http://bible.com/events/49238706

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

Holiness as Wholeness, Part 1

Holiness as Wholeness

The idea behind this new teaching series is that Holiness, rather than being a heavy burden of impossibility placed on believers, is a healing and freeing effect of Christ’s sacrifice. Holiness is good for us; it restores to us the design of God for our lives. The enemy wants us to believe it is a chain placed upon us, so we dread its requirements so that we’ll turn our back on it or roll our eyes at it. But, in essence, holiness brings all that we really want into our lives. It makes us whole with all of the attendant beauty of that idea. Holiness is not a requirement as much as it is a remedy. The Nazarene understanding of Christian Holiness or Entire Sanctification is freeing, not binding. Through this sermon series then, we want to see Holiness as Wholeness.

When you decided to attend Church of the Nazarene this morning, you decided to attend a church born of what’s referred to as the Wesleyan or Holiness tradition. “Wesleyan” because of the influence of the great church father John Wesley, and “Holiness” because the pursuit of a real, deep genuine (not generic) relationship with Christ is at the heart of our purpose together.

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Hebrews 12:14-15

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

“Holiness is a word that can make us feel uneasy. It seems lofty, threatening, alien. We instinctively sense that God’s holiness has dangerous overtones. His purity calls our sinful attachments into question, demanding that we forsake them in order to enjoy the greatest of all goods—belonging to a God of infinite love and power. To come casually with our hearts grasping tightly to the sins we cherish or to come lightly as though they are no big deal, might be like throwing ourselves onto a roaring fire with the expectation we will not perish. How, then, can we—sinful and broken human beings—hope to come into the presence of a holy God and survive the experience?” Ann Spangler

Why do some struggle with the concept of Holiness?

“I believe most think it’s impossible to be holy so they are intimidated by the word. But we need to understand that any holiness we have is not from us, but God working in and through us. Impossible for us? Yes. For God working in us? No.”

“I attend a holiness believing denomination because I was tired of being frustrated trying to live a holy life without understanding full surrender, trying to live in my own strength and hearing ‘you can try, you can try really hard, but you can’t do it’ by other denominational teachings. It is scary when one tries to live a holy life in their own strength, and then it truly becomes frustrating, trying but just not able to do it.”

“I believe that the concept of holiness often feels distant because it’s mistakenly equated with perfection. However, true holiness isn’t about flawlessness but about aligning ourselves with God’s purpose. Similarly, many misconstrue sin as mere error, when in reality, it’s a conscious choice. While perfection remains unattainable in our earthly journey, perfection in Christ entails fulfilling our intended purpose without succumbing to sin. It’s not about flawlessness, but about living without the stain of sin.”

“And here in Holiness is the remedy for all our disease, all the corruption of our nature.” John Wesley

“How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets real thing, it is irresistible.” C.S. Lewis

“Fear of God is the blush upon the face of holiness enhancing its beauty.” C.H. Spurgeon

Holiness as wholeness means that the sanctifying work of God in the pursuit of holiness in our lives doesn’t just allow us to be in relationship with Him, but cleanses, refreshes and heals our body and our mind.

Romans 7:24-25

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Holiness and the Church of the Nazarene

Former Nazarene General Superintendent Dr. J.K. Warrick discusses the distinctiveness of the Nazarene Church with a focus on Holiness.

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving

Establish COTN as Your Church on the App

In this YouVersion Bible app, we encourage you to set up COTN as your church. It’s a simple process and will open up opportunities to stay connected to us!

https://help.youversion.com/l/en/article/y03uerubo8-mychurch

Church of the Nazarene – East Rock

https://www.bible.com/events/49239220

Holiness as Wholeness, Part 1

Holiness as Wholeness

The idea behind this new teaching series is that Holiness, rather than being a heavy burden of impossibility placed on believers, is a healing and freeing effect of Christ’s sacrifice. Holiness is good for us; it restores to us the design of God for our lives. The enemy wants us to believe it is a chain placed upon us, so we dread its requirements so that we’ll turn our back on it or roll our eyes at it. But, in essence, holiness brings all that we really want into our lives. It makes us whole with all of the attendant beauty of that idea. Holiness is not a requirement as much as it is a remedy. The Nazarene understanding of Christian Holiness or Entire Sanctification is freeing, not binding. Through this sermon series then, we want to see Holiness as Wholeness.

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

1 Peter is written by Apostle Peter. It’s believed he is writing in the early to mid 60’s AD, so this is nearly 30 years after Christ.

The letter was written to Christians in and around Rome who were facing severe persecution under the Roman Emperor Nero. It was a widespread and ruthless persecution of Christians.

Peter wants to write them a letter of encouragement, a letter of hope to remind them of who they are in Christ and the victory found only in Him.

His letter opens affirming the wonderous work of Christ and the hope that believers have in him. Peter, much older than we find him in the gospels, fans the flame of faith and hope for these weary and persecuted believers.

For Peter’s audience, it wasn’t the time to be mentally and spiritually sloppy or lazy it was time to be alert and focused.

