Today I invite you to embark with me on a journey. A journey shaped by a vital question for every follower of Christ is our call to engage with our neighbors, to serve and respond to the needs of our community rooted in the very character of God himself. Before I do that, I feel it's important to recap the previous three messages which have led to this. The first message was three reminders to sustain joyful living. Let's briefly recap those. Strengthen your roots. We were created to bring God glory. Deepening our roots means engaging with God's word and nurturing our relationship with him. This foundation is essential before we can share hope and joy with others. Sustain joy in suffering. Suffering is part of that journey, but joy is possible even in hardship. Through spiritual disciplines and formation, we gain God's perspective and learn to sustain joy regardless of our circumstances. And be ready to act. True joy comes when we're prepared to act according to God's timing and will. Those in need are all around us. Those weighed down by brokenness, longing for love and acceptance. We must be ready to respond when God calls us to share his love. My story is living proof of these reminders. Many of you remember that I called myself a little boy named Richard. Throughout that sermon, as a young boy, I felt alienation and disappointment, especially from those who claimed faith but withheld love. But through the kindness of a neighbor in a race of a church community like RMC, I found acceptance, faith, and the abundant joy promised in the scriptures. In February, we began learning the Heavenly Father's Bach step, a spiritual dance of intimacy and trust. Step one was to realize and receive the love of God. And I pray that over the past months, you've paused to truly receive that love. Step two was to root ourselves in understanding why we exist, to bring him glory. And in doing so, we bring him joy. As you've danced with him, I hope you felt that purpose pulsing through your days. Then came the step three, release. For many of us, this was the most difficult step. especially for those carrying ACEs, adverse childhood experiences. It can be difficult to picture God as a loving father when our earthly fathers fell short. In June, we circled back to release, diving deeper into forgiveness and boundaries. And many of you came up and we had a lot of wonderful conversations about boundaries. And then we stepped forward into realignment, the fourth move in our sacred choreography. We ended with the last point of being an earthly model as we realigned ourselves by practicing the Heavenly Father's box step daily. I closed out the summer sermon with a bite-sized takeaway that we must respond to alleviate poverty raise human dignity, and empower people in life. And in their Heavenly Father's boxed app, I highlighted a key verse that gives us a hint. In Luke 4, 17 through 18, Jesus says, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives in recovering of the sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and today we go deeper. This morning, We'll begin a multi-part sermon series exploring poverty and Christian responsibility. Over the next several messages, as the Lord allows, we will deepen this conversation, beginning with the biblical foundations and moving toward the church's calling today and our individual calling. Today, we will answer the question, is social involvement rooted in the character of God. Let's start with this basic question. What is poverty? What is poverty? Poverty is not just the absence of money. It reaches into the body, the mind, the spirit. Some see poverty as a lack compared to others. while others understand it as failing to have what is necessary for life itself. World Bank sets extreme poverty at living on less than $2.15 a day. For many, poverty is an ongoing struggle, a daily battle for survival, robbing hope and dignity. But this is not a new problem. Every society throughout history has faced it, and the scriptures speak to it directly. Poverty is everywhere and is not a respecter of ethnicity, gender, age, or location. Throughout the Bible, We see the poor described in many ways, the needy, the humble, the oppressed, those lacking wisdom, and those who are disgraced. In the Old Testament, God's love for the vulnerable is unmistakable. He commands his people to practice justice, show mercy, and provide for those in need. Again and again, through his law, God instructs Israel to care for the poor. The prophets Isaiah, Zechariah, and others call us to open our hands generously, to remove burdens from the oppressed, and to never turn a blind eye to injustice. Zechariah 710a says, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor. The Bible uses seven Hebrew and Greek terms to reference the poor. Five in Hebrew and two in Greek. These range in meanings, including economically destitute, spiritually poor, needy, lonely, low, oppressed, lacking wisdom, lacking resources, and disgraced, among others. The story of poverty begins in Edom. where God provided all things in abundance. Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect provision, joyful work, and harmonious relationships. But when sin entered the world, so did scarcity and hardship. Genesis tells us that the ground was cursed and humanity would now work and struggle for survival. Without God's direct provision, Adam and Eve faced need and uncertainty. What was lost was not just material abundance, but also peace, security, and fulfillment. Poverty, scripture tells us, is a consequence of a fallen world. Nevertheless, God, in his mercy, established ways to care for the most vulnerable. In Deuteronomy, he commands the cancellation of debts. Every seventh year, promising, there will be no one in need among you if His people practice generosity. God insists that we open our hands to those who suffer. And through prophets like Isaiah, he warns those who neglect this sacred duty. Proverbs and Zechariah echoes these calls, urging compassion and justice. God's laws provide for widows, orphans, and sojourners, those most vulnerable to poverty due to loss or injustice. And the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns shall come and eat and be filled that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. Deuteronomy 14, 29. Faithfulness and caring for such as these is directly, directly tied to God's blessing. The scriptures also recognize varied causes of poverty. Sometimes it is self-inflicted. The result of laziness or poor choices, which Proverbs warns against. At other times, poverty is a result of oppression and unjust systems, which the prophets denounce. Political turmoil, war, disease, and even God's discipline are also cited as sources of poverty. Yet through it all, God remains an advocate for the poor. The Psalms declare he will deliver the needy who cry out. And Isaiah proclaims that God is a stronghold for the poor. To ignore this call is to invite God's judgment. As Amos 8 warns, those who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land of the Lord surely never forgetting any of their deeds. One example, and this is just a little bit of a reflection as I I don't know how I got into all of this, but as I start to begin to help out this basketball team, formerly Emanuel Christian, now Karis Academy, and some of the underserved school students, I'm struck, though I shouldn't be surprised, at how much an impact we can have in a short period. When I was dropping off the public high schoolers after practice one night, I got out the car. Peyton, can you step over here real quick? I got out the car and God told me some of these young men, 6'2", 220, probably have never, may have never been hugged based on some of the things I had been observing. And I got out the car and I gave each one of them Okay? A hug. And not one resisted. Some of them teared up. Some of them lack resources to pay the registration fee. Reliable transportation. and parents regularly in their home. Each of them eagerly awaited my embrace after that. I don't know if I had too many people in the car, though. But it was special. And in these rides, I'm learning that some haven't eaten a meal that day. One said, I hope I eat and I hope I can get a shower tonight. And I don't know where my parents are who have not picked them up that evening. May we be a people who respond with open hearts, in hands, reflecting the very character of Christ in all that we do, right here where we are. In the New Testament, Jesus deepens the teaching on poverty. At the start of his ministry in Nazareth, he proclaims, the spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. What the poor need most is the hope of the gospel. Some passages like Matthew 26, 11, the poor you will always have with you, has sparked debate. Does Jesus condone poverty? Is he telling us to give up? No. When we examine his teachings as a whole, we see that he's calling us to ongoing faithful action, never ceasing to serve until he returns. Jesus was deeply concerned for people experiencing poverty, especially those suffering due to oppression, illness, disability. or social circumstances. He also urged personal responsibility. The Apostle Paul, in several letters, challenged the church not to tolerate laziness or idleness, knowing that true transformation comes from changed hearts. Paul encourages generosity, but also stresses that work and diligence are vital. Sudden calamities, loss, disability, and widowhood, echoing Genesis, are all recognized as sources of poverty. And ultimately, sin is named as the root cause. Jesus comes to address both the spiritual and the physical needs of those in poverty. To set at liberty those who are oppressed. The New Testament makes it clear all Christians are responsible for responding to poverty with compassion, wisdom, and action. Let's see how the early church handled the poor among them. The early church did not always care perfectly for the poor. Acts records complaints, and Paul addresses issues of generosity and dependence, but the overwhelming, overwhelming example is one of compassion and practical love. Believers gave liberally, supporting widows, orphans, the sick, and anyone in need. Generosity was not an option. It was a mandate rooted in God's generous heart. Early Christian writers attributed the appeal of Christianity to its practical philanthropy, voluntarily contributing funds for a common cause, sharing resources and living in community like we do here. The early church was predominantly poor. And yet, within their means, they cared for one another and those outside their assembly. This was not a socioeconomic critique, but a new way of life, following Jesus's upside-down kingdom, where the poor are blessed and the comfortable are challenged. For people then and now, this doesn't track very well. In the world, power is often equated with prestige. You see it. Wealth and control. People strive to attain this, thinking that they will bring happiness and fulfillment. But Jesus teaches the opposite. He came showing us that true power and greatness come from serving others and laying down our lives for the sake of others. The greatest among us are those who serve. This is the upside down kingdom of God. It is a kingdom where the last will be first. The first last. as Matthew 20, 16 states, a kingdom where it is the humble who will inherit the earth, as Pastor Tom has been showing us in Matthew 5, 5. So, is social involvement rooted in the character of God? It sure is. He created us to be involved with us. He sent his son to the earth to be involved with us. And die for us that we can be with him for all of eternity. Research in the Old New Testament and by renowned Christian authors confirm this. Social relates to society or its organization. Involvement is the opposite of apathy and isolation. Donald B. Craybill in The Upside Down Kingdom states, God didn't just sit in a great theological rocking chair. Amused about loving the world, God acted. God entered social affairs in human form. The character of God began as a triune God in community with himself. Continued to create humans to be in community with himself. and continues throughout history to reunify that communion between himself and his creation, made in his image. Christians are to be socially involved as it is his character. Larry Sharp, in his book, Missions Disrupted, from professional missionaries to missional professionals writes, both the great commandment in Matthew 22, 34 through 30 and the great commission in Matthew 28, 19 include compassion and social action as well as the evangelistic responsibility. They belong together as partners in the mission of God. Romans 10, 13 connects these. stating, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news. All Christians are responsible to respond with compassion, wisdom, and action, and this church out of the 44 states that we have traveled to, is one of the best. And now that we have a building here and we're rooted, we are ready to bring glory to God. Give ourselves a round of applause for that. And knowing what we just learned, what is God calling us to continue to do? I'll start with myself, and I'll tell you why I'm here. It had nothing to do with me. exploring outside of my comfortable gated community of Eagle Rock. As I began driving through some of these decrepit towns whispering of hopelessness and a separation from God on our way to golf tournaments, I became uncomfortable in my spirit. Uncomfortable in the comfort I was accustomed to in my upscale, Bible-centered Texas neighborhood. In church during the year, in Eagle Rock during the summer. And God began to burden us for this area. These people in Shepton, Oneida, and Hazleton. We knew he was calling us here to this church. which is moving into a harvest season. And you can just see it. In this community, the NEPA region, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Mandy and I have been thinking a lot about this, reflecting and dreaming, amazed of what God is doing. And knowing that I had nothing to do with it. Here's a glimpse. We charted God's providential working in three paths. First, family and corporate alignment. Second, our journey to NEPA. We really had no intention or goal of moving here and happened to come here quite by God's providence. If you could look at what our passions are, and what our company does, there isn't a better place in all of the United States to be positioned for the most impact as this region. Third is our journey thus far with Karis Academy. And I encourage you to spend some time and continue, many of you do, and I'm learning from you. Look back over the series of events he's guided you through, the relationships he's put in your path, and the passions he has implanted in you. Chart out the path or paths, talking to the Lord as you do. You might really be surprised to see that what you thought didn't connect, didn't matter, or was wasted really did have a purpose, preparing you for what he is calling you to do. We have a choice. We can ignore what we have learned today or we can choose to act. As Christ followers, we have the privilege of living and serving as Jesus did in this upside down kingdom. Friends, as we move forward in this series, may we ask, how can we today respond to poverty as a church of Christ? How can we make his love tangible in our city, our neighborhoods, our families? Let us seek the heart of God together. May River Mountain Chapel be known as people rooted in God's character, growing in service, and united in hope. Let's be his hands. modeling His love in all we do. Thanks for listening to this message from River Mountain Church. If you'd like some more information, visit our website, rivermountainchurch.org.