could

and shared that Jesus had brought the kingdom

to earth. But it wasn't just the words. They

embodied it with their presence. They go into

a town and immediately they are looking for ways

to live the message itself. They brought peace

into people's homes. They found where people

were struggling with evil and they cast it out.

They restored. They comforted. They healed. Someone

from out of nowhere who has no vested interest

in you except for your good. The Gospel was so

real to them that it changed the very atmosphere

wherever they went. and they were willing to

be vulnerable. To hope that there would be others

who would respond to the Gospel and welcome them

into their homes without ever having known them

before. People of peace who would then introduce

the disciples to their friends as well. They

weren't supposed to then go and stop and see

the people that already knew them well and would

give them stuff to go with them. They were going

right past. to find people whose only response

would be to know that they needed Messiah, grace,

the hope of God, and that He was here. And that's

all that they had to offer. And that's all that

anyone needed. But was Jesus responding to their

excitement the same way? Was He as excited about

all the amazing things? Is He excited? Wow, I'm

really glad you managed to cast out some demons.

Oh man, good job. Oh my goodness, you were able

to heal that? Oh wow, goodness, that was awesome.

Do not rejoice that the Spirit submit to you,

but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Don't root your identity in your performance.

Don't root your identity in the things that you

feel are amazing to do and wondering, wow, how

did I have the power to do that? Your identity

is when what God has already done and that you

belong to Him. Of course you can do these things

because you already belong to the One who does

that. See, that's where our joy is and that's

where the power truly is. Did it need anything

from the disciples, per se? They weren't impressive

to him. I mean, we've watched The Chosen. We

know how quirky those people are. Totally, totally

actual footage. But seeing that the people themselves

were able to show the power of the gospel, show

just how powerful it truly was, trusting that

God would use them without their strength and

God be praised, letting go of their fear. Could

you see that in us though? Whenever we see someone

that's living in an unhealthy place in their

life, and how often we want to make sure we scare

them into changing, punish them into changing,

push them, shame them for the gospel. instead

of just spending time with them and saying, I

want better for you. And I know that there's

better for you. But wherever you are, I'll be

here with you. Or the times whenever we hear

someone say something that we're just like, you

know... That annoys me. That bothers me. I don't

like what you said. And we will do what we can

to confront them. And then we will try to find

the people around us that will do the same and

corner them. Whether it be in person or in the

virtual world. Instead of just saying, you know,

I hear you. I understand why you feel that way.

This is what I believe. and even the times whenever

we spend so long looking for yes people to stand

around us, instead of being willing to go in

places where we know we may be the only one who

sees and knows what is true. See, that's also

what ends up bringing us into Galatians 6. See,

Paul is writing to a church that should already

know that the gospel is not about their power,

but it's still so easy for them to try to take

control. to force results, to make things work

by their own strength, by their own force. I'm

sure none of us have ever felt that we had to

be completely in control of anything or anyone

to feel comfortable and confident. But it ends

up saying, if someone is caught in a sin, you

who live by the Spirit should repore that person

gently. But watch yourselves or you also may

be tempted. Carry each other's burdens and in

this way you will fulfill the law of Christ It

is so easy that we miss out on the things that

we've struggled with Because we're so confident

in making sure somebody else gets fixed and stopped

from making their mistakes or having their struggles

We are in a place in a nation, in communities

that have been in hardship. We've had to flee

from places where people rejected us because

we didn't say things the same way they did. We've

had to be in a place where we were vulnerable

and unsure and scared. Do we know how to remind

each other that the gospel is for them even as

we brought it with ourselves to come here? We've

been in this nation that has had so many successes

in so many ways, but the temptation after success,

whether it be in your life, in your ministry,

in your spirit, is to become someone who corrects

rather than carries. Paul says that if someone

in the church falls into sin, the response is

not the judgment or the gossip, but the gentle

restoration. by those who are mature. The more

mature you are in your faith is when you have

to help out people the most. How much do we want

to spend our time to shame others or to reject

them to feel better about ourselves? Because

if you belong to the kingdom and your name is

written in heaven, we prove it by walking with

others. not by the power we think we can wield.

You see, we're meant to help people in growth

and healing, but in doing we must stay humble.

The moment that we think we have figured it out

is the moment that sin has creeped in the most.

Because we're called to bear each other's weight,

But we're also called to see what it is that

we need to deal with ourselves. See, helping

someone in their struggle is living out what

Christ has given us. We spoke last week about

how each of us faces struggles. And then if we're

being honest, if any of us feels that we are

no longer struggling in our life in sin, then

that means that you're probably losing the battle.

because the battle doesn't end before Christ

returns. And rather is that knowing we are struggling

too is to walk alongside people and knowing that

they need the power not of ourselves, but of

the gospel that gives us hope. See, as we live

this Christian life, there's a false confidence

that we get. It creeps in. And Paul warns us,

don't deceive yourselves. It's not about your

platform. Let the seed of the gospel grow in

planting the kingdom. If anyone thinks they are

something, when they are not, they deceive themselves.

There is nothing for us to be arrogant about.

Each one should test their own actions. Then

they can take pride in themselves alone without

comparing themselves to someone else. For each

one should carry their own load. It's not about

taking pride in ourselves per se. What Paul's

trying to explain is that it's not about focusing

on whether or not you fix somebody else's spiritual

life. It's about whether or not you're acknowledging

the need to change in your own. This is about

walking alongside one to carry their burden,

not to make sure they remember just how heavy

it is. instead of looking at the sins that someone

else is struggling with is that instead we need

to deal with the ones of our own. And it's hard.

It's hard to be in this. And you all are in it

with me and we are in it with each other. And

we need encouragement. We need to be strengthened.

We need to be reminded that just because we've

got the parts that we don't have all together,

it doesn't mean that now we don't have a part

to play. The times whenever I've had to speak

to someone and say, hey, we could do this better.

I'm sure that there's room for growth. It's remembering

it's because I've also had to grow too. And being

grateful for the times whenever the one who receives

instruction in the Word should share all good

things with their instructor. And how grateful

I've been when many of you have encouraged me

at the times I've needed it as well. Do not be

deceived God cannot be mocked Isn't it amazing

that we're so sure that if we are not the ones

to make it happen Then we're somehow believing

that God is not in control But let us not become

weary in doing good for at the proper time we

will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore,

as we have opportunity, let us do good to all

people, especially to those who belong to the

family of believers. I know it's frustrating.

I know that there are the times you see the same

people do the same things over and over, even

as people see us do the same as well. But the

gospel is still the only thing that has the true

power. And that as hard as it may be, that's

the only thing we're called to do and we must

not become weary. I know that it feels like we

wish that we could just push things a little

harder and then we could finally see some change

in the world. Make it happen. Push it. Force

it. But the same thing that we've been called

to do, to be, is the same thing that we're called

to do going forward as well. We are called to

be faithful. That's it. Because the power that

God displays is what He is going to do, even

when it's slow, even when it's quiet, even when

no one notices, even whenever people are distracted

and arguing at you, even when people fall asleep

in you, even whenever people are just trying

to be distracted by anything and everything else.

We keep going. It's not glamorous. But that's

what bears fruit. When was the last time you

ever heard of a successful garden being glamorous

and producing the fruit that you actually want

and Just like the disciples going into mission

without a safety net Without our own plans or

power or considerations we come back stunned

by what God does through us This is not about

thinking you've got it all figured out But going

out and doing it Because what I've seen is the

times whenever we don't know if we have the right

words or the right thing to do and then a Middle

school child is saying you mentioned something

about the gospel Could you please explain this

to me just a little bit more? Or somebody says

I'm afraid because I don't know if Satan wants

me Where can I find hope? And then knowing that

it's the same message that has always brought

us that hope. But are you willing to go into

the unknown and to move forward into the things

that maybe you're not sure about yet? See, the

mission is not easy, but it's worth it. We're

called to be gentle with those who fall. We're

called to sow in what God has spoken by the gospel,

not the power of our flesh. We're waiting for

God to change people, not us. How many years

were people at NASA and beyond wishing that we'd

get back out there again and push the limits,

waiting, hoping? that someday people would see

that it was time to get back to the moon and

beyond. And how many of them continued to do

their work tirelessly to learn and to study and

to be ready. Is the same true for us? In a nation

where we are given the freedom to share our faith

boldly and without fear, are we willing to do

that without knowing what the outcome may be?

And my hope and prayer is that we would trust

the gospel to do the work. Not what we think

we can organize, not what we think we can make

happen, but trusting what God has already done

in Christ Jesus. So may we continue to trust

that as our names are written in heaven, God

has given us the power to do his work in this

world and beyond. Thanks be to God.