It’s interesting to me in verse 14 that he doesn’t point out specific actions they used to do. Not how they used to talk, now how they used to dress, or what they used to drink- none of those specifics.

Peter is looking beyond the conduct and actions themselves, to the heart motives and he says, “Don’t let those old passions and desires rule over you, don’t let them call the shots.”

Then he sets up the contrast “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

The word there in the Greek for holy is hag’-ee-os

It means to be set apart for God, to be exclusively His

Think about what Peter is saying- Rather than being driven by desires, the old ways down in your heart, set yourself apart, give your heart fully to the Lord. Friends that’s the essence of holiness.

1 Peter 1:14-16

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

The invitation of holiness is to allow the Holy Spirit to come and deal with our lives at a heart level. To deal that old nature- to purify our hearts.

It’s possible by the blood of Jesus, it’s brought to life in us by the Holy Spirit and it’s a categorically different way of living.

We still need to grow, we still need to learn, we still need to heal. But our hearts are not divided any more. We don’t have that inner war.

By the power of The Holy Spirit, we have traded that war for peace, the peace of his presence.

It’s a close and intimate relationship with Christ himself. That’s Holiness, and it’s anything but drudgery and bondage. It’s freedom!

Holiness and the Church of the Nazarene

Former Nazarene General Superintendent Dr. J.K. Warrick discusses the distinctiveness of the Nazarene Church with a focus on Holiness.

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving

Establish COTN as Your Church on the App

In this YouVersion Bible app, we encourage you to set up COTN as your church. It’s a simple process and will open up opportunities to stay connected to us!

https://help.youversion.com/l/en/article/y03uerubo8-mychurch

https://www.bible.com/events/49235012

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

Easter 2024: A Tale of Two Gardens

“Where are you?”

Easter is really a tale of two gardens.

The first garden was beautiful, but more than just physical beauty, this garden represents all creation as it should be: man and woman made in God’s image, walking intimately with Him.

There is no sin, no brokenness, no sickness, and no death.

This is life as it should be, and it’s beautiful.

The story begins in that garden

Genesis 2:8-9

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God has provided everything they needed in a garden whose beauty is beyond imagination.

Within this garden there was one tree that was off limits. They were not to take and eat from that tree. Adam and Eve, they had a choice- Would they take God at his word? Or would they take control?

Genesis 3:7-8

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

They decided to take control, to call their own shots.

The moment that sin enters into the world through this selfish act, immediately there is fear and shame. They were ashamed to be naked, and they ran from God.

Read a little further and there is accusation, blame, and denial between husband and wife. Sin entered the story and so did separation from God. The weight of failure and shame set in, and they hid.

Romans 5:12

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Sin entered into the world in that first garden, and it didn’t stop there. It became an epidemic infecting the hearts and souls of all mankind forever.

Whenever you see confusion, you can be sure that something is wrong. Disorder in the world implies that something is out of place. Usually, at the heart of all disorder you will find man in rebellion against God. It began in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day.

-A.W. Tozer

Our story begins in that first garden because sadly, for many, that’s really all they know. That’s their whole story, at least, so far. All they’ve known is a life filled with disorder and chaos.

That is the story of the first garden.

But…Easter is the story of not just one garden, but two.

John 19:38-42

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Here we see another garden.

Interesting that the first garden initially represented life, but now symbolizes death.

A place where life should have been celebrated, death became victorious.

And now in this garden, the garden tomb, it is clearly a place of death, a place where death has had the final word.

But in this garden, the second garden, death does not get the final word.

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

There’s great irony in juxtaposing the two gardens:

1. In a place of the earth’s greatest beauty – the Garden of Eden – the hideousness of sin entered the world through human choices spurred by the devil’s deception.

• Out of great light falls great darkness.

• Death was never supposed to be a part of that beautiful place. But through the sin of man, it was.

2. In a place of death, the Garden Tomb – where darkness has its home – the Lord is resurrected and light dawns.

• The darkness of sin obliterated by the Light of the World.

• No one was ever supposed to escape that grave. But through the victory of Christ over sin, He did.

The Bible is the story of two gardens: Eden and Gethsemane.

In the first, Adam took a fall.

In the second, Jesus took a stand. I

in the first, God sought Adam.

In the second, Jesus sought God.

In Eden, Adam hid from God.

In Gethsemane, Jesus emerged from the tomb.

In Eden, Satan led Adam to a tree that led to his death.

From Gethsemane, Jesus went to a tree that led to our life.

-Max Lucado

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!

Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving

http://bible.com/events/49234754

Church of the Nazarene – East Rock

Easter 2024 “A Tale of Two Gardens”

“Where are you?”

Resurrection Sunday 2024.

Easter is really a tale of two gardens. The garden of the resurrection of course, but it’s also the story of another garden. A garden where sin and death entered our story.

The Cross stands between these two gardens, and the question remains for us “Where are you?”

John 19:16-18

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Crucifixion was a terrible and horrific method of execution. Specifically designed to inflict pain and to slow down death.

