The Most Popular Commandment

Pastor Lance Shumake • October 6, 2020

Commandments. They are a big part of Scripture. A big part of how we are to follow God. Jesus said that if we love him we will keep his commandments. 


We all know about the Top Ten. These are the OG commandments. They are designed to lead us to the life that is set apart. A life that pleases God. 

But we didn’t keep them. Especially when you see how Jesus explains them in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Which reminds us that they have a bigger purpose as well — to point us to our need for a Savior. One who would pay the penalty for our commandment-breaking, but also One who could keep them all perfectly and give us his obedience. 


We are also probably familiar with the Greatest Commandment. The commandments just began with the Top Ten. God continued on from there and gave His people all kinds of commandments designed for our good and His glory among all the nations. 


The Pharisees came along and added even more. The whole thing began to get out of control. So when Jesus showed up and started teaching with authority, people wanted to know what was most important. What is the greatest commandment, they asked. 


And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40


None of these commandments are the most popular commandment. The most popular commandment is not one of the Top Ten. It isn’t the commandment to make disciples, give to needy, or to not boil a baby goat in its mother’s milk. (yep, that’s really in there)


The most popular commandment – meaning the commandment most often given in the Bible is this — don’t be afraid. 


Don’t be afraid. 

God knew we would struggle with fear. He knew we would battle against the fear of angels, spiders, enemies, heights, public speaking, dying, and the dark. 


What fear is trying to rule your life right now? Fear of the virus? Fear of the election results? Fear of conflict? Fear of another person? Fear Of Missing Out? 


God says don’t be afraid. Don’t let fear control you. Don’t let fear keep you from doing what is best, what is right, what is necessary, what is essential, and what is commanded. 


I know. Easier said than done, right? Fear is a real problem, and it doesn’t let go of us easily. So, how do we really embrace the most popular commandment? Let me offer you two thoughts. 


First, we need to remember that God is with us. In one of the most famous passages related to all this, God challenges Joshua to not be afraid. He commands him to be strong and courageous. And he does so b/c He will be with Joshua. Everywhere and every time. 


God always goes with us. He doesn’t call us to follow and obey on our own. He will be with you. Always. Even to the end of the age. 


Second, we need to remember that God is for us. The gospel makes that ultra clear. If God was willing to give us His only Son to die on a cross in our place…then we know He is truly for us. Forever. 


In Romans 8, Paul asks the question, “If God is for us, then who can be against us?” 


The answer is no one. Not successfully. Anything that happens to us is in His control. In fact, He promises to work all things for good in the end. We have nothing to fear. 


We truly can be controlled by faith instead of fear. 


Sign up for that mission trip. Start that conversation with a lost friend. Invite someone to church. Tell someone you are sorry. Confess that sin. Ask someone for help. Sign up to serve. Engage your church. Send that text. Make that phone call. Love your enemies. 


God is with us and God is for us. Don’t be afraid. 


Preach this truth to yourself today. And every day. And then follow Jesus. Without fear.

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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