Be With Jesus.
“Be with Jesus. Be like Jesus. Change the world.” Not too many Sundays go by without someone saying these words. They are ubiquitous in our services and in The Brook’s community culture.
For some people, big bold statement like this can be highly motivating. It’s got a kind of fist pumping, locker room, vibe to it.
For some people, big bold statement like this can be highly motivating. It’s got a kind of fist pumping, locker room, vibe to it.
In fact, it reminds me of time back in 1995 when I was working for ABC Television. We were airing a new documentary on The Beatles and the media kit promoting the show included a
poster that I hung on the wall of my office. At the top of the poster read the headline, “What did it feel like to change the world?”
And while the statement, “change the world,” can feel a bit hyperbolic when it comes to the Beatles – I mean, let’s be honest, how much has any musical group really changed the
world -- when it comes to the history of Christianity, it’s also undeniable. Christianity changed the world in more profound ways than any other movement in human history.
poster that I hung on the wall of my office. At the top of the poster read the headline, “What did it feel like to change the world?”
And while the statement, “change the world,” can feel a bit hyperbolic when it comes to the Beatles – I mean, let’s be honest, how much has any musical group really changed the
world -- when it comes to the history of Christianity, it’s also undeniable. Christianity changed the world in more profound ways than any other movement in human history.
The idea that we should care for our neighbors, be charitable to those less fortunate,
and take care of the sick are uniquely Christian ideas. They are why Christians invented
hospitals and developed systems for foster care and adoption.
In Christ’s time, women were considered the property of their husbands. They were not
allowed to be educated. They could not speak for themselves. They had no agency of
their own. Yet Jesus not only befriended women, He also gave them a place in His
ministry. This is why wherever Christianity has spread, so too has the value and respect
of women.
And it’s not at all an overstatement to suggest that many of the greatest works of art, the
most celebrated paintings, the most highly acclaimed music, and the most read pieces
of literature, were all brought to us by Christianity.
and take care of the sick are uniquely Christian ideas. They are why Christians invented
hospitals and developed systems for foster care and adoption.
In Christ’s time, women were considered the property of their husbands. They were not
allowed to be educated. They could not speak for themselves. They had no agency of
their own. Yet Jesus not only befriended women, He also gave them a place in His
ministry. This is why wherever Christianity has spread, so too has the value and respect
of women.
And it’s not at all an overstatement to suggest that many of the greatest works of art, the
most celebrated paintings, the most highly acclaimed music, and the most read pieces
of literature, were all brought to us by Christianity.
"This is why wherever Christianity has spread,
so too has the value and respect of women."
Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Pascal, Kelvin, and many of history’s greatest scientists were
Christians, probing God’s creation in hopes of learning more and proclaiming more
about Him. Indeed, modern science and scientific methodologies come to us because of
Christianity.
Christianity is the motivator behind our education system – Friedrich Foebel pioneered
kindergarten, while Johan Sturm invented the idea of grades, believing advancing to the
next level would provide a reward for learning. Additionally, most universities in America
were started by Christians hoping to expand the impact of the Gospel through
education. Institutions including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, to name just a
few, were all originally Christian institutions.
Christians, probing God’s creation in hopes of learning more and proclaiming more
about Him. Indeed, modern science and scientific methodologies come to us because of
Christianity.
Christianity is the motivator behind our education system – Friedrich Foebel pioneered
kindergarten, while Johan Sturm invented the idea of grades, believing advancing to the
next level would provide a reward for learning. Additionally, most universities in America
were started by Christians hoping to expand the impact of the Gospel through
education. Institutions including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, to name just a
few, were all originally Christian institutions.
It was Christians who were behind the movement for the coeducation of women
alongside men. It was Christians who went into cities that were literally “plagued” in
order to care for the sick and the dying at a period when the sick and the dying were
people to be avoided or discarded. All the people who started the abolitionist
movement where Christians. And Christianity is the foundation on which the very
concepts of Democracy were built.
The list goes on and on and on, the fact, however, remains the same: Christians have
done more good and have transformed the world for the better in more ways than any
other movement in all of human history.
This is all fine and well and worthy of celebrating but it’s also a bit intimidating when this
same type of profound world transformation is expected of me.
alongside men. It was Christians who went into cities that were literally “plagued” in
order to care for the sick and the dying at a period when the sick and the dying were
people to be avoided or discarded. All the people who started the abolitionist
movement where Christians. And Christianity is the foundation on which the very
concepts of Democracy were built.
The list goes on and on and on, the fact, however, remains the same: Christians have
done more good and have transformed the world for the better in more ways than any
other movement in all of human history.
This is all fine and well and worthy of celebrating but it’s also a bit intimidating when this
same type of profound world transformation is expected of me.
THE BROOK: Be with Jesus. Be Like Jesus. Change the world.
ME: You want me to change the world? I can’t even remember to change the filter in the air conditioner!
But this isn’t quite what our mantra is saying. When we approach “Be with Jesus; Be Like Jesus; Change the world,” this way, we jump to the end and leave out the rest of the process. This, of course, makes the phrase “change the world,” rather intimidating. It puts the onus on us. If we look at the statement in its entirety, however, there’s a much more theologically sound way of internalizing it.
We see this play out for us in the Book of Acts, chapter’s three and four.
Here we have Peter and John in Jerusalem sometime after the Pentecost. In chapter three they are headed to the temple when they are confronted by a lame beggar asking them for money. Instead of giving the guy money, Peter heals him. The people looking on are amazed and Peter and John begin preaching Jesus to them. This, as you might expect, gets the attention of the temple leaders.
In chapter four, it’s the next day, and now the rulers and elders and teachers meet to talk about what Peter and John are doing. They have the two apostles brought to them where they begin asking questions about where they got their authority. Peter and John don’t back down, but instead, answer boldly. In Acts 4:13 we read this about how the rulers, elders, and teachers reacted to this: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
This puts things into a very different perspective for us. When we look at things in this context, “Be with Jesus. Be like Jesus. Change the world,” is not a command. It’s not a goal.
It’s not even a wish.
It’s a process.
In fact, it’s kind of a step-by-step process.
Being with Jesus is the start of the process. But it’s also the only part of the process we need to be at all concerned with. After that, Jesus does the rest.
As we spend time with Jesus, Jesus begins to work in us. He begins to transform us through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit. He changes us and empowers us, providing us with the tools, talents, and temperament needed for Him to work through us.
As Jesus begins to work through us, the world around us is changed. Because of Jesus living in us, the people who we interact with are touched by Jesus working through us. His invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – are clearly seen (Romans 1:20)
ME: You want me to change the world? I can’t even remember to change the filter in the air conditioner!
But this isn’t quite what our mantra is saying. When we approach “Be with Jesus; Be Like Jesus; Change the world,” this way, we jump to the end and leave out the rest of the process. This, of course, makes the phrase “change the world,” rather intimidating. It puts the onus on us. If we look at the statement in its entirety, however, there’s a much more theologically sound way of internalizing it.
We see this play out for us in the Book of Acts, chapter’s three and four.
Here we have Peter and John in Jerusalem sometime after the Pentecost. In chapter three they are headed to the temple when they are confronted by a lame beggar asking them for money. Instead of giving the guy money, Peter heals him. The people looking on are amazed and Peter and John begin preaching Jesus to them. This, as you might expect, gets the attention of the temple leaders.
In chapter four, it’s the next day, and now the rulers and elders and teachers meet to talk about what Peter and John are doing. They have the two apostles brought to them where they begin asking questions about where they got their authority. Peter and John don’t back down, but instead, answer boldly. In Acts 4:13 we read this about how the rulers, elders, and teachers reacted to this: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
This puts things into a very different perspective for us. When we look at things in this context, “Be with Jesus. Be like Jesus. Change the world,” is not a command. It’s not a goal.
It’s not even a wish.
It’s a process.
In fact, it’s kind of a step-by-step process.
Being with Jesus is the start of the process. But it’s also the only part of the process we need to be at all concerned with. After that, Jesus does the rest.
As we spend time with Jesus, Jesus begins to work in us. He begins to transform us through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit. He changes us and empowers us, providing us with the tools, talents, and temperament needed for Him to work through us.
As Jesus begins to work through us, the world around us is changed. Because of Jesus living in us, the people who we interact with are touched by Jesus working through us. His invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – are clearly seen (Romans 1:20)
"Being with Jesus is the start of the process. But it’s also the only part of the process we need to be at all concerned with. After that,
Jesus does the rest."
In talking about this with Pastor Tim, he pointed me to Charles Spurgeon’s sermon on Acts 4:13 titled Christ’s People – Imitators of Him. In it, Spurgeon says this:
“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and private individuals, they marveled, and they came to a right conclusion as to the source of their power—they had been dwelling with Jesus.”
Can we be like Christ on our own, without the power of Christ to transform us? Not a chance. But we can be with Jesus. We can study His word in scriptures. We can go to Him in prayer. We can be in fellowship with believers who can help sharpen us in our thoughts.
Can we ordinary souls living here in Miami change the world without the power of Christ? By no means. But we can be with Jesus. We can meditate on His life, death, and resurrection. We can memorize His words. We can gather to sing songs of praise and worship.
As we do these things we will be changed. We will speak to our friends, family, and coworkers differently. We will have our cravings and desires bent away from ourselves and more toward Him. We will be transformed by the Holy Spirit into something that more closely resembles God’s desire for us, something that is more powerfully equipped for His works in our world.
“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and private individuals, they marveled, and they came to a right conclusion as to the source of their power—they had been dwelling with Jesus.”
Can we be like Christ on our own, without the power of Christ to transform us? Not a chance. But we can be with Jesus. We can study His word in scriptures. We can go to Him in prayer. We can be in fellowship with believers who can help sharpen us in our thoughts.
Can we ordinary souls living here in Miami change the world without the power of Christ? By no means. But we can be with Jesus. We can meditate on His life, death, and resurrection. We can memorize His words. We can gather to sing songs of praise and worship.
As we do these things we will be changed. We will speak to our friends, family, and coworkers differently. We will have our cravings and desires bent away from ourselves and more toward Him. We will be transformed by the Holy Spirit into something that more closely resembles God’s desire for us, something that is more powerfully equipped for His works in our world.
The more we are with Jesus, the more we will be like Jesus. This won’t happen because of our work. It won’t happen because of our effort. It will happen because of His work in us. And as it happens, people will take notice. God will impact people through us and with us, and they will be changed. Indeed, the world around us will most certainly be changed. And the more of us there are, the more Christians who are purposeful about being with Jesus live in a specific area, the greater the impact we will have in that area. Again, this won’t be because of our effort. It will be because of His presence (“lest we should boast”).
So, when you hear, “Be with Jesus. Be like Jesus. Change The World.” Remember the important part:
Be with Jesus.
Be with Jesus SO THAT He can transform you into someone more like Him SO THAT He can change the world around you by working in you, on you, and through you.
Be with Jesus.
Be like Jesus.
Change the world.
Amen.
So, when you hear, “Be with Jesus. Be like Jesus. Change The World.” Remember the important part:
Be with Jesus.
Be with Jesus SO THAT He can transform you into someone more like Him SO THAT He can change the world around you by working in you, on you, and through you.
Be with Jesus.
Be like Jesus.
Change the world.
Amen.
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