Hebrews 13:8
(sermon outline for Wednesday Sept. 16)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV
For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself. Hebrews 13:8 MSG
Introduction:
1. Just as jet lag occurs when you cross time zones, spiritual jet lag can occur during changing times.
2. Jet lag (definition): medically referred to as "desynchronosis" is a physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to circadian rhythms. Jet lag results from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east-west or west-east) travel, as on a jet plane. (wikipedia)
3. Common symptoms of jet lag include headache, disorientation, fatigue, grogginess, and irritability. It occurs to me that the same symptoms take place in spiritual jet lag, especially irritability.
Outline:
1. Spiritual jet lag occurs when there is a distance between the cultural time in which a Christian lives and the cultural time in which a Christian wishes, believes, or pretends to live.
2. What are some examples of the kinds of changes that can cause a lag time?
Socially, culturally, technologically:
- Automotive: Straight shift transmission to manual transmission.
- Music: phonograph to 8 track to cassette to cd to I Tunes or I Pod.
- Television: antenna to cable, or analog to digital.
- Movies: Reel to videocassette to dvd to blueray.
- Measurements: …to metric, Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Spiritually or ecclesially (church):
- Bible translations: KJV to NIV to Message.
- Denomination: One mission partner to multiple mission partners.
- Worship style: Traditional to blended to contemporary to emergent or contemplative.
- Newsletter: Black/white to color print, hard copy to e-copy.
- Invitation to commitment: Public, spontaneous response to private counsel and orientation.
3. For the church the method is constantly changing but the message doesn’t change.
The Bible says that Christ is the same, but it never says or suggests that the church is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
4. What are some things that may help us overcome our lag time?
- Avoid becoming an opponent of any notion of change.
- Seek to discover the purpose of proposed or enacted change.
- Ask yourself whether the change violates your conviction or just your comfort zone.
- Find positive ways to empower the change.
- As you adjust to changes, make it a habit to help others adjust. A person who struggles with change may be able to better empathize with others who struggle even more to adjust to change.
5. What are examples of changes we should expect in the future that could create a lag time as we adjust?
Socially, culturally, and technologically:
- A continued proliferation of information and communication technology.
- A new economic norm that requires a more thoughtful stewardship.
- A longer life span and a later retirement age.
- A revised menu of health care options and expectations.
- An expanding menu of social, cultural, and recreational opportunities that will require us to sharpen our time management and decision-making skills.
Spiritually and ecclesially:
- That we continue to upgrade the way we provide our invitation to the Christian life and church membership, perhaps even requiring New Christian orientation before baptism and New Church Member orientation before affirming a membership application.
- That we continue to upgrade the assignments, job descriptions and nomenclature for ministry teams, deacons, and staff ministers.
- That we periodically evaluate and upgrade our schedule so that we maximize our opportunities for worship, Bible study, and ministry.
- That we deepen our understanding of church as a community where we are served a generous portion of God’s grace so that we may in turn serve others in Jesus’ name.
Conclusion:
What is the remedy for jet lag? Doctors agree that there is no pill or pharmaceutical remedy. Most recommend two things: 1) Allow yourself a gradual adjustment period. 2) Light therapy (Daylight followed by low-level light throughout the night helps during the adjustment period.)
Perhaps the same remedies work for spiritual jet lag. Maybe we need to allow ourselves a gradual time of adjustment so that we are not overwhelmed. And maybe the kind of light therapy we need is that found in I John 1:7 NIV: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
