The Vineyard Church of North Grand Rapids, MI

1. You might think it's negative talk, but it's just reality: this is a hard stretch of economic road. A Vineyard pastor I oversee in Midland said this week that while attendance is up and the church is growing, 14 church members who were professionals with Dow Chemical have lost their jobs, so the church is eliminating staff and cutting pay. America is in its 15th month of recession and the headlines every day shout, "It's going to get worse before it gets better.

2. Bill Golder's story

I. THIS IS A SEASON OF OPPORTUNITY

It may be urban legend, but it's often said that crisis, in the Chinese language is made up of two characters: the character for danger (real danger) and the character for opportunity (unusual opportunity). In other words, ancient wisdom might suggest that in the midst of real dangers (truly bad stuff) there are unusual opportunities for good. Whatever the case, "the time is ripe for reflection and change".

This economic crisis is a lot like a test that we can pass or fail. On thing for sure, crises reveal what's inside of us. Who would you or I really be, without our jobs, our retirement investments, or even our houses? One man might discover that his job really was his life . . . almost the god he worshipped. One woman might discover that her house really was her source of joy and peace. A couple might discover that their savings account was their basis of security. A student might discover that without the ability to go to school, he or she really had no vision for life.

At least some of us are going to discover that we have something within us that increasing in value, interest, and influence with every passing month in this crisis. What is it? GODLINESS. Godliness isn't the same thing as spirituality or holiness or church attendance. Godliness is the quality of being like God-Godlike in the way you think, make your decisions, feel, go to work and do life. A godly person is becoming more and more like God as he or she gets older. He or she may just be starting out in the faith journey, but this is the focus: not going to church but becoming like God. Trusting God and showing others that he is trustworthy. Loving and serving, giving and forgiving . . . like God. A godly person is someone who is DEVOTED to God, God's perspectives, God's ways, God's heart for people, God's mission. Crises often reveal who or what we're really devoted to.

ILLUS: Ever known someone who is devoted to something? I'm unashamedly devoted to motorcycling. I love it. When I can't ride, I read motorcycle magazines and page through an atlas looking for all the rides I'd like to take. I like different kinds of motorcycles; I'd like to have one of each. Motorcycling puts me in a good mood; rainy days bring me down. I'm devoted. You can be devoted to more than one thing. Bill Golder is devoted to his wife and family. And, I know from serving with him on our board of directors that he's devoted to becoming more and more like God in the way he's doing life.

2. Godliness is a major theme in the Apostle Paul's letters to Timothy.

a. The Apostle Paul's wrote two letters to Timothy, a young ministry leader and pastor in the city of Ephesus. A couple named Priscilla and Aquilla planted the church in Ephesus, Paul spent several years establishing it, Paul appointed Timothy to lead it, and later the Apostle John made it his base of ministry. When Paul wrote to Timothy, Paul was concerned about people in the church losing their way. Much of Paul's counsel to Timothy focuses on challenging the Christians in Ephesus to avoid (1) loose talk and (2) undisciplined living. In any crisis, loose talk and undisciplined living can get you into big trouble. This is no time to be letting your emotions rule you and just blurting out whatever is on your mind.

In real crises, godliness is a beacon of hope to our neighbors. They may not care about church, but they value grace, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, hope, and real love. ILLUS: Several weeks ago some of you gave me the opportunity to meet Jackie Pullinger in Hong Kong. You can read here forty-year story in the revised edtion of Chasing the Dragon. She made this comment in my presence: The poor don't care about what you have to say about Jesus until they first meet him . . . in you, in your touch, in your home, in the food you feed them. When they meet Jesus through your touch, you prayers, eating your food, in your home, they are ready to hear about him. Godliness is a breath of life to those who find no joy in television, who can't afford homes, who can't make car payments, who have no medical insurance. THIS IS A SEASON OF OPPORTUNITY; THIS IS A SEASON FOR GODLINESS.

NOT EVERY FELLOW TRAVELER IS LIKE GOD OR IS EVEN TRYING TO BE GODLY.

Some church-going men and women just have a form of godliness-a veneer (II Timothy 3:5). They're nice, polite, friendly, Sunday morning church-goers. But they aren't at all like God; they aren't even heading in that direction. You wouldn't know it until it is time to make a sacrifice of time or money, say no to an unethical business deal, put real love ahead of personal gain, or take a personal loss so that someone else might gain. You won't see the mask come off until some crisis puts them to the test.

Paul warns Timothy that some of the Ephesians church members just have a form of godliness. He says that Timothy should have nothing to do with them. They may not even be real Christians. Their lives have none of the transforming power that can actually change a person from the inside out-to become more like God

2. Jesus himself pointed out these people when he spoke to the Christians in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4. Jesus said that even though they put in their time at church, they had left behind their first love-for people and for God. They're here, working around the church, but they don't love God and they don't love you. Don't expect them to be generous or to make any sacrifices if they're forced to choose to between themselves and you.

B. Paul gives us three distinct qualities that mark a godly traveling companion.

II. CHOOSE GODLY TRAVELING COMPANIONS.

A. They're grateful for what they have and, they celebrate others' prosperity (I Timothy 6:6-8).

They're content. Whether they're eating out at a fine restaurant, or finishing up mom's tuna-noodle casserole, there's a "Ah" in their heart. Whether they've spent the evening watching HBO on a plasma screen TV or reading a borrowed book from a public library, they say a prayer of thanks as they lay their heads down on their pillows. They realize that this recession could very well be a sovereign God's invitation to simplify, to loosen our grip on our stuff, and to take some advanced lessons in faith and obedience, love and sacrifice. They realize that God is in control and may be using this season to challenge our nation's arrogance and greed. They take to heart that God may be dismantle the old stuff in our lives to build something new-a new order out of chaos.

Not everyone is there. Some people want to get rich. They love money. How do you know? They're eager to get more. When they're happiest, it's about money; when they're most frustrated and swearing, it's about money. Most of their decisions and investments and energies are directed toward getting more! And it's not about giving or sharing money; it's about getting ahead, staying ahead, having more, retiring with wealth. Godly friends who are content will do what Jesus would do when the economy goes over a cliff. They'll sacrifice themselves for you-their convenience, their savings, their privacy. If it comes down to it, their home will become your home. You'll meet God in fresh ways through their godliness.

B. They fill their minds and conversations with God's promises, not just media headlines (I Timothy 6:17).

Command (2x)-because the wealthy are susceptible to a particular disease: arrogance-an attitude of superiority, a right to ignore Scripture and look away from people in need. A right to make their careers their lives. Wealthy people are tempted to think that they can say "No" to their pastor, their church, and even God.

So the first command is just to cultivate and communicate hope in God. God is going to see us through. The wealthy are responsible to speak up and say what everyone needs to hear: God is going to keep his promises. God is the only true source of life, security, fulfillment, happiness. God is going to see us through this together. Godly people are positive people. They speak up and offer hope to their spouse, children, friends, and neighbors. You may have noticed some godly people already this morning. They greeted you with real delight; talking with them in the hallway was really affirming. They worshipped alongside you with unusual passion. You could see the hope on their faces. They read the headlines this morning; but their hope is firm.

C. They are exceptionally generous with their assets and their cash in every economic season.

They are rich in good deeds, generous in their sharing. We're not talking about kids and grandkids. Even atheists are generous with their kids and grandkids. We're talking about strangers, neighbors, fellow Christians in need, single moms, the poor. Christians who simply have a form of godliness-a Jesus veneer-put a few bucks in an offering for this or that. But their check books and their tax returns (ooh-tax returns always tell the truth) will show that they are simply nice, church-going people. People with a form of godliness might buy you a bag of groceries, but they're not going to pay for your car repair bill or invite you into their home for six months. If they were godly, they would rich in Good Samaritan stories-using their own money, on their own time, to meet the needs of perfect strangers . . . neighbors. People who are rich in good deeds have lots of personal, Good Samaritan stories. They're trusting and following the One who told the Good Samaritan story!

III. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO START TRAINING.
I Timothy 4:7, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather train yourself to be godly".

Some people are going to go out of here just like they came-talking trash or talking newspaper headlines. Talking like there is no God, or if there is, he can't be trusted. They're going to go home just like they came. They'll take off their godly mask as soon as they close their car doors.

Other people are going to leave here and start stretching and working out.

They're going to repent of letting money shape their moods and inform their decisions. They're actually going to tell their wives and kids that they're sorry for complaining like God can't be trusted. They're going to read from Matthew 6 in their family devotions tomorrow evening (instead of reading the paper).

They're going to put a few dollars in the boxes for the poor on their way out this morning. They're going to have a discussion with their spouse, or even the whole family, about how they can become rich in good deeds in the community-collect some Good Samaritan stories. They're going to start a conversation about opening up their home to someone else 6-12 months from now.

Some of you might consider actually joining the church-the heavy lifting of using your time and gifts to serve others, to do the hard work of loving and forgiving and dying to yourself that others may live.

4. Here's a great workout plan. We have a dynamic jail ministry being supported and led by the Buursemas and the Pohlads. Our men's team is hosting services at the jail today. The cutting edge of jail ministry is mentoring men and women getting out of jail. Mentoring is a six month commitment to help a man or woman-who wants help-to connect with the church. That's all: six months of personal introductions to the other men or other women here Vineyard North. Bill Bruursema told me this week that most of the men and women getting out, know they need a mentor, and want help. We just need to connect them with traveling companions who are training to become more like God. Details in your program.

CONCLUSION

Godliness doesn't start with training, it starts with a personal relationship with the trainer-Jesus. "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory" (I Timothy 3:16).

The first step in joining us on this journey of faith is inviting Jesus to come into your life as your Trainer. Opportunties Pass. Before we get much deeper into this crisis, I'd invite you to invite Jesus into your life today.

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