Troubling Truth - What to do in this time_ - Clint Davison - Sep 14th Sunday Ser
Teachers
Lesson Summary
In this sermon, Clint Davison addressed the church's responsibility during a time of significant cultural division and tension. He opened by referencing observations from authors like Aldous Huxley and George Orwell about truth and deception, then pivoted to the central question: what should the church do in these troubling times? Davison presented the first troubling truth: that our nation is deeply divided across multiple issues including race, pandemic response, and political ideology. However, he contextualized this division historically, demonstrating that similar tensions existed in the 1920s (prohibition, the KKK, religious fundamentalism), the 1960s (civil rights, anti-war protests), and even in the first-century New Testament church (Jewish-Gentile tensions, religious accusations). The key insight was that understanding our times is crucial, but our response must be distinctly Christian. The central call to action came from Philippians 2:3-5: Christians must not contribute to cultural strife. Instead, we must "consider others as more important than yourselves" in all contexts—social media, public disagreements, even everyday interactions like mask-wearing debates. Davison emphasized that believers are called to be a light to the world by rising above divisive rhetoric and letting the light of Jesus shine through unity and humility. The second truth addressed the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on church gathering and community. Rather than longing for "how it used to be," the congregation must re-engage as the body of Christ through whatever means are necessary, embodying the humility and consideration called for in Scripture. The sermon concluded with a challenge for believers to live out their faith in ways that point others toward Christ rather than deeper into cultural division.
Key Scriptures
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interest but also for the interest of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus.