October 1 sermon Mark 9: 38-50
A man stopped by a barber shop for a shave. The barber was a lay Baptist preacher. When the man asked for a shave the barber told him, "My wife Grace will shave you."The man had to admit it was the finest, closest shave he had ever had. "How much", he asked."Fifty dollars" was the reply. The man thought that was a bit steep but paid anyway. A month later he realized that his beard was no longer growing. His face was just as it was when he was shaved.He went to barber and told him what was happening. "Oh", said the barber, "That is the way it is supposed to be. You have been shaved by Grace, once shaved, always shaved."
“Teacher”, says John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not following us.” Well, what’s wrong with that? He’s not a follower of Jesus so he should not be casting out demons, right. Well let’s go back a few verses.
Just before this, they were walking to Capernaum. On the road, the disciples were bickering with each other about who was greatest among them. “I’m better than you because I was on the mountain with Jesus. I’m better because I was called first.” It’s kind of like sisters bickering back and forth every day.
So we go into this with John saying “this man was casting out demons ‘in your name’ but WE told him to stop. WE showed him. He’s not in the cliché with us 12. He’s not following US.” Did you catch that? John said “He’s not following US” not “He’s not following YOU.” The disciples had control issues.
It’s just one chapter later that James and John go to Jesus and ask to sit on either side of him in the Kingdom of God. The disciples want the power. The disciples want the glory. Anyone who was not like them, was not doing it right.
Do you remember when you were a kid playing a game such as football or basketball. You didn’t care about being team captain, but you wanted to be picked first. You wanted to stand up, chest out and say IN A DEEP VOICE “look at me. I was picked first.” You wanted to be on the winning team and you definitely did not want to be picked last.
Who is getting picked last in our neighborhood or church right now? Who doesn’t have control, but doesn’t want control? Who are we (as a church) missing that could use a hand more than a prayer? Think about that as we go thru this scripture.
Jesus tells John and the others “Do not hinder him. If he is doing a miracle in my name, he is only doing good.” Earlier in this chapter at verse 29, the disciples could not bring a demon out of boy.
They were probably a little miffed about that, and when they see this other guy who is not ‘one of the insiders’ doing exactly what THEY should be doing, jealousy flares up. Do you remember our OT scripture?
Two men who had not been with the group of 70 but were listed were filled with God’s Spirit and started prophesying. Joshua came running up and wanted Moses to stop them immediately. But Moses quipped back, “are you jealous? This is a great thing. In fact I wish everyone in the camp were prophets like this.”
Jesus said “do not hinder him.” The word hinder in the Greek is ‘koluo’. It was a way of tying the front legs of an animal together at night to keep them from running away. There is actually a more graphic description of the word used in a popular movie a few years ago.
Does anyone remember the 1990 movie with James Caan and Kathy Bates called Misery? Caan was a writer and Kathy Bates was an obsessed fan who pulled him from a car wreck, then basically kidnapped him. When he tried to escape, what happened? Does anyone remember what she did? PULL THE SLEDGE HAMMER OUT She hobbled him.
That’s what Jesus as talking about. GET EXCITED Don’t hobble him. Don’t discourage him. Don’t make him lose his excitement. Who cares if he does not do it exactly like you do (or want to do).
He is doing the work I told you to do. In Acts 5:38, the wise Pharisee who trained Saul said God doesn’t need us to defend his name. He is quite capable of that.
This makes me think about something else. This is actually very common today. Some of the greatest achievements were made because people pushed on thru the attacks and criticism they received. Examples: Why would you want one of those out of control horseless buggies when you have a perfectly good horse.
Or no one but the government needs any kind of computer, especially in each home. Or why would anyone want a no frills, short haul airline? Southwest will go out of business quickly. Oh, and age has nothing to do with it. Frank Lloyd Wright did his best work at 70. Alfred Hitchcock got it all together around 60. And Beethoven’s 9th was written when he was 50.
Then Jesus talks about 4 sins or 4 paths that can lead to destruction. He talks about the path of manipulation in “if anyone leads one of these little ones astray”. This can be by manipulation or by example. The best example I have of this is a “stupid thief” story I read the other day. This guy wanted to make it easy to break into houses. So he takes his little brother along to crawl in the doggie door, and then unlock the door. No breaking windows or anything like that.
The problem was when his little brother got too big for the doggie door and got stuck. They got caught. Big brother was a bad example.
The next one is ‘if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.’ Man that sounds extreme (not to mention painful). What does Jesus mean? Of course we could mention the stupid thief again and him stealing. But what about idleness?
That is, what about those who sit back and don’t try to make a difference? A couple weeks ago I took more than 15 bags of food and over $100 to Waxahachie Care Food Bank from this church. That is making a difference. You have to ask now, how can we as Sardis UMC make a difference again? What is the next step?
Then Jesus says ‘if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off’. Your feet will take you. They will either take you down the path of righteousness where Jesus says ‘follow me to the party. I’m taking the Good News to this group over here. We’re going to have a feast.’ OR, your feet will take you the other way. The ‘other way’ is destruction or can be the status quo. Nothing changes much there. It’s convenient and not scary. IBM was the first to mass produce personal computers. They knew what everyone needed and wanted. Then Dell and others came along with the ‘build to order’ plan. Now IBM doesn’t even make computers anymore.
And now if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Let me tell you how your eyes can lead you astray. Last night about 9:30 as I was typing on the computer I heard a loud crash in the other room. I jumped up and rushed out of the office to see what’s up, yelling at the girls “what happened? Are you OK?” I made it to the hallway and turned on the light and looked into the living room. The gerbil cage was on the floor broken open with the cat pouncing on a gerbil. The eyes had led the cat astray to temptation and she jumped at the chance, literally. In my house-shoes I start chasing the cat, yelling at it. “Stop Katrina. Come here Katrina.” I finally corner the cat and she drops the gerbil who runs into the AC closet. Oh my, this is bad. That closet leads to an opening under the bathtub. I open the door and there is the gerbil. I pick it up, and it’s so happy to be free and safe from the cat, PAUSE that it bites me. We did finally get both the gerbils back in the cage and put away. Oh the temptation that the cat saw was just too great to pass up.
Everyone will be salted with fire, Jesus says. That is, all four of those things he just talked about, the chance for manipulation or setting bad examples, being idle with your hands and not trying to make a difference, walking away, and temptation thru your eyes. These can all happen to you.
But how do they affect you? Do you give in? You can’t. Turn away from the temptation. Here’s why….it works both ways. If you turn from it, it will be easier each time after that.
If you give in once, the 2nd and 3rd time will be harder to turn. The 4th will be even harder. Then the salt loses its saltiness. HUH? The salt loses its saltiness. That means you’ve turned to the sin (small, medium, large it doesn’t matter), you’ve turned in to the sin so many times that it’s a part of your life.
I’ve been told it takes 14-21 days to form a habit. It takes a lot more days to break it. When that sin (sin is not doing what God has said you should do), when you keep doing, or not doing, it will become part of life and not affect your conscience any more. The saltiness is gone.
I’ve got good news though. I’ve seen what this church can do. I know what kind of difference you and you and you can make. Where are we going now? What do you want to build today? What kind of legacy do you want to leave with this church?
I want you to pray and seek guidance from God this week on that very thing. What is the future of Sardis UMC and where are YOU in the picture? Then act on the answer. Everybody I talk to I tell them this is a model church. There’s no power struggle. There’s no bickering.
When I come in and stretch you, you grow. It doesn’t matter if we are 40, 400, 4000, or 40,000 in worship we can transform this area for the one who sent us, Jesus Christ.
When you come up for communion today, ask God for a picture of the future of Sardis UMC. Ask him to guide your legacy and the legacy of this church. Ask for wisdom……… and ask for endurance to run the race before us all. Join me on page 13.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
You can't please everyone
These words were given to me before my first day as a pastor. They are so true. Some people want the church to go this way. Some want it to go that way. And the best part is they know exactly what it takes to go there. My job as the pastor is to pray and follow God and only God in where he wants HIS church to go. There will be those that get upset with a word or phrase I use. Step on some toes, and boy...look out. I start to get the cold shoulder. I know it's hard, but follow me as I follow God.
There is a great article that Dan Russell wrote called Screaming Users Considered Good. You can read it HERE.... below is a small excerpt.
We all know our users can have really strong opinions about our stuff. And we all know we need to listen carefully.
My very favorite user comment of all time came from a young woman who had been using this cool design tool (something I’d built) for about 12 weeks. At the end of the project, I was doing the standard debriefing of the users, asking what they liked and didn’t like, what worked, what didn’t work, what was frustrating… the usual sort of post mortem on a project.
She told me that my software, my baby, the thing I’d been working on for the past 2 years was “..the most white male fascist tool I’ve ever had the misfortune to use…”
I was somewhat taken aback.
“Ah, yes…” I stalled for time, desperately trying to hold it together. “And what made you feel this way?”
There is a great article that Dan Russell wrote called Screaming Users Considered Good. You can read it HERE.... below is a small excerpt.
We all know our users can have really strong opinions about our stuff. And we all know we need to listen carefully.
My very favorite user comment of all time came from a young woman who had been using this cool design tool (something I’d built) for about 12 weeks. At the end of the project, I was doing the standard debriefing of the users, asking what they liked and didn’t like, what worked, what didn’t work, what was frustrating… the usual sort of post mortem on a project.
She told me that my software, my baby, the thing I’d been working on for the past 2 years was “..the most white male fascist tool I’ve ever had the misfortune to use…”
I was somewhat taken aback.
“Ah, yes…” I stalled for time, desperately trying to hold it together. “And what made you feel this way?”
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Worst sermon EVER
This is my worst sermon ever. I can't believe I even did this. Lots of things I need to improve on here.....
September 17 sermon Matthew 4: 18-22 the great calling
John Madden was in