Jesus would be there for several hours before he would cry out “It is finished.” He who knew no sin, no mistake, no flaw, was made to be sin for you and me. It is finished.

John 19:38-42

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

This once beautiful garden, full of beauty and life, now plays host to death. With that, the story of Jesus seemingly comes to a cold and dark end.

I bet if we were to ask Jesus’ closes friends and disciples in these moments: Where are you? They might have answered with something like-

1.Bewildered and broken.

2.Crushed and confused.

3.Perhaps they would have just said- I have no idea right now…

This garden tomb seemed to swallow up all of their hope…But today is resurrection Sunday.

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Garden that once swallowed the disciples hope in death, brought forth resurrection life for all eternity. This is Victory. This is life and that eternal.

This is resurrection Sunday. The good news for those who believe in him.

Remember, this is a story of two gardens. Maybe today, you are stuck in the first garden, the garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:8-9

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God created this garden perfect. All of creation was as it was supposed to be. That was true for Adam and Eve as well.

They were created to be God’s partners, co-gardeners in creation. They had calling, purpose, and most importantly un-broken fellowship with God. God has provided everything they need in a garden whose beauty is beyond imagination.

Within this garden there was one tree that was off limits. They were not to take and eat from that tree. Adam and Eve, they had a choice- Would they take God at his word? Or would they take control?

Genesis 3:7-8

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

They decided to take control, to call their own shots.

Sin enters the world bringing its cousins fear, guilt, and shame. This once perfect garden, suddenly seems like a place more familiar to us.

Read a little further and there is accusation, blame, and denial between husband and wife. Sin entered the story and so did separation from God. The weight of failure and shame set in, and they hid.

Here’s the truth for us today. Sin entered our story in this Garden, and it’s still there. We are still making those same choices as Adam and Eve. Choosing to call our own shots, make our own way, do our own thing. And we still feel the effects of those decisions when we make those poor choices.

If that’s where you find yourself today, I have some really good news for you. Even in the midst of this garden full of brokeness, God is calling.

Look at the next verse in our Genesis text- I think this is the word for us today.

Genesis 3:9

But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

The very first thing we see God do in response to Man’s sin and hiding-He comes after them. God knew where they were, of course. He wanted THEM to realize where they were…turning their backs on God.

He wanted them to come out of hiding, to step out of their guilt and shame, and back into relationship with him.

And friends, God is calling you.

No matter where you are, how long it’s been, how bad it’s gotten, God see’s you and he’s asking you: “Where are you?”

Will you answer that call today?

This resurrection Sunday, He’s inviting you to come out of your hiding, step out of guilt and shame and into relationship with him.

Where are you?

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!

Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

http://bible.com/events/49232705

The Untold Jesus Stories- Carrying the Cross

Simon carried your cross, and mine.

Today we conclude our teaching series called “The Untold Jesus Stories.”

Throughout this series we will have been looking into stories that are not literally “untold,” but some of the lesser known or lesser understood accounts that we find in the gospels.

This series has simply focused on some stories that perhaps we haven’t paused to consider very often.

Paul wrote to Timothy with the instruction: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Our “untold” or lesser-known story today is found in Luke 23:23-27

Luke 23:23-27

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Jesus was so weary from the beating he has received that he cannot continue to bear the weight of his cross. The Roman guards instructed Simon to carry the cross for Jesus.

Simon came to the Passover with his family to remember when God delivered the Children of Israel from the death grip of the Egyptian empire and their bondage there. But the story Simon found himself thrust into was different.

This was a new kind of redemption, a new kind of deliverance. This is the story of Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world.

Here’s the question: What does Simon the Cyrene have to do with you? With me?

Luke 23:26

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

We don’t know a lot about Simon even though his story appears in 3 of the 4 gospel accounts.

By Cyrene, it means that he’s from an area of Northern Africa known by that name.

The gospel of Mark records that he is father to Alexander and Rufus, and he has come to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Festival.

Simon disappears from the story as the crucifixion continues. Jesus is crucified between two criminals.

There’s little doubt that this procession, this moment specifically, never faded from Simon‘s memory.

1. Simon is demonstrating what faith would look like 2,000 years later.

We must choose to take up our cross and follow after Christ.

Jesus never hid the true cost of discipleship. To join Christ, is to die to ourselves. To surrender our hearts, our desires, our attitudes to him. It is giving Jesus all authority in our lives. And unlike Simon of Cyrene- nobody will ever force you to bear that cross.

You must accept the call of Christ. You have to choose to follow after him. It’s the only way that truly leads to life.

Luke 9:23-25

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2. The cross Simon carried didn’t belong to Jesus, but to him (and to you and to me).

Jesus bore the penalty of sin for you and for me. Now he calls us, to bear our cross. Not that we literally die for our sins, no, that work has been done. But we are invited to lay down our right to ourselves, and follow Christ.

Scriptures for further study/reflection:

Luke 19:28-44

Matthew 27:27-32

Mark 15:20-24

Mark 15:21

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!

Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving