Back to the Basics PART 1
Why Go Back to the Basics?

Luke 13:6-9 and 2 Peter 1:1-15
Delivered August 3, 2014 at Oakland Presbyterian Church
Clayton, NC

MANUSCRIPT

 VIDEO

When I was in high school, my parents started a tradition. Every night before I’d leave the house to go hangout with my friends, my mom or dad would stop me at the door and say, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” Every single Friday and Saturday night, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” Before Prom Night, Church Lock-In, and Spring Break, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” “Who you are and whose you are.”

It such a simple statement, and yet it’s implications are so vast. It is such a simple reminder containing information I have known for most of my life, that I am Andrew David Ruth, and I am a Child of God and a member of the Ruth family. Such simple facts, and yet the implications of those facts covered all possible scenarios. Sure, my parents had a set of rules and expectations like most good parents, but when it came time for me to leave the house, they didn’t remind me of the drinking age, the legal blood alcohol limits, STDs, the addictiveness of nicotine, or the effects of bad company. I had already heard about all those things. What I needed was more fundamental reminder about “Who I am and whose I am.”

Such a simple reminder and yet, all my good decisions in all the complex situations of high school, grew out of an accurate understanding of who I am and who God says I am. On the other hand, all the bad mistakes I made in high school and college occurred when I forgot my core identity or when I listened to what the world said I needed to be, or worse when I flat out rejected myself.

In this simple reminder, I remembered that my decisions have consequences for my life, but also for my family. I remembered that my decisions have a foundation, laid for me. I remembered the sacrifices my parents made that proved their love for me. I remember that I am loved by a God who sent his only Son to die to save me. And those facts affect all my decisions and they provide motivation not just to “do the right thing,” not just to “be a good kid,” but to actually want to honor God with my life and to trust my parents’ seemingly arbitrary rules.

Such a simple reminder and yet, whether I remember it or forget it makes all the difference in all the areas of my life.

For the next 5 weeks, I believe that God wants us to hear the same reminder, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” I believe God wants to give us such a simple and profound reminder of the Gospel of Christianity that it would reinvigorate our lives, re-enflame our hearts, restore all our brokenness, and cause us to repent of all our wrong doing. For the next 5 weeks we’re going to ask simple questions: What is the story of the Bible? Why is the world so messed up? What does it mean to call Jesus our Lord and Savior? What is the Church and who is the Holy Spirit? What is the Bible?

But for this week, I want to introduce the series and ask the question, “Why go Back to the Basics?”

Our theme for the next 5 weeks will come from 2 Peter 1:1-15, especially verses 3-4 and 12-13, because when I accepted God’s call to become the pastor of Oakland Presbyterian Church, these were the verses he spoke to me, and he said, go remind them of the things they already know, and then remind them again, and again and again until no matter the situation, they “will always be able to remember and apply these things” (2 Peter 1:15). So I’m going back to the Basics, not because you all are dumb or naïve or senile, but because with his last breaths and drips of ink, Peter reminded Christians of these basics. And in 2 Peter 1:1-15, we see at least 3 reasons we should always keep going back to the basics of the Gospel. We’re going to remember what the gospel says about who we are and whose we are, because 1.) the Gospel is PRECIOUS, because 2.) the GOSPEL IS EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE, and because 3.) When we forget the Gospel we become ineffective and unfruitful.

TO READ THE REST OF “WHY GO BACK TO THE BASICS?” CHECK OUT THE MANUSCRIPT or VIDEO.