Thoughts from Pastor Stan

Sermon Notes

July 23, 2009

New Wineskins

INTRO - Heraclitus

“You can’t step into the same river twice.” (Plato, Cratylus 402a & Plutarch)

“The world is in constant flux”

QUESTIONS

1. AGREE OR DISAGREE
2. Can you step in the same river once?
3. Who likes change?
4. Who likes change when it’s not their idea
5. Who likes change when it’s their idea (leading the change)
6. Do we see change in the Bible?

IMPLICATION

If things are constantly changing, what does that imply? Changing for the Better?

Are we constantly changing?

If so, is there something guiding our change or is it arbitrary?

Are we changing for the better or worse?

If we did change to the better, will we one day change into perfection?

If we reach perfection, what’s the next change? (i.e. immutable God)

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

Abram to Abraham

Levi to Matthew? Tax Collector to Disciple

Simon to Peter? Fisher of Fish to Fisher of Men

Saul to Paul? Bounty Hunter to Evangelist

QUESTIONS:

1. Does being a Christian change a person?
2. Did it change you?
3. Would you become a christian if you knew it would change you?
4. If it didn’t?
5. If becoming a christiann did not change anyone, why become a christian?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE: Luke 5

This chapter begins with the call of Peter and Levi (Matthew) to follow Jesus. Both Simon and Levi will change their vocation because they have chosen to follow Jesus.

NOTE: Following Jesus for Peter and Levi changed them

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE: Luke 5: 27 - 32

Levi/Matthew hosts a great banquet

and the pharisees complain why the followers of Jesus don’t fast

Know any spiritual people who complain that other spiritual people aren’t very spiritual, they don’t fast?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

Jesus lived in a world where “old is better”

different from the world we live today

today, we live in a world, where “new is better”

We want (lots of stuff):

latest fashion and not last year’s fashion

latest automobile not a used car

latest i-phone, computer, kindle, blue-ray, HD TV,

we even want a new body?

BUT: There is some stuff that we don’t want NEW.

OPPOSITION

Jesus is about to experience opposition from the Pharisees regarding the change he brings into our lives. The Pharisees oppose the changes that Jesus is bringing to customary practices (fasting & Sabbath). Fasting was a major rite of piety. We have them today, and if people don’t succumb to our definitions of piety, we give them the “eye.” Apparently, Pharisees fasted twice a week; because they are so pious. Know any Pharisees?

SCRIPTURE: Luke 5: 33 - 35 (Jesus Questioned About Fasting)

33 (PHARISEES) They said to him, "John's disciples often FAST and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."

34Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."

FAST

The law required fasting on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16: 29 - 31; 23:27)

All other fasts were voluntary

CRITICISM

Too much “eat, drink and be merry” going on

IMPLICATION

The Pharisees considered fasting an outward display of spirituality

QUESTION

Is there something that you consider an outward display of spirituality?

Isaiah 58:3 - 6 (True Fasting)

It is attitude. Right heart. Right motive. Not outward action.

POINT: REBUKE of outward hypocritical fasting-

SCRIPTURE: Luke 5: 36 - 38

36He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

37And no one pours new WINE into old WINESKINS. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

WINE -

Two extremes:

The “blood of Christ’ in communion (sacred)

The substance of an alcoholic (not sacred, Circle ?)

REMEMBER: The first miracle of Jesus, changed water into wine (John 2)

WINESKINS -

Animal (goat/sheep) skins were sewn together at the edges and used to hold the grape juice during the fermentation process. New wine expands and because of the skin’s (skin stretches) elasticity. Old/used skin already stretched was less elastic (because of it’s age and being brittle) and would burst and rupture and both skin and wine would be ruined.

OBSERVATION

The Pharisees were not elastic. They were rigid, could not expand with the ‘new” of the gospel of Jesus.

IMPLICATION

We ourselves can be like the Pharisees and lose our elasticity and can become rigid.

POINT - out with the old and in with the new

A new era with a new perspective has arrived. The old rituals (styles) were not “elastic” enough for the new rituals (styles); or old covenant and new covenant. Thus, the style of fasting representing the old, is not meant for the new. Not saying fasting is wrong, but as an outward sign of an inward spiritual grace, wasn’t working.

HISTORICALLY THINGS DID CHANGE

Circumcision no longer necessary (replaced by baptism)

We eat pork and cheese burgers (no unclean foods)

No sacrifices; but we remember the final sacrifice (cross) through holy communion

God is not worshipped through rules; but in a personal relationship

PASSING OF THE PEACE

What’s better OLD or New wine?

SCRIPTURE: Luke 5:39 (curve ball)

And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

NOTE: Peculiar line (paradox?)

QUESTION: Which do you prefer: Old wine or new wine?

CONTEXT: this is referring to “style” of worship or “style” of covenant

PROBLEM: Who likes change?

QUESTIONS:

1. Does becoming a christian change us?
2. If so, do we need that change/transformation?

POINT

1. We are here this morning because some folks drank the new wine.
2. When we reject new wine, we may reject what God intends for us.
3. Has there ever been something you initially rejected, but later accepted and it was a blessing (the Mouse).
4. When God brings something new into our lives, we always have a choice to drink or not to drink. that is the question.