October 29th sermon Are You The Blind Beggar Mark 10
One day this rich guy was having a party at his house. He was loaded, and he had everything; money, a big house in Beverly Hills, cars, planes; anything he wanted. The guy was also a little eccentric, and he had filled his pool with crocodiles. So there he was, he and his friends all standing around talking and partying next to the pool.
The guy gets up on the lifeguard tower and all his friends look up. He calls for silence and says, "OK, the first person that swims across my pool will get all my money."
No one moves. The guy looks over the crowd and says, "OK, the first person that swims across my pool gets all my money and my house."
Still, no one moves, not even an eye blinks this time. "OK then, all my money, my house, all my cars, all my planes, all my property, all my stocks and bonds and investments; everything I own."
"Splash!" Someone's in the pool. Crocodiles are all over him, but he rolls over like Tarzan, he's all over the place, fighting and dodging. Finally he gets out of the pool on the other side. The rich guy on the tower jumps down and runs over to him.
"That was incredible! I never thought that I would ever see that done. Do you want the money now or later?" "I don't want the money."
"Do you want the house now or later?" "I don't want the house."
"Do you want the cars and planes now or later?” "I don't want the cars or planes."
"Do you want the bonds, stocks and stuff now or later?" "I don't want that either."
The rich guy looks at him and says "Well, what do you want?!?!" "I want the guy that pushed me in."
Barking fills the air as Adam Bergin walks down the aisles. He checks the cards hanging from the cages to see how long each dog has been at the Willamette Humane Society.
Bergin, is scouting for talent for Project Pooch, a nonprofit program at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility.
As the kennel manager for Project Pooch, he often faces a daunting task as he sifts through unwanted dogs to find ones that can be trained to be good pets.
Each dog is tested for aggressive behavior.
"They have to be friendly and outgoing," says Bergin.
On a December day, his search takes him to the Humane Society in Salem.
He strikes gold.
Humane Society kennel manager takes him to Congo, who is in quarantine. The 1-year-old husky was picked up for chasing livestock in West Salem.
A court order by a Polk County judge stipulates that the friendly white-and-black canine no longer can live in a rural setting.
"This is a good dog," the manager says. "He just can't live on a farm."
Project Pooch could give Congo a new leash on life.
But first, he must undergo a series of tests.
The young husky prances anxiously as he's led to the testing area.
He's not interested in chasing balls.
He doesn't snap when Bergin grabs food from him.
He doesn't flinch when Bergin raises his hand or wrestles with him.
He passes the test.
A new beginning
Congo arrives at MacLaren -- a 460-bed state facility that houses older youth offenders up to age 25.
The boys surround the husky excitedly. Congo responds warmly, wagging his tail comfortably.
Ruben, who entered MacLaren in August 2002 at age 16, is assigned as Congo's trainer.
Ruben is no novice -- Congo is his fifth dog.
In fact, the decade-old program, which has trained 325 dogs, represents a new beginning for Ruben as well.
"I used to shut everything out. I didn't take the opportunity to have fun and enjoy the things that life had given me," says Ruben, who is scheduled to leave MacLaren this spring.
Ruben finds it easier to talk with people since he became involved with Project Pooch. He has a hearing impairment and would not initially speak up. But work required him to tell prospective owners about the dogs he was training.
Since he first started working in the program part-time a year ago, the teen also has received his high school diploma.
Now a full-time employee, Ruben works six to seven days a week. He's never called in sick.
The boys make a percentage of the adoption fee and also can make money from boarding and grooming services that are offered to the public.
"We're teaching these kids responsibility," Bergin says. When the boys get out into the community, he says, they have some money from the program to get an apartment and get on their feet.
Ruben has found new sight after a year of being in the Project POOCH program. The anger and despair are not in his life anymore. He can see his future with the training and skills he has acquired thru the program. The dogs are ready to be great pets, and their trainers are ready to reenter the community.
Bartimaus had been blind for years. What hope does he have? He can’t work! Bartimaus was a leather worker like his father. All during his younger days, he was able to cut and sew the leather garments or bags for his business. He had a good business going and had a happy marriage.
Every day he would get up and bring in the pile of leather. He would cut and sew. He would sell and profit. Then his eye sight started to fade. It got to where he could not see the needle on the table.
Then all his sight was gone. He became dependent on his wife. He became bitter, angry at God, angry at other people because of the pity, angry at his wife. He withdraws. Then she leaves. He is alone. The darkness and silence envelope him.
Bartimaus goes to the gates and sits asking for spare change. I’ll sing a sad song, tell a bad joke. Just give me some money so I can get a bite to eat later. But then he hears a commotion. Whispers all around him…”it’s Jesus. It’s the prophet. That guy who raised the little girl. I saw him open the ears of another.”
Hope beyond hope. Could it be? Could he heal me? Could I see again?
Janet was a young mother of two, combining a full time career and caring for her family. She and her husband Dennis were on a long deserved road trip to Washington DC to celebrate a new job for her husband that would allow her to stay home and raise the kids. But that night she awoke with a fright full of adrenaline.
She paced the floor until the panic attack subsided and went back to bed. Each night the attacks came back and grew stronger. Severe nausea invaded her body and she was admitted to the hospital. Nothing was found to be wrong with her so she went home. Then a week later she was back but still nothing.
A month later she awoke felling as if someone had injected her with toxic adrenaline. She got up pacing the floor sobbing. Once again she was rushed to the hospital and was finally diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety disorder. Could there be any hope for her.
Janet was heavily sedated in the hospital and went thru different treatments of antidepressant drugs. It was during this time that Janet was introduced to a wonderful support group for depressives. Not only did she find friends and support, she received life giving education and hope for a normal future. Her hope came. Her life came back to her.
Bartimaus was looking for hope. He had been blind so long; he did not remember what flowers looked like. He did not remember what his neighbor and acquaintances looked like. He had been blind for so long, he did not know what he himself looked like.
He calls out. “Jesus, Son of David. Jesus, over here.” Like the paparatsi trying to get a picture of the celebrity, Bartimaus yells above the crowd. The people around him are getting annoyed. “mama, who is that man? Oh, that’s blind Bartimaus.” Do you hear the labels put on him? “Have mercy on me your servant, Son of David.”
The people around him tell him to be quiet. “hush Bartimaus. Why would the prophet want to see a beggar like you?” “Just go back to your mat!!” But Bartimaus won’t stop. Ignoring the labels that have been so attached he pushes thru the crowd. “Let me see Jesus. I want to see him.”
The blind guy wants to see. Then it happens. “Send him over” says Jesus. Could it be? Did he hear it right? Now the crowd supports him. The labels are still ascribed to him by the people, but they push him forward. He throws off his cloak. That cloak has shown him to be the beggar, the needy, the less fortunate. That cloak shows him to want something. That cloak was one big label in itself.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “I want to touch your face Jesus. I want to see you the only way I can.” And Jesus allows it. Bartimaus runs his fingers over Jesus’ brow, over his eyelids, around his nose. He feels around those parched dry lips and protruding chin.
Bartimaus smiles. He is happy. But then Jesus asks of him “Bartimaus, let me touch your face.” Why? “You can see, Jesus. Why would you want to touch my face?” But he agrees. Jesus does the same as had been done to him. The loving touch and gentle kiss of his fingers. Oh what a feeling for Bartimaus.
And when he opens his eyes, Bartimaus can see the face of Jesus, not only in his head, but now with his eyes. “He healed me. I can see again.” Bartimaus starts jumping up and down praising God. Everyone is smiling. THAT label is gone now.
“stupid is as stupid does.” Remember that? Forrest Gump. The simple man who lived an interesting life. He has all sorts of labels attached to him. Slow, ignorant, hard headed, etc. He tells stories about his life and accomplishments. Most people just wanted to ignore him. Many didn’t believe him.
Despite his sub-normal IQ, Forrest lives a charming life. All thru his life and all thru the events, he never forgot about Jenny, the love he had as a boy. The last person he talks with on the bus bench gives him directions for the path he is seeking. She directs him so he can see again what he is looking for. He throws off the labels and runs to the Jenny’s house. “Run Forrest Run”.
Bartimaus is healed. What does he do then? He follows Jesus. The one who gave him hope. The one who gave him life again. The one who washed away all the labels that had been attached to him.
Has anyone attached labels to you? Are you labeled as The Kid, The Old Man, That annoying lady who always complains, Too Small, Too Short? What are the labels that have been put on you? Though some of these might be true, what do you miss out on because of these labels?? Do you want to get rid of these labels??
Peter was a loudmouth, Thomas was a doubter, James was a procrastinator. ALL of the disciples were cowards and failures. They all ran away when Jesus needed them most. Why would Jesus call them back and restore them?
Not sure but he did. And he can do the same for you. You can throw off your cloak and run to him. He will pull all those labels off of you. He will set you free. He will transform you.
If you have labels you don’t want, it’s time to get rid of them. No matter what it is, Jesus is ready to transform you. We’re going to say a prayer together and then sing our last hymn. If you have not experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ and have not had the Holy Spirit come in to fill you to your soul, come to the prayer rail. Jesus is here to cleanse you. Pray with me.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
October 22 sermon Special Seat mark 10:35-45
October 22 sermon Special Seat mark 10:35-45
Sharing The Faith . . .
There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door."
Soon after he opened his shop the first man came in and said, "I want a shave!" The barber said, "Sure, just sit in the seat and I'll be with you in a moment." The barber went in the back and prayed a quick desperate prayer saying, "God, the first customer came in and I'm going to witness to him. So please give me the wisdom to know just the right thing to say to him. Amen."
Then quickly the barber came out with his razor knife in one hand and a Bible in the other while saying, "Good morning sir. I have a question for you..........Are you ready to meet Jesus?"
What do we do with James and John?? In our scripture today, they seem so selfish, so arrogant, so out of touch to go up to Jesus and ask for the seats of glory and honor. Mark, the writer of this book, does not put them in good light, although he does not put any of the disciples in a good light most of the time.
The brothers come to Jesus and say “give us anything we want.” That’s kind of brash isn’t it? It’s a little more forceful, but the same idea of saying “Jesus, I have a favor to ask of you.” I can see it now. Jesus roles his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“What do you want?” “Let one of us sit on your right and one on your left in your kingdom.” Matthew gives a little more information than Mark in this story. Matthew in chapter 19 shows us that Jesus tells the disciples that “when the renewal of all things happens and the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”
That adds just a little more light to the story. Jesus tells them that they will sit upon thrones in the new kingdom and then right after that, James and John ask for the seats of honor. They wanted to sit at the head of the table with the king. That’s where the glory and honor are. Not just plain fishermen, but noblemen.
But here is the worst part. They still didn’t understand what Jesus was here for. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with my baptism?” Like a kid in a candy store who will agree to anything just to get a piece of candy, they immediately said “Oh yes, we can do that. Whatever you say.”
Just before this request by James and John, Jesus (for the 3rd time) predicted his death. The 1st time he predicted his death, Peter chastised him (can you imagine, chastising God), but in that famous line Jesus said “Get behind me Satan”. The 2nd time he predicted his death, right after that the disciples began arguing about who is the greatest. Then he basically said “these little children are greater than you.”
And now this time. James and John come up wanting a special seat in the house. It’s like all the disciples were sitting in the back of the church the whole time they were following Jesus.... Jesus speaks up where all the disciples can hear him. “I’m sorry but that seat is reserved for someone else. But as a consolation prize, you will drink the same cup and be baptized the same way.” Oh that’s not good.
John tells us Jesus wasn’t kidding. Look in Revelation 1. John says there he is on Patmos Island as a companion in the suffering of Jesus. When the other 10 disciples heard what the two did, they were mad.
Not because James and John would be so rude and inconsiderate to ask for this privilege, but because they didn’t think of it first. You see, society then was actually a lot like society now. It’s a lot of show. There had to be some substance behind your show, but what mattered most was what others thought of you.
When I was working at Enterprise Rent-a-Car years ago, there was a lady who had to bring in her Ford Taurus in multiple times to be worked on. It was a Taurus SHO. The SHO part is like the GT on the end of Mustang or LX on the end of the Accord. When she came in to get a rental car though, she had to have a SHOW Taurus to drive around as her rental. Nothing else would do except a SHOW Taurus. Keep up with the Jones, right.
Jesus, in his normal way, turned everything upside down. He said “The Roman rulers oppress the people under them. High taxes, exploitation, terrible stuff. But not with you.
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (10:45). If you want to be great, you have to be a servant.
Someone asked me about my newsletter article the other day. The first thing they asked about was the building. I said “If you want the building you can have it because the church is the people who come together to worship God inside the building.”
What does that mean? That means this beautiful old building is a great building, but what really matters is the people inside. If this building ever went away, this would still be a great church because it’s the people who make the church. The people gathered here matter most.
They asked me about spiritual gifts next. Every Christian has at least one Spiritual Gift. Wisdom, knowledge, Faith, Healing, prophecy, Discernment, and others. Many different gifts and many different people, but just one body. This body, this church is like a living organism. Each person with their spiritual gifts is a part of the body.
As we use our gifts for God’s glory, this body will grow and adapt to every situation that comes our way. As we become, and build, deeper disciples for Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will send more people to our church. And as we go out and serve and get our hands dirty, Jesus will say “well done good and faithful servant.”
The Christian life is not all about serving, but it is about being a servant. What’s the difference? A wise man once said “Prayer without action is escapism, but action without prayer is activism.” Serving to be active is futile.
A few years ago a couple in our church decided to start up a youth program. They did it not because they themselves were called by God to do it, but because no one else was doing it. That was a big mistake. It went well for a few months, but soon collapsed in like a star that runs out of gas and implodes.
That’s what serving can be like. On the other hand, to be a servant is to take inventory of your gifts, the needs of those you will be serving, and where you fit in with God’s plan. Here is an example. You look out among the community you live in and see foreclosures up 20% and revolving credit debt up 30% and many people not making it.
What can you do?? You can’t finance everyone. You think back to that time when you were living paycheck to paycheck. You were referred to a financial class called “Financial Peace University” and with the advice you got in that class, you pulled out of the problems you were having. Maybe you could facilitate a class like that.
The servant uses the gifts God gives them to make this world better than it was before. Jesus came to serve and to be a ransom for all. A "ransom" liberates someone at the payment of a price. In secular antiquity, a prisoner of war or a slave, for example, could be redeemed by paying a ransom price.
In the Hebrew Old Testament the kopher is a sum of money paid for release and reconciliation, as in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As the understanding of who Jesus was and what he did emerged, central to them all was this idea of ransom—the conviction of early believers that Jesus was not a hapless victim, a failed sage who over-played his hand, or a rabble rouser crushed by Rome, but one who offered himself to God to redeem humanity.
You say “Great Pastor Sean. What does all this mean for me?” You are a wonderful and much needed part of the body of Christ that makes up Sardis United Methodist Church. As you learn what your gifts are, God’s direction for you and for this church will become clearer.
As we come together, we will be filled in this base station (or fire station) and then go out in service to the world as God directs us. Not for glory, not for honor, but for Christ. We are transformed so we can transform. We will be servants because the service we render to others is really a measure of the service we render to God.
As the apostle John says “now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Go….be blessed…..serve.
Sharing The Faith . . .
There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door."
Soon after he opened his shop the first man came in and said, "I want a shave!" The barber said, "Sure, just sit in the seat and I'll be with you in a moment." The barber went in the back and prayed a quick desperate prayer saying, "God, the first customer came in and I'm going to witness to him. So please give me the wisdom to know just the right thing to say to him. Amen."
Then quickly the barber came out with his razor knife in one hand and a Bible in the other while saying, "Good morning sir. I have a question for you..........Are you ready to meet Jesus?"
What do we do with James and John?? In our scripture today, they seem so selfish, so arrogant, so out of touch to go up to Jesus and ask for the seats of glory and honor. Mark, the writer of this book, does not put them in good light, although he does not put any of the disciples in a good light most of the time.
The brothers come to Jesus and say “give us anything we want.” That’s kind of brash isn’t it? It’s a little more forceful, but the same idea of saying “Jesus, I have a favor to ask of you.” I can see it now. Jesus roles his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“What do you want?” “Let one of us sit on your right and one on your left in your kingdom.” Matthew gives a little more information than Mark in this story. Matthew in chapter 19 shows us that Jesus tells the disciples that “when the renewal of all things happens and the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”
That adds just a little more light to the story. Jesus tells them that they will sit upon thrones in the new kingdom and then right after that, James and John ask for the seats of honor. They wanted to sit at the head of the table with the king. That’s where the glory and honor are. Not just plain fishermen, but noblemen.
But here is the worst part. They still didn’t understand what Jesus was here for. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with my baptism?” Like a kid in a candy store who will agree to anything just to get a piece of candy, they immediately said “Oh yes, we can do that. Whatever you say.”
Just before this request by James and John, Jesus (for the 3rd time) predicted his death. The 1st time he predicted his death, Peter chastised him (can you imagine, chastising God), but in that famous line Jesus said “Get behind me Satan”. The 2nd time he predicted his death, right after that the disciples began arguing about who is the greatest. Then he basically said “these little children are greater than you.”
And now this time. James and John come up wanting a special seat in the house. It’s like all the disciples were sitting in the back of the church the whole time they were following Jesus.... Jesus speaks up where all the disciples can hear him. “I’m sorry but that seat is reserved for someone else. But as a consolation prize, you will drink the same cup and be baptized the same way.” Oh that’s not good.
John tells us Jesus wasn’t kidding. Look in Revelation 1. John says there he is on Patmos Island as a companion in the suffering of Jesus. When the other 10 disciples heard what the two did, they were mad.
Not because James and John would be so rude and inconsiderate to ask for this privilege, but because they didn’t think of it first. You see, society then was actually a lot like society now. It’s a lot of show. There had to be some substance behind your show, but what mattered most was what others thought of you.
When I was working at Enterprise Rent-a-Car years ago, there was a lady who had to bring in her Ford Taurus in multiple times to be worked on. It was a Taurus SHO. The SHO part is like the GT on the end of Mustang or LX on the end of the Accord. When she came in to get a rental car though, she had to have a SHOW Taurus to drive around as her rental. Nothing else would do except a SHOW Taurus. Keep up with the Jones, right.
Jesus, in his normal way, turned everything upside down. He said “The Roman rulers oppress the people under them. High taxes, exploitation, terrible stuff. But not with you.
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (10:45). If you want to be great, you have to be a servant.
Someone asked me about my newsletter article the other day. The first thing they asked about was the building. I said “If you want the building you can have it because the church is the people who come together to worship God inside the building.”
What does that mean? That means this beautiful old building is a great building, but what really matters is the people inside. If this building ever went away, this would still be a great church because it’s the people who make the church. The people gathered here matter most.
They asked me about spiritual gifts next. Every Christian has at least one Spiritual Gift. Wisdom, knowledge, Faith, Healing, prophecy, Discernment, and others. Many different gifts and many different people, but just one body. This body, this church is like a living organism. Each person with their spiritual gifts is a part of the body.
As we use our gifts for God’s glory, this body will grow and adapt to every situation that comes our way. As we become, and build, deeper disciples for Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will send more people to our church. And as we go out and serve and get our hands dirty, Jesus will say “well done good and faithful servant.”
The Christian life is not all about serving, but it is about being a servant. What’s the difference? A wise man once said “Prayer without action is escapism, but action without prayer is activism.” Serving to be active is futile.
A few years ago a couple in our church decided to start up a youth program. They did it not because they themselves were called by God to do it, but because no one else was doing it. That was a big mistake. It went well for a few months, but soon collapsed in like a star that runs out of gas and implodes.
That’s what serving can be like. On the other hand, to be a servant is to take inventory of your gifts, the needs of those you will be serving, and where you fit in with God’s plan. Here is an example. You look out among the community you live in and see foreclosures up 20% and revolving credit debt up 30% and many people not making it.
What can you do?? You can’t finance everyone. You think back to that time when you were living paycheck to paycheck. You were referred to a financial class called “Financial Peace University” and with the advice you got in that class, you pulled out of the problems you were having. Maybe you could facilitate a class like that.
The servant uses the gifts God gives them to make this world better than it was before. Jesus came to serve and to be a ransom for all. A "ransom" liberates someone at the payment of a price. In secular antiquity, a prisoner of war or a slave, for example, could be redeemed by paying a ransom price.
In the Hebrew Old Testament the kopher is a sum of money paid for release and reconciliation, as in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As the understanding of who Jesus was and what he did emerged, central to them all was this idea of ransom—the conviction of early believers that Jesus was not a hapless victim, a failed sage who over-played his hand, or a rabble rouser crushed by Rome, but one who offered himself to God to redeem humanity.
You say “Great Pastor Sean. What does all this mean for me?” You are a wonderful and much needed part of the body of Christ that makes up Sardis United Methodist Church. As you learn what your gifts are, God’s direction for you and for this church will become clearer.
As we come together, we will be filled in this base station (or fire station) and then go out in service to the world as God directs us. Not for glory, not for honor, but for Christ. We are transformed so we can transform. We will be servants because the service we render to others is really a measure of the service we render to God.
As the apostle John says “now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Go….be blessed…..serve.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
October 15th sermon Who Gets In. Mark 10:17-31
October 15th sermon Who Gets In. Mark 10:17-31
The silence is maddening isn’t it? What do you do? What do you do when the pastor isn’t going up to give a sermon? You look around….Probably at Mike or Mac first, right. Thinking, “Well the women did a service last month and since October is Pastor Appreciation Month then I’m sure one of the lay leaders is going to get up and speak. But no, they don’t move.
Let’s look at Carol. Maybe we are going to have more special music. No, nothing there. Minutes go by. People start squirming in their seats.
What do you do now? Do you get up and give your testimony? Maybe you get up and say “God spoke to me this week. Not out loud mind you, but to my heart. This was my closest moment to Christ.”
Why are you here today? Better yet, why is this church here today? It’s been here for over 100 years. Why do you come to this church? Is it the people, the history, the cushionless pews, the singing?? Why did you come in the first place?
Let’s start with this. Why am I here? I’m here to equip you. I’m here to help you know what you believe and why you believe it.
I’m here to help you move from atheist to agnostic to Christian so you can go and help others do the exact same thing. I’m here (this church is here) to move you to being a deeper disciple of Christ. What does that mean? Being a Deeper Disciple means you are completely sold out to Christ. Christ is the one who paid the price for the sins you and I commit, past-present-future.
In our scripture reading from Mark, the rich kid was doing everything he was supposed to be doing. He runs up and gets down on his knees. “Good Teacher” he says. Smart kid there. Flattery is usually a great way to start a conversation. Kids remember this when you go to school tomorrow, and when you get back here for Sunday School next week.
“Good teacher…my you’re looking fine today. I love what you’re doing with your hair.” Think of Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver. Man I’m showing my age now. “Good Teacher,” the rich man says, “what must I do to get to heaven?” Unfortunately for him, Jesus has seen Leave It to Beaver to. He sees right thru that. “Why do you call me good? Stop blowing smoke and lets me tell you something. Do what the commandments say. Here’s a few of them.” And he lists them off.
At each commandment, the man’s smile gets bigger and bigger. “Oh Good. I’ve done all of those.”
Then Jesus lovingly looked him in the eyes (and looks at us) and said “Go sell what you own, give it to the poor, and follow me.” He might not say those exact words to us. He might say “Stop playing in that band that keeps you away from me”. It could be sports keeping you from being closer to God. It could be alcohol, cars, it could be church.
Are you so focused on one thing that you miss seeing God there? Do you look for God everywhere you go? Do you see his presence in the car with you, in your house when you are cleaning or getting ready to go out, in the doctor’s office, in the voices that sing a song?
Are you sold out completely to Jesus? Are you in over your head yet, or are your ankles just getting wet?
The rich man went away sad. He was rich enough to not have to work all day long so he could leisure around and have time for religious study and practice. But the head knowledge was not enough.
Give up everything you put first in your life and follow me, Jesus says. Drop it all. Even the disciples didn’t totally understand. Jesus said “It’s easier for a camel to get thru the eye of a needle than that rich man to get to heaven.” They eye of the needle was a gate into Jerusalem that was big enough for a man to get thru, but not camels.
And even if the camels got down on their knees, it would be virtually impossible for them to get thru. Jesus isn’t saying being rich is a bad thing. He is saying that putting riches before God is bad.
“Then who can be saved?” That’s the question. And the answer is EVERYONE. But only God can save you. Your riches, intellect, stubbornness, cunningness. None of that will save you. Jesus says “unless you give it all up and get past the wading pool and go in over your head, and completely sell out for me, your not there yet.
The church is here as a base station. Think of it as a fire department. A fire erupts downtown at the “Atheist Are Us 99 cent store” and the whole department has to go fight it. While driving the truck there, the traffic backs up and slows you down frustrating you. The train comes along so you have to wait for it. Finally you get downtown.
Your there all day long doing everything you can to put out the fire and share the love of Jesus. Finally at the end of the day you drive back to the station. There’s your pastor handing out cold refreshing holy water to quench your thirst. There are spiritual snacks of gospel songs and beloved hymns waiting for you. There is a nice soft bed and pillow for you to lay on filled with those scriptures near to your heart. This is your base station to get renewed before you go back out into the wilderness.
Satan hates it when someone becomes a Christian and he starts doing all he can to attack them. But he loves it when someone who is called a Christian does nothing to help others know Christ.
Why are you here? Are you sold out to Christ? Are you ready to tell the Good News to anyone who will listen, knowing YOU cannot save them, but the Holy Spirit can. Is there anyone you can think of right now that needs Jesus Christ? Listen to this email I got from a friend yesterday….
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, "OK dad, I'm ready." His Pastor dad asked, "Ready for what?" "Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out." Dad responded, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain." The boy gave his dad a surprised look asking, "But, Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?" Dad answered, "Son, I am not going out in this weather." Despondently, the boy asked, "Dad, can I go? Please?" His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here are the tracts; be careful, son."
"Thanks, Dad!" And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract. After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw - and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally, this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"
With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE." With that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed. "Thank you, son! And God Bless You!" Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?" Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.
As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, "No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longerhad any hope or will to live.
So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck.
Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell down stairs startled me.I thought, "I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away." I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly.
I thought to myself again, "Who on earth could this be? Nobody everrings my bell or comes to see me. "I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all thewhile the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life.
His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words thatcame from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.'
Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As thelittle angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my doorand read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract.
Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them anymore. You see, I am now a Happy Child of the KING and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say 'THANK YOU' to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and, by so doing, spared my soul from eternity in hell."
There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise andhonor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably thisuniverse has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son... Except for One. This Father also allowed His Son to go out into acold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, The Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named.
You say though, “Well we need to visit those old members who left for one reason or another”. Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go? “We need to visit those people around the church.” Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go? “Well I don’t have any of those tracts that little boy had.” Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go.
PASS OUT THE TRACTS
Bringing people to church is necessary, but the job Jesus gave us to do before he ascended into heaven is to “Go share the good news to everyone you talk to, and make disciples.” So that is what I give you now. Go share the Good News to everyone. Shout it from the rooftops.
And if you are not sold out completely to Jesus, then now is the time. If you have not given your life to Jesus completely, even if you were baptized many years ago, but you have not given your heart to him, right now is the time to do that.
If you want to sell out, if you want to be transformed so you can transform, if you want to give all of yourself to Jesus right now
come up as we sing this last hymn so we can pray together….
The silence is maddening isn’t it? What do you do? What do you do when the pastor isn’t going up to give a sermon? You look around….Probably at Mike or Mac first, right. Thinking, “Well the women did a service last month and since October is Pastor Appreciation Month then I’m sure one of the lay leaders is going to get up and speak. But no, they don’t move.
Let’s look at Carol. Maybe we are going to have more special music. No, nothing there. Minutes go by. People start squirming in their seats.
What do you do now? Do you get up and give your testimony? Maybe you get up and say “God spoke to me this week. Not out loud mind you, but to my heart. This was my closest moment to Christ.”
Why are you here today? Better yet, why is this church here today? It’s been here for over 100 years. Why do you come to this church? Is it the people, the history, the cushionless pews, the singing?? Why did you come in the first place?
Let’s start with this. Why am I here? I’m here to equip you. I’m here to help you know what you believe and why you believe it.
I’m here to help you move from atheist to agnostic to Christian so you can go and help others do the exact same thing. I’m here (this church is here) to move you to being a deeper disciple of Christ. What does that mean? Being a Deeper Disciple means you are completely sold out to Christ. Christ is the one who paid the price for the sins you and I commit, past-present-future.
In our scripture reading from Mark, the rich kid was doing everything he was supposed to be doing. He runs up and gets down on his knees. “Good Teacher” he says. Smart kid there. Flattery is usually a great way to start a conversation. Kids remember this when you go to school tomorrow, and when you get back here for Sunday School next week.
“Good teacher…my you’re looking fine today. I love what you’re doing with your hair.” Think of Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver. Man I’m showing my age now. “Good Teacher,” the rich man says, “what must I do to get to heaven?” Unfortunately for him, Jesus has seen Leave It to Beaver to. He sees right thru that. “Why do you call me good? Stop blowing smoke and lets me tell you something. Do what the commandments say. Here’s a few of them.” And he lists them off.
At each commandment, the man’s smile gets bigger and bigger. “Oh Good. I’ve done all of those.”
Then Jesus lovingly looked him in the eyes (and looks at us) and said “Go sell what you own, give it to the poor, and follow me.” He might not say those exact words to us. He might say “Stop playing in that band that keeps you away from me”. It could be sports keeping you from being closer to God. It could be alcohol, cars, it could be church.
Are you so focused on one thing that you miss seeing God there? Do you look for God everywhere you go? Do you see his presence in the car with you, in your house when you are cleaning or getting ready to go out, in the doctor’s office, in the voices that sing a song?
Are you sold out completely to Jesus? Are you in over your head yet, or are your ankles just getting wet?
The rich man went away sad. He was rich enough to not have to work all day long so he could leisure around and have time for religious study and practice. But the head knowledge was not enough.
Give up everything you put first in your life and follow me, Jesus says. Drop it all. Even the disciples didn’t totally understand. Jesus said “It’s easier for a camel to get thru the eye of a needle than that rich man to get to heaven.” They eye of the needle was a gate into Jerusalem that was big enough for a man to get thru, but not camels.
And even if the camels got down on their knees, it would be virtually impossible for them to get thru. Jesus isn’t saying being rich is a bad thing. He is saying that putting riches before God is bad.
“Then who can be saved?” That’s the question. And the answer is EVERYONE. But only God can save you. Your riches, intellect, stubbornness, cunningness. None of that will save you. Jesus says “unless you give it all up and get past the wading pool and go in over your head, and completely sell out for me, your not there yet.
The church is here as a base station. Think of it as a fire department. A fire erupts downtown at the “Atheist Are Us 99 cent store” and the whole department has to go fight it. While driving the truck there, the traffic backs up and slows you down frustrating you. The train comes along so you have to wait for it. Finally you get downtown.
Your there all day long doing everything you can to put out the fire and share the love of Jesus. Finally at the end of the day you drive back to the station. There’s your pastor handing out cold refreshing holy water to quench your thirst. There are spiritual snacks of gospel songs and beloved hymns waiting for you. There is a nice soft bed and pillow for you to lay on filled with those scriptures near to your heart. This is your base station to get renewed before you go back out into the wilderness.
Satan hates it when someone becomes a Christian and he starts doing all he can to attack them. But he loves it when someone who is called a Christian does nothing to help others know Christ.
Why are you here? Are you sold out to Christ? Are you ready to tell the Good News to anyone who will listen, knowing YOU cannot save them, but the Holy Spirit can. Is there anyone you can think of right now that needs Jesus Christ? Listen to this email I got from a friend yesterday….
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, "OK dad, I'm ready." His Pastor dad asked, "Ready for what?" "Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out." Dad responded, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain." The boy gave his dad a surprised look asking, "But, Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?" Dad answered, "Son, I am not going out in this weather." Despondently, the boy asked, "Dad, can I go? Please?" His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here are the tracts; be careful, son."
"Thanks, Dad!" And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract. After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw - and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally, this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"
With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE." With that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She called to him as he departed. "Thank you, son! And God Bless You!" Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?" Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.
As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, "No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longerhad any hope or will to live.
So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck.
Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell down stairs startled me.I thought, "I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away." I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly.
I thought to myself again, "Who on earth could this be? Nobody everrings my bell or comes to see me. "I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all thewhile the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life.
His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words thatcame from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.'
Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As thelittle angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my doorand read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract.
Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them anymore. You see, I am now a Happy Child of the KING and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say 'THANK YOU' to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and, by so doing, spared my soul from eternity in hell."
There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise andhonor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably thisuniverse has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son... Except for One. This Father also allowed His Son to go out into acold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, The Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named.
You say though, “Well we need to visit those old members who left for one reason or another”. Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go? “We need to visit those people around the church.” Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go? “Well I don’t have any of those tracts that little boy had.” Great, I’m ready, when do you want to go.
PASS OUT THE TRACTS
Bringing people to church is necessary, but the job Jesus gave us to do before he ascended into heaven is to “Go share the good news to everyone you talk to, and make disciples.” So that is what I give you now. Go share the Good News to everyone. Shout it from the rooftops.
And if you are not sold out completely to Jesus, then now is the time. If you have not given your life to Jesus completely, even if you were baptized many years ago, but you have not given your heart to him, right now is the time to do that.
If you want to sell out, if you want to be transformed so you can transform, if you want to give all of yourself to Jesus right now
come up as we sing this last hymn so we can pray together….
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
War on who-what-when-where?
What to do about North Korea and the War on Terror?? That's a big question. This is ultimately a war against good and evil. I'm sure the people who were in the middle of the Cold War felt the same way. The "Axis of Evil" is alive and well in North Korea, Iran, and in a way China. The two countries that have the most monitary interest in having a communist country stay in power (that's Russia and China) are against any sactions against N. Korea. You notice it was the same two countries against any sactions on Iraq. Who is supplying weapons to N. Korea and Iran. those same two countries.
I move away from the Methodist leaders that insist the US must immediately pull all troops out of iraq. We might have gone in with flawed information, but pulling out is disasterous. We should complete this now. Have you ever seen the movie "Swordfish"? This was a great movie. Basically at the end of the movie, the bad/good guys tracked down terrorist and destroyed them. You say "aren't you a pastor? How can you condone killing for killing?" This is not a physical war only. It's a spiritual war. The terrorist are radical muslims who want everyone who is not muslim to either convert or die. There is no talking, discussing, coming to consenious. If the "non-radical" muslim leaders wish to stop this, they could denouce what the radicals are doing. But they don't. One of 2 reasons for this....1. They agree with the radicals, 2. They are afraid the radicals will turn on them if they speak out. So which one is it?
Jesus spoke of love and compassion. Paul said to always be ready to give a defense for your faith, with Gentleness and Respect. Mohammed said the infadels must be converted or die. Which is right? Jesus is God and proved it. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
I move away from the Methodist leaders that insist the US must immediately pull all troops out of iraq. We might have gone in with flawed information, but pulling out is disasterous. We should complete this now. Have you ever seen the movie "Swordfish"? This was a great movie. Basically at the end of the movie, the bad/good guys tracked down terrorist and destroyed them. You say "aren't you a pastor? How can you condone killing for killing?" This is not a physical war only. It's a spiritual war. The terrorist are radical muslims who want everyone who is not muslim to either convert or die. There is no talking, discussing, coming to consenious. If the "non-radical" muslim leaders wish to stop this, they could denouce what the radicals are doing. But they don't. One of 2 reasons for this....1. They agree with the radicals, 2. They are afraid the radicals will turn on them if they speak out. So which one is it?
Jesus spoke of love and compassion. Paul said to always be ready to give a defense for your faith, with Gentleness and Respect. Mohammed said the infadels must be converted or die. Which is right? Jesus is God and proved it. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Friends
I got a great support email today from a friend. It's great to hear support from people inside and outside the congregation. When I was working at Dell, I didn't care much about aclamations or fame. As long as I hit my outrageous quota and got a good paycheck, I was happy. Save the plaques and certificates and cheerleader meetings for someone else. Just put that money in my check.
But being outside of sales, I see things a little different. I don't need affirmations to know I'm a great speaker or anything like that. I need communication to know my congregation is growing spiritually. I need to know I'm getting thru. Better yet that the Holy Spirit is getting thru.
How does a pastor know this?? A growing church? More of the congregation in Sunday School? Larger offering each Sunday? Worldly, those are really the only way to measure success in a church. There is no spiritual meter that you can run each person thru like a metal detector to give you a "spiritual mean" for everyone. unfortunately. :o)
It's good to hear from friends. Not just a pat on the back, good job, but also accountability for where improvements can be made. I can't grow if I don't know where it fertilize.
Blessings....Pastor Sean
But being outside of sales, I see things a little different. I don't need affirmations to know I'm a great speaker or anything like that. I need communication to know my congregation is growing spiritually. I need to know I'm getting thru. Better yet that the Holy Spirit is getting thru.
How does a pastor know this?? A growing church? More of the congregation in Sunday School? Larger offering each Sunday? Worldly, those are really the only way to measure success in a church. There is no spiritual meter that you can run each person thru like a metal detector to give you a "spiritual mean" for everyone. unfortunately. :o)
It's good to hear from friends. Not just a pat on the back, good job, but also accountability for where improvements can be made. I can't grow if I don't know where it fertilize.
Blessings....Pastor Sean
October 8 sermon Page 5 on Hebrews 1-2
Two bowling teams, one of all Blondes and one of all Brunettes, chartered a double-decker bus for a weekend gambling trip to Las Vegas. The Brunette team rode on the bottom of the bus, and the Blonde team rode on the top level. The Brunette team down below really whooped it up, having a great time, when one of them realized she hadn't heard anything from the Blondes upstairs. She decided to go up and investigate. When the Brunette reached the top, she found all the Blondes frozen in fear, staring straight-ahead at the road, clutching the seats in front of them with white knuckles. The Brunette asked, "What's going on up here? We're having a great time downstairs!" One of the Blondes looked up at her, swallowed hard and whispered... "YEAH, BUT YOU'VE GOT A DRIVER!"
Good morning America. I’m Paul Harvey. Stand by for News.
I talk about transforming this community and making a difference for time and for eternity. There is one who can do this, but first, Page One.
Ex-congressman Mark Foley has resigned in disgrace and hopefully will have charges brought against him. There is a lesson here if we will take it. Don't say anything in secret--over the phone or in an email or an instant message or a text message--that you would be ashamed to have written in large letters in the sky.
Don't sin with your lips and you won't have to worry if your messages are plastered on Fox News five years later. Do right and you will sleep well at night. Jesus said “Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops."
Page 2
In 1999, the honorable Governor Jesse Ventura said that “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.” Many Pastors and leaders rebuked him just like Jesus did to Peter before he went to the cross saying, “get behind me satan.” Ouch.
Is he right though?? George Barna did a survey of tweens, those kids between 8 and 12. He found that Overall, less than four out of every ten young people (38%) said that churches have made a positive difference in their life. An even smaller number (34%) said that prayer is very important to them. And less than 50% of pre-teens (43%) rejected the notion that they would rather be popular than do what is morally right. There is upbeat news though. Born-again Christians were more likely to possess an upbeat life perspective and experience. They were more likely to spend time with parents, choose morality over popularity, trust their parents, and accept television and curfew restrictions.
Oh, and one last Barna point. Five years after 9/11 there is no lasting impact on American faith.
Jesus then told them many things in parables saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Page 3
Rosie O’Donnell, on the for-women all-women show “the View” was having a discussion about drinking wine. One of the other host asked “Don’t you start losing your memory when your drunk?” When Rosie replied “Or you just start spouting anti-semetic remarks. Mel Gibson, Come on! You understand.”
And Jesus said “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you for my name. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great.
Page 4
Larry King, the CNN talk show host, was once asked who he would most want to interview if he could choose anyone from all of history. He said, "Jesus Christ." The questioner said, "And what would you like to ask Him?" King replied, "I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me."
Now I think he needs to change his question just a little bit in view of what modern medicine can do today. I think he should ask “was he indeed virgin-born by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Why does that change it, you ask? Well… in vitro fertilization was successfully started in 1978 and there have been over 20000 babies born thru this procedure instead of..well, you know. This isn’t a miracle, although when your baby is born you call them “your little miracle”. Aren’t babies so cute.
And now, page 5.
I talked about transformation at the beginning of my sermon. What does it take to transform the world? What does it take to transform a community? What will it take to transform this church? Only the truth….and here it is.
To understand why Jesus, who is God, came to earth to walk among us, we have to go all the way back to Genesis. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge, their eyes were opened to the sin (that’s disobeying God) they did, and they were ashamed. They were also naked.
Animals were killed to make clothes for them and to cover their shame. That’s the first blood that was spilt. Every year, the Jews got together to shed blood again to cover their sins. They understood they were not as bad as some other people, but they were not perfect.
The sacrifice which was made, must be an animal with no blemished. It must be “perfect” to the eyes.
You see, in order to be the people of God, the people must be pure and holy.
Look at the 10 Commandments. Let’s just look at 3 of them. Think back in your past. Have you ever stolen anything, anything at all regardless of value? Even a paperclip or piece of gum…you would be a thief and breaking #7. How about this? Have you ever looked at another person with lustful eye? Jesus says right there you have committed adultery and broke #6.
How about have you every use the name of God or Jesus a curse word, an upset statement, or anything else other than responding to the creator? You just broke #2. So right there with just those 3 commandments of the 10, you would be an insincere, lying, cheating, adulterer. The bible says that if you break just 1 of these commandments ANYTIME in your life, you have broken them all and are not worthy to go to heaven.
But God in his mercy came from heaven to live among us. He was perfect (not only to the eye, but inside and out) in that he broke no commandments and focused on God and God’s will alone. He was 100% man in that he understood all our weaknesses and faults.
He was 100% God in that he had the power to forgive us for all of that. So when he was killed, he was killed for all of our sins. The charges for our disobedience to God were not dropped. They were paid for by Jesus. He was the last sacrifice that ever had to be made for the sins of the people.
But the story is not over. You see, he died but then 3 days later he was resurrected by the power of God. That is our hope, and that is the only reason we can have hope. You see, without the resurrection or if you don’t believe in the resurrection, there is no hope for us.
Jesus Christ died with the weight of every sin past-present-future that you and I and everyone else commit. Unless he died with those sins and was resurrected by God clear of those sins, we have no hope, because when we die, we either die cleared of sins because of him or with our sins so we cannot go before God in heaven. If there is no resurrection for him, there is no resurrection for us.
St. Luke, who was a physician, tells us that he did rise from the dead. There is hope for us. In raising Jesus, God shows that our debt was paid. And you? If you gave your life completely over to Christ that he not only has the good part, but takes the bad on, you will be resurrected also.
You are transformed so you can transform. Just like the Apostles Creed says we read earlier,
I believe in the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
In giving your life to Christ, he forgives your sins;
when you die, you are resurrected;
and you have life eternally in heaven.
And that my friends, is the rest of the story.
Good morning America. I’m Paul Harvey. Stand by for News.
I talk about transforming this community and making a difference for time and for eternity. There is one who can do this, but first, Page One.
Ex-congressman Mark Foley has resigned in disgrace and hopefully will have charges brought against him. There is a lesson here if we will take it. Don't say anything in secret--over the phone or in an email or an instant message or a text message--that you would be ashamed to have written in large letters in the sky.
Don't sin with your lips and you won't have to worry if your messages are plastered on Fox News five years later. Do right and you will sleep well at night. Jesus said “Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops."
Page 2
In 1999, the honorable Governor Jesse Ventura said that “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.” Many Pastors and leaders rebuked him just like Jesus did to Peter before he went to the cross saying, “get behind me satan.” Ouch.
Is he right though?? George Barna did a survey of tweens, those kids between 8 and 12. He found that Overall, less than four out of every ten young people (38%) said that churches have made a positive difference in their life. An even smaller number (34%) said that prayer is very important to them. And less than 50% of pre-teens (43%) rejected the notion that they would rather be popular than do what is morally right. There is upbeat news though. Born-again Christians were more likely to possess an upbeat life perspective and experience. They were more likely to spend time with parents, choose morality over popularity, trust their parents, and accept television and curfew restrictions.
Oh, and one last Barna point. Five years after 9/11 there is no lasting impact on American faith.
Jesus then told them many things in parables saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Page 3
Rosie O’Donnell, on the for-women all-women show “the View” was having a discussion about drinking wine. One of the other host asked “Don’t you start losing your memory when your drunk?” When Rosie replied “Or you just start spouting anti-semetic remarks. Mel Gibson, Come on! You understand.”
And Jesus said “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you for my name. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great.
Page 4
Larry King, the CNN talk show host, was once asked who he would most want to interview if he could choose anyone from all of history. He said, "Jesus Christ." The questioner said, "And what would you like to ask Him?" King replied, "I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me."
Now I think he needs to change his question just a little bit in view of what modern medicine can do today. I think he should ask “was he indeed virgin-born by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Why does that change it, you ask? Well… in vitro fertilization was successfully started in 1978 and there have been over 20000 babies born thru this procedure instead of..well, you know. This isn’t a miracle, although when your baby is born you call them “your little miracle”. Aren’t babies so cute.
And now, page 5.
I talked about transformation at the beginning of my sermon. What does it take to transform the world? What does it take to transform a community? What will it take to transform this church? Only the truth….and here it is.
To understand why Jesus, who is God, came to earth to walk among us, we have to go all the way back to Genesis. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge, their eyes were opened to the sin (that’s disobeying God) they did, and they were ashamed. They were also naked.
Animals were killed to make clothes for them and to cover their shame. That’s the first blood that was spilt. Every year, the Jews got together to shed blood again to cover their sins. They understood they were not as bad as some other people, but they were not perfect.
The sacrifice which was made, must be an animal with no blemished. It must be “perfect” to the eyes.
You see, in order to be the people of God, the people must be pure and holy.
Look at the 10 Commandments. Let’s just look at 3 of them. Think back in your past. Have you ever stolen anything, anything at all regardless of value? Even a paperclip or piece of gum…you would be a thief and breaking #7. How about this? Have you ever looked at another person with lustful eye? Jesus says right there you have committed adultery and broke #6.
How about have you every use the name of God or Jesus a curse word, an upset statement, or anything else other than responding to the creator? You just broke #2. So right there with just those 3 commandments of the 10, you would be an insincere, lying, cheating, adulterer. The bible says that if you break just 1 of these commandments ANYTIME in your life, you have broken them all and are not worthy to go to heaven.
But God in his mercy came from heaven to live among us. He was perfect (not only to the eye, but inside and out) in that he broke no commandments and focused on God and God’s will alone. He was 100% man in that he understood all our weaknesses and faults.
He was 100% God in that he had the power to forgive us for all of that. So when he was killed, he was killed for all of our sins. The charges for our disobedience to God were not dropped. They were paid for by Jesus. He was the last sacrifice that ever had to be made for the sins of the people.
But the story is not over. You see, he died but then 3 days later he was resurrected by the power of God. That is our hope, and that is the only reason we can have hope. You see, without the resurrection or if you don’t believe in the resurrection, there is no hope for us.
Jesus Christ died with the weight of every sin past-present-future that you and I and everyone else commit. Unless he died with those sins and was resurrected by God clear of those sins, we have no hope, because when we die, we either die cleared of sins because of him or with our sins so we cannot go before God in heaven. If there is no resurrection for him, there is no resurrection for us.
St. Luke, who was a physician, tells us that he did rise from the dead. There is hope for us. In raising Jesus, God shows that our debt was paid. And you? If you gave your life completely over to Christ that he not only has the good part, but takes the bad on, you will be resurrected also.
You are transformed so you can transform. Just like the Apostles Creed says we read earlier,
I believe in the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
In giving your life to Christ, he forgives your sins;
when you die, you are resurrected;
and you have life eternally in heaven.
And that my friends, is the rest of the story.
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