7A JOURNEY TO THE CORE

The group has traveled all day. Everyone is tired and ready to stop. It’s a beautiful place, and so we set camp at the base of Mt. Hermon. Jesus is speaking softly to Peter with a hand on his shoulder. He gestures to James and John. As he speaks he points to the mountain and the shoulders of all three men visibly sag. He must be taking them up that mountain. We look at the slopes, 9,400 feet of steep climb. 11,000 feet above sea level. As we watch the four start up the steep path we lay back and think, “Maybe sometimes it’s be better- not to be part of Christ’s inner circle.”

Somewhere up that slope, the small band stops. They are exhausted. Surely Jesus means to rest here. But instead, He starts praying. And what happens next changes their lives forever. The face of Christ begins to shine like the sun. In fact, they have to shade their eyes just to look at Him. And His clothes! Dirty from the hard travel, they appear clean, then more than clean; they begin to glimmer in pure white light. They can’t help but think of the shechinah glory that settled over the Tabernacle in Moses’ time. After all this time, could this be the same thing in a human form? Then, God’s voice sends them to their faces. He thunders His love for His Son- this Jesus- they thought they knew.

When they came back down they seemed different somehow. But it was years before they tell the rest of us what happened. And we are filled with an odd mixture of jealousy and awe. What a unique privilege they experienced. For all the committed followers, they alone were taken up the mountain. They alone got to see Jesus in such stunning clarity. If, just for an hour; they saw Him as He really is. And we wonder: How does a person get into that inner circle? How do we experience that mountain?

Can you think of a time, circumstances revealed to you, that you weren’t as far along in your faith as you thought?

Is there a time, Christ showed you, He wasn’t quite what you expected? How so?

Can you give an example of a “mountain” you climbed with God?

CIRCLES OF COMMITMENT

In our study, Pastor Warren would refer to that mountain as ‘the core.’ After years of pastoring, he was struck with the insight that all people fall into one of 5 circles. And these circles are based on spiritual maturity- reflected in the depth of our commitment.

Rather than seeing them as circles of commitment today, let’s think of them as regions through which we must all travel, to reach that mountain. In reality- all of us won’t even make this journey; some are content to stop along the way, and many never start at all. But, none of us will have a relationship with God any deeper than our inroads in this journey.

So, is Warren right? Do we all live in one of these five regions? And how does Jesus interact with people at these different levels? Now, that would be worth knowing! -Because if we know how Jesus responds, we would have the perfect model for our own interactions. And here’s another benefit : It gives us an honest appraisal of where we are on the journey to knowing God? So let’s start at the beginning.

As a region, let’s call it, ‘the outer rim.’ It is the world in general, and by definition, it is the largest territory. Here we find the admirable, and the deplorable. It is the full spectrum of mankind, but they all have one thing in common- they are yet to meet Jesus. And since it is beyond their ability, Jesus goes out there to meet them.

45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Philip found Nathanael on the outer rim, and did you note the response? “Can anything good come from there? Can this Jesus really be any good? Is He real or a farce? I’m just not sure.”

Don’t expect the responses on the outer rim to be reverent. Sometimes they are downright blasphemous- the most we can hope for is honesty. After all- how can you revere someone you don’t know?

Philip asked Nathanael to simply come and see- nothing more. Come and see Jesus face to face and decide then. And when he does, what are the first words of Jesus? "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." (John 1:47)

There was nothing about cleaning up his act, or getting his spiritual life in gear, it was “I know you.”

48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

Jesus says, “Before you ever thought about me, I was watching over you. You were important to me before I was even a consideration for you.” …How quickly an open heart will start the journey when they meet the real Jesus face to face!

But here’s a question: We can’t bring the outer rim to a physical Jesus. So, how are they going to meet Him face to face? They will see Him in us, or they will not see Him at all. The physical body of Christ is described in only one way-

… Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

There is no other illustration of a physical Christ in our age. This place is now His physical presence, or there is no physical presence. We are called to be such genuine substance that the outer rim can ‘come and see.’

As a region, let’s call it, “the land of the moderates.” It is that place where people think a little religion is good. Everything in moderation is the best policy, even God- just enough to be a comfortable anchor. The land of the moderates contains believers, and even nonbelievers. They show up routinely for Sunday services, but that’s about all. The commitment may be small, but at least they are committed to something- worship. How does Jesus interact with this group?

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.

19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

People in the crowd feel the first rays of God’s light. They have been exposed to the warmth of His love and they have begin to respond. And in love, Jesus doesn’t hold back the truth. He declares, ‘Crowd, Love has its costs. If you are going to follow me on this journey, it will cost you just as it costs me.”

50 … "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. [You are moved because I know you.] You shall see greater things than that."

51 … "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

To the people in the crowd, Jesus says, “I can take you to a place where heaven, and even God, Himself, will open to you. But you need to know this; it comes with a price… for both of us.”

Jesus tells ‘land of the moderates’, there is more than just sitting in a Sunday pew- there is more reward, and more commitment. You must press on!

It is ‘the land of the family.’ These people have traveled beyond enjoying the worship, to belonging. They want more than just looking from the outside in. They gone from being with the fellowship to being the fellowship- in support, in identity, and they have traveled a step closer to the core. How does Jesus interact with this group?

Mark 10:17-21

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"…

19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Jesus has great love for the congregation. But as they grow, He instills a certain sense within them- something is still missing. There is something they lack. There is even more to experience… even more to attain.

If Steve doesn’t mind, I’d like to share one of his testimonies (and if he does, he can always shut my mike off). In the church where he came to know Christ, he grew to be a firm member of the congregation- in the ‘land of the family’. He really thought he was an upstanding spiritual guy at the time. But Steve says the pastor was a true mentor- he had this way of rejoicing in Steve’s spiritual life, and yet, gently urging him to press on. There was more ground to cover- more growth to experience. As Steve looks back now, he is amused at how rough around the edges he was at the time, and didn’t even know it. There’s no way he could know… there is no way any of us can know… until we press on.

To press on- we must cut the heartstrings with this world. Jesus isn’t saying you have to sell everything you own- unless you love it more than Him. You don’t have to give up your personal ambitions – unless they stand between you and the mountain. At some point, we must surrender everything we have –everything we are, to God, and gratefully accept that refinement He gives back. Then, and only then, do we travel closer to the core.

So far, we’ve looked at 3 of Rick Warren’s circles- the community, the crowd, and the congregation. Do you feel this is an accurate division? Why or why not?

If you were to apply this observation to your church; what percentage would you say are in each circle?

Do you feel you are in any of these circles?

The third circle implies a heavy commitment; what is the difference between commitment and fanaticism?

CIRCLES OF COMMITMENT

Philip asked Nathanael to simply come and see- nothing more. Come and see Jesus face to face and decide then. And when he does, what are the first words of Jesus? "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." (John 1:47)

Mark 10:17-21