"Today I Choose Jesus"

Father in heaven,

we're all trying to make sense of everything going on in our city.

And we need you.

God, we're not going to look to ourselves to figure this out.

We're not going to lean on our own understanding.

But we are going to acknowledge you in all of our ways

that you will make straight our paths.

And Lord Jesus, our risen shepherd, lead us on.

Father, would you now pour out your spirit upon us

in order to spotlight Jesus

to rally this church around our risen head

in that we would be a body in motion moving forward together.

Father, we believe that you have raised us up for such a time as this.

Not to shrink back, but to press in

for the glory of Jesus among all the peoples living in the city of Kenosha.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh upon us.

Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us.

And it's in the name of Jesus we all pray.

Amen.

Amen.

In order for us to move forward together as a church,

today we must choose Jesus.

Today I choose Jesus,

and today you must choose Jesus

so that we move forward in the midst of crisis

for the glory of his name.

I think it's safe to say

that the last five and a half months

has literally been one crisis after another.

We've been living in an unrelenting,

accumulating crises.

And many of us are just weary,

tired, confused, overwhelmed.

It started in March with COVID-19,

and at the end of March,

George Floyd died under the knee of a white police officer.

And then all throughout the last several months,

there has been this saber-rattling of politics

from the left and from the right,

sending out messages.

It can be very confusing, disheartening.

Divisive.

In August, many of us who are sending children

to the Kenosha Unified School District schools,

we watched the board flip-flop

on some important decisions.

It just added to the confusion

and accumulation of crises.

And of course, all of that has been overshadowed

by what happened a week ago today.

Many of you have seen the video.

A black man, Jacob Blake,

being shot in the back seven times

by a white Kenosha police officer.

The investigation's underway.

There's information coming out.

We want as much information to come out.

We're praying for that.

But it was like the lighting of a match in a cinder block,

cinder box.

Because over the last week,

we've witnessed peaceful protests.

We've witnessed violent riots.

We've witnessed businesses boarding up their windows

all throughout downtown,

all throughout uptown,

all throughout 75th Street,

and reaching out onto Green Bay Road and beyond.

There's been this giant boarding up of protection.

Yesterday on my way in,

I counted this,

I would drive in at 7 a.m. every morning

over the last four or five days

to see where our building was,

if it was.

And Friday on my way in,

I counted at least 11 businesses

that had been gutted by fire,

burned to the ground.

We've seen riots.

We've heard rumors of riots.

There's been the loss of life.

There's been the loss of livelihoods.

But there's been the loss of personal property.

I don't know about you,

but Jenny and I,

every night,

we'd turn on Facebook

and watch CJTV

to see what was going to happen next.

The national media descended on our hometown

and we watched Kenosha burn.

Unrelenting.

This past Tuesday,

I backed my pickup truck

to a back door of the church,

and this is when the curfew was still at 8 p.m.

It was at 7.53 p.m.

I was loading into the back of my pickup truck

electronics,

computers,

other valuable items,

important documents.

I was putting in the back of the truck

and I was watching

and sensing

tension rising

on Sheridan and 60th.

And as I was closing

the back gate of my truck,

this thought came into my mind,

is this going to be the last time

I see our building intact?

Will I come back tomorrow morning

and just see a smoldering pile of rubble?

And then this thought came into my mind.

It's all in the Lord's hands.

Today I choose Jesus

and so must you.

In order for us to move forward as a church

in these trying times,

we must choose Jesus.

And the question I want to ask

and answer for you this morning

is why?

Why must we trust Jesus

to move forward?

And there are two reasons why.

First is his person

and the second

is his work.

His person

and his work.

And my,

what I believe,

spirit-led goal

this morning

is to

bathe your minds

with the glory

of Jesus.

My prayer

is that the Holy Spirit

will spotlight,

he will glorify me,

spotlight Jesus

in our hearts

this morning.

and you will find

fresh strength

to move forward

in our circumstances.

May God do a work

to help you choose Jesus

with me today

in order to move forward.

So in that in mind,

I'm going to pray for us

and would you pray?

Would you ask God

to light up Jesus

in your heart?

Let's pray together.

Father,

would you shine

the spotlight,

Holy Spirit

enlivened

spotlight

of your word

on Jesus now

and give us strength.

Amen.

For us to move forward,

we need to choose Jesus

and the first reason

why is his person.

Now,

a while ago,

I was sent

a sermon

by an old black preacher

and he pointed

his listeners

to Jesus

all throughout

the scriptures.

It was

a beautiful sermon.

It was

a compelling sermon

and taking my cue

from him,

I'm going to remind you

of the glory

of Jesus Christ

in the Old Testament

and in the New

and the way

to take this in

is to receive it.

In the Old Testament,

Genesis chapter 1,

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

in the beginning,

God created

and John 1,

Colossians 1,

Hebrews 1,

the creator

is none other

than Jesus

who created

all things

which he means

he created

all of us.

Do you remember

that wonderful

children's song?

Jesus loves

the little children,

all the children

of the world,

red and yellow,

black and white,

they,

his image bearers,

are precious

in his sight.

Jesus loves

the little children

and the big children

of the world.

Jesus is the creator

of Genesis 1

and then in Deuteronomy

in the giving

of the law

what we recall

is that when Jesus came

he was the new

and greater Moses.

He not only

fulfilled the law

in perfect obedience

in the way

he lived his life,

he explained

the fulfillment

of the law

in his great

kingdom manifesto

the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5, 6 and 7.

And Joshua,

it is Jesus

the second person

of the Trinity

in a pre-incarnate

appearance

in which he

shows himself

to Joshua

and says

Joshua,

take off your sandals

you are standing

on holy ground.

and then he leads

God's people

into the promised land.

Our Lord Jesus

is leading us

to the heavenly

promised land.

He is with us

and he is holy.

Judges.

Do you remember

the last verse

of Judges?

In those days

there was no king

in Israel.

Everyone did what

was right

in his own eyes.

We are surrounded

by people

who are doing

what's right

in their own eyes.

Trying to make sense

of everything

in their own way.

But we have a king

who is on his throne

explaining to us,

directing us,

King Jesus

into him.

We choose today

to bow our knee

and say lead on

King Jesus.

1 and 2 Samuel,

1 and 2 Kings,

1 and 2 Chronicles,

books recounting

the repeated

limitations and failures

of the kings

of Israel

and Judah.

In 2 Samuel 7

there is this prophecy

saying that there

will be a son

of David

who will always

never vacate

the throne of David.

And who is that?

David's greater son,

Jesus.

Of the increase

of his government

there will be no end.

Esther,

our God,

the Lord Jesus

has raised up

his church

for such a time

as this

to bear witness

to the power

and glory of God

to a people

who are hopeless

and broken,

confused.

The Psalms,

the Lord Jesus

is our ever-present

help in time

of trouble.

Psalm 16,

8,

because the Lord Jesus

is at our right hand,

we will not be shaken.

Proverbs,

it is our reverence

for Jesus

as our creator,

ruler,

savior,

and judge

that governs

all of our lives

and we craft

a life of wisdom.

Even now,

in the midst

of trying circumstances,

in Isaiah,

Jesus is God

with us,

Emmanuel.

Jesus is the light

shining in the darkness.

Jesus is the righteous

branch.

Jesus is the suffering

servant upon God

poured out

his chastisement

to bring us peace

and remember,

it is our God,

Jesus,

that gives strength

to the weary

and causes us

to mount up

with wings like eagles

to run

and not grow weary.

Lamentations,

in the midst

of smoldering rubble,

we call this

to mind

that the Lord,

Jesus,

is our portion.

Therefore,

we will hope

in him.

Daniel,

it's Jesus

who's the fourth

person

in the midst

of Nebuchadnezzar's

fiery furnace.

He is with his people

in the fires

of affliction

and he is with us

in the midst

of this affliction

leading us on.

Jonah,

this disgruntled

prophet,

proclaimed repentance

to Nineveh

and they repented.

We proclaim Jesus

and people

will repent.

We read throughout

the minor prophets

of the fierce

and terrible day

of the Lord

that is coming

and it's Jesus

who will come

and make all things

right.

He will vindicate

his name

and his people.

Of course,

there's Habakkuk,

though the fig tree

may not blossom

nor fruit be

on the vines.

We will rejoice

in the Lord.

We will take joy

in the God

of our salvation

for the Lord

is our strength

because we are united

to Jesus the vine.

We will be strong

in him,

not with our own strength,

with his strength.

Today,

I choose Jesus

because of what

the Old Testament

points to

in Jesus.

and then there's

the New Testament.

Matthew,

he's the king

that has come

and established

his saving reign

on earth

through his blood

and he calls

all his citizens

through the Sermon

on the Mount,

his kingdom manifesto,

he calls them

to live out,

love your neighbor

and love your God.

Remember Mark 4

on a boat

in the Sea of Galilee?

It's crazy.

Everybody's afraid.

Jesus is asleep.

His disciples wake him up.

He stands up

and says,

Peace.

And the sea is calmed

and his disciples say,

Who then is this

that even the wind

and sea obey him?

He is our God.

He brings calm

to chaos.

On the road

to Emmaus,

the risen Jesus

says to two

of his disciples,

beginning with Moses

and all the prophets,

he explains to them

in all the scriptures

the things

concerning himself.

It's all about Jesus.

In John,

Jesus says,

I'm the bread of life.

I'm the light

of the world.

I am the door

of the sheep.

I am the good shepherd.

I am the resurrection

and the life.

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life.

I am the true vine.

And then in

John 8, 58,

it's the wonder I am

before Abraham

was I am.

Because our Jesus

is the I am,

we choose him today.

In order for us

to move forward

as a church,

we choose Jesus.

In the book of Acts,

it's the resurrection

Jesus

who brings

the church

into existence

and an outpouring

of the Holy Spirit,

empowers his church,

sends them out

to the nations,

and the gospel spreads,

and the church grows,

and the church suffers,

and the church says,

we count it worthy

to suffer for Jesus.

Romans,

we're not ashamed

of the gospel

of Jesus Christ

because it's God's power

to save all

who believe

red,

yellow,

black,

and white.

They are precious

image bearers

in his sight.

1 and 2 Corinthians,

the cross of Christ

is foolishness to some

and is an offense

to others,

but those who are

being saved,

it is the power

of God.

Brothers and sisters,

could it be

that right now

in the city of Kenosha,

there are people,

whether they realize

it or not,

that they will be saved

upon hearing the gospel.

In the book of Philippians,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2,

we read about Jesus

who humbled himself

and became nothing.

He humbled himself

by becoming obedient

to the point of death,

even death

on a scandalous cross,

and then listen to this.

Therefore God has

highly exalted him

and bestowed on him

the name that is

above every name,

so that at the name

of Jesus,

every knee should bow

in heaven and on earth

and under the earth,

and every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ

is Lord

to the glory of God

the Father.

That's why we choose

Jesus today.

And that's why Paul said,

for me to live is Christ

and to die is gain.

Colossians,

Jesus is the Lord

of creation,

he's Lord of the church,

and he says,

Paul says,

him we proclaim.

He's the Lord of the church,

he's the Lord of the church,

warning everyone

and teaching everyone

with all wisdom

for we may present,

that we may present

everyone,

red, yellow, black,

and white,

mature in Christ.

And then Paul says,

for this I toil,

struggling with all

his Holy Spirit energy

that he so powerfully

works in me.

The book of Philemon.

It shows us that the gospel

puts everyone on the same level

as sinners needing salvation

in Christ alone.

Jesus is the great equalizer

of all people,

of his people.

There's no partiality

in the family of God.

Hebrews points us to Jesus.

Set your eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter

of our faith,

who for the joy set before him

endured the cross,

scorning its shame,

and is now seated

at the right hand of God.

James 2, 1.

My brothers,

show no partiality

as you hold the faith

in our Lord Jesus,

the Lord of glory.

He's the Lord of glory.

Then let me just skip ahead

to the book of Revelation.

In Revelation 5,

we read about myriads,

myriads,

thousands upon thousands

of angels

surrounding Jesus.

And what it's describing

is what's happening

right now.

Thousands upon thousands

of angels

falling down before him

and worshiping.

And what are they saying?

What are they singing?

Worthy is the Lamb

who was slain

to receive power

and wealth

and wisdom

and might

and honor

and glory

and blessing.

And then it says,

to him who sits

on the throne

and to the Lamb

be blessing

and honor

and glory

and might

forever

and ever.

Today,

I choose Jesus

because of

his person,

who he is,

shown in the Old Testament,

shown in the New Testament.

And that's why,

brothers and sisters,

we must choose

him today.

He's our glorious one.

He's our great head.

But I also choose

Jesus today

because of what he's done,

what he is doing

and what he will do,

his work.

Today,

I choose Jesus

because he died

on a cross for me.

And if you're

a follower of Jesus,

he died on a cross

for you.

We are not our own.

We were bought

at a price.

So now,

we choose

to glorify God

with our bodies

and with our lives,

with all that we are.

In light of what

he has done for us

on the cross,

we live for him.

He's our king.

And if you're not

a follower of Jesus,

you must decide.

Choose this day

who you will follow,

who you will live for.

You will either choose

to live for yourself

and suffer

the eternal punishment

of a just God,

or you choose

to deny yourself,

take up your cross,

and follow Jesus.

And you're not

going to find burden.

You're going to find

life,

abundant life,

and life forever

with God

in glory.

That's whom

we proclaim.

So today,

I choose,

and I invite you

to choose

Jesus,

not only just

who he is,

but in what he's done

on the cross

for us.

And then,

there's what he's doing

right now.

He's actively

at work.

We read in Matthew 16,

18,

that Jesus is presently

building his church,

and the gates of hell

will not prevail

against it.

The church is

not a building,

but a people.

Our building

can be smashed

to rubble,

but we,

as the people

of Christ the King Church,

will continue on.

And our Lord Jesus

is presently

adding people

from every tribe,

tongue,

and nation

to his church

through the blood

he spilled

on the cross.

Jesus loves

the little children,

all the children

of the world,

red and yellow,

black and white.

He is bringing

them together

to form a multicultural,

multi-ethnic movement

of men and women

who've been bought

by his blood

and choose

to follow him.

brothers and sisters,

Jesus is building

his church today

in the city

of Kenosha.

He's at work.

He's not done.

He hasn't scurried off.

He's using this

for his good,

his glory,

adding people.

I'm hearing reports

more and more

of people coming

to repentance

and believing

in Jesus.

He's building

his church

and I don't know

about you

but I want to be

about what he's doing.

Today I choose

Jesus

and so must you.

That's how we move

forward.

But there's something

else he's doing too

that I hope will bring

encouragement to you.

We read in Romans

Romans 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

and Hebrews chapter 7

Hebrews 7 · chapter mention

and even in 1 John 2

that right now

at the right hand

of God the Father

Jesus is presently

interceding

for his people.

And what that

intercession

accomplishes

is this.

Our salvation

will be accomplished

to the uttermost.

You know what this means?

Our risen Christ

is praying

us home.

He's praying

for us.

His church

around the world

he's praying

for the American

church.

He's praying

for the church

in Kenosha.

What a great

and glorious

gathering that was.

Was that Thursday

night or Friday night?

Friday.

What a joy

singing and praying

with the church

of Kenosha

but he

is praying

for Christ

the King

church

interceding

for us.

Praying us

through

these hard

times

unto the Father.

Today I choose

Jesus because of

what he's doing

right now.

Building his church

interceding

for us.

He is for

us.

If he gave

himself for us

how much

more along

with that

will he do

all things?

but I also

choose Jesus

today

because of

what he

will do.

We read

throughout the

New Testament

and particularly

in Revelation

that Jesus

is coming

back

and we

are one

day

closer

to his

return.

When he

comes back

he is going

to decimate

all that

stand

opposed to

him and

then he

will judge

all.

Each of

us

will stand

before the

judgment seat

of Christ

and give

an account

for our

lives.

Because of

that day

I choose

Jesus

today

to live

for him

to seek

to obey

him

and all

that he

commanded

by the

power

of the

Holy

Spirit.

Remember

the parable

of the

talents

in Matthew

25?

Talents

are given

to three

servants.

They go

and vest it.

One squanders

it.

They return.

There is

judgment.

And for the

first two

who wisely

use their

talents

they hear

from their

master

well done

good and

faithful

servant.

That's

what I

want to

hear

on that

day.

Well done

Michael.

Well done.

I saw

it.

Saw

what you

did.

I saw

Christ

the King

Church.

Saw

you all

press

into the

moment.

Not shrink

back from

it.

And then

after he

says well

done and

good and

faithful

servant

he says

enter the

joy of

your

master.

You read

at the

end of

Revelation

of the

new heavens

and the

new earth

new

Jerusalem

a new

creation

no longer

under bondage

to decay

we will

see Jesus

face to

face.

We will

feel his

embrace.

We will

hear him

with our

own

ears.

And in

the new

heavens

there is

no more

systemic

racism.

In the

new

heavens

there are

no more

riots.

There is

no more

looting.

There is

no more

death.

There is

no more

disease.

There is

ever present

peace like

a river.

It is

where the

lion lies

down by

the lamb.

And there

is where

our Jesus

is.

He waits

us and

he is

praying us

home to

him.

Which means

we are

passing

through.

This is

not our

final home.

We are

one day

closer

though.

Because of

who Jesus

is and

because of

what his

work is,

what he has

done, what

he is doing

and what

he will

do,

today I

choose

Jesus.

It is

how we

must move

forward as

a church

in light of

all these

hard things

we are

facing.

will

you

join

me?

Christ

the

King

Church

will

you

join

me

in

choosing

Jesus

today?

But I

wouldn't

love you

well

if I

didn't

say

there's

some

things

you

need

to

un-choose.

In

order for

you to

choose

Jesus

there's

going to

be

some

things

you

must

deny

in

order

to

follow.

we

must

deny

un-choose

carelessness

of other

people.

Not

giving a

rip about

people who

are unlike

us.

We must

put that

behind us

in order

for us

to choose

Jesus

and move

forward.

So when

you choose

Jesus

here's what

happens.

The Spirit

of God

will fill

you with

the heart

of Jesus

which is

compassion

towards all

people

who are

like

sheep

without

a

shepherd

distressed

and

downcast.

It

informs

the way

we engage

people.

So I

know not

all of

us live

in the

same

place.

We live

in different

places

in relationship

to downtown

Kenosha.

I know

that.

I know

that not

all of

us

experience

kind

of an

inner

city

life.

I know

that.

But all

of us

must be

exercising

the

compassion

of

Jesus.

In

order to

do that

you need

to say

no more

to this

carelessness

of others.

Which means

compassion

for black

and brown

ethnic

minorities

who just

want to

be heard.

Who just

want to

be understood.

Who want

to have

their experiences

validated.

We have

compassion

on law

enforcement

because they're

in a very

difficult position

right now.

Very difficult.

In fact

many of us

have been

praying for

John and

Terry

Tipman

that God

would open

a door

into the

sheriff's

department

for them

to minister

to law

enforcement

husbands and

wives

in this

stressful time.

We have

compassion

on people

of different

political

persuasions

because we

all know

that there's

no political

party that

will deliver

you from

your sins.

We have

we must

say no

to a

carelessness

towards others

to say

choose Jesus

and have

compassion

on others.

Let me just

roll through a

couple other

things you need

to say no

to in order

to say yes

to Jesus.

You need to

say no

to an

inordinate

fear.

You must

unchoose

an inordinate

fear for

your personal

safety, for

your personal

health, for

your personal

future.

if you're

more concerned

about self

preservation

than Jesus

glorification

you've got

something to

say no to.

We've got to

say no to

our complacency

of our own

kingdom building

and we say

yes to Jesus

and being about

the building

of his kingdom

of leveraging

resources to

that end.

We must

say no.

we must

unchoose

this cavalier

pride

and this is

how it

shows up.

If you're

more interested

in being

right

than

building up

relationships

you've got

something to

repent of

to turn from

in order to

choose Jesus.

if you have

a track record

of speaking

in ways

that ruin

relationships

because you

want to be

right

you've got to

repent of

that.

There's a

time and a

place to

say oh I

got to be

faithful to

Jesus and I

got to stand

on this

truth let

the chips

of relationships

fall where

they may.

But what I'm

talking about is

something different.

it's a

pride of

insisting on

your own

way and it

can ruin

relationships.

You need to

prevent you

need to repent

of that to

choose Jesus

and humble

yourself.

the last thing

I want to

call you to

repentance of

is chaos

making.

When you

choose Jesus

you become

one of his

followers.

Blessed are

the peacemakers

for they are

sons of God.

Jesus calmed

the sea.

He brought

calm to

chaos and

for many of

us we

experienced

chaos internally

before we

became Christians

and he brought

peace like a

river internally

to us.

Brothers and

sisters don't

bring chaos to

your relationships

bring the

calm.

Bring Jesus

calm.

And that

starts with

experiencing his

peace inside

of you.

Isaiah 26

3.

He gives

perfect peace

to those who

set their

minds on

him.

To those who

trust in him.

Brothers and

sisters we're

peacemakers.

We're not

chaos makers.

We're to bring

the calm.

Not the

chaos.

Can I just

encourage you

along one

line?

Use your

dinner table

as a

peacemaking

tool.

Invite people

into your

home.

Get to know

them.

Listen to them

and understand

them.

That's how we

bring peace.

By mutual

understanding.

By listening

carefully.

to love

with your

ears.

You've got to

unchoose these

things in order

to choose

Jesus so that

we can all

move forward

submitted to

him.

We are his

body under

his headship

walking in

motion along

the path that

he has set out

for us.

We've been

living in a

state of

crisis for

about five and

a half months.

many of us

are weary.

Many of us

are sick of

it.

Many of us

want to give

up and get

out.

Other of us

want to bow

up and throw

down.

But we choose

Jesus today

who is the

greatest peacemaker

of all.

And we bring

peace.

Can we just

say it's not

going to be the

same moving

forward.

It's not

going to be

the same.

There's the

mistake that we

could think,

hey it's just

about cleaning

up the city.

Once we clean

up the city of

all of its

glass and

trash and

plywood,

then we go

back to

normal.

We don't go

back to

normal.

We can clean

it all up and

yet there will

still be things

that need to be

addressed and we

want to do that

out of the glory

of Jesus.

There will be

still smoldering

racial tension in

our city.

And out of

love for Jesus,

let's be a part

of addressing that

with the gospel.

COVID's not

done.

The investigation

of Jacob Blake's

not done.

There are a lot

of not dones.

And Jesus is

not done.

He's not done in

his work with us.

Because of his

person, because of

his work, today I

choose Jesus and

so must you.

Our goal is to be

faithful to his

call to make

disciples of all

the nations.

Starting in

Kenosha.

Now I want to

give you some

instructions of how

we're going to move

forward here.

We're going to sing

glorious Christ in a

minute.

But before we do,

can I just

encourage you just

to take a minute

to ask God to

search you, to

see if there's

anything you need

to un-choose in

order to choose

Jesus today to

move forward with

him as our head.

Would you take a

minute and do work?

Spirit of the

living God, would

you now do a

work in convicting

us of what we

must repent of so

that we can choose

Jesus moving

forward?

Take a minute.

risen Christ, today

we repent of our

sins.

We confess, Lord

Jesus, of areas in

of our lives, whether

it's carelessness or

fear or some kind of

building of our own

kingdom or pride or

chaos making.

God, we confess them

to you, Lord Jesus, and

trust that once again

you've washed us

white as clean.

Because if we confess

our sins, you're

faithful and just to

forgive us of our

sins and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

Lord Jesus, we as your

people choose you

today.

And if you give us

tomorrow, we and joy

will choose you again

tomorrow.

Now, God, I do pray

that as a continuing

work of your spirit, you

would encourage us

with one another.

That you would build us

up as a church as we

hear one another.

And we pray this in

Jesus' name.

Amen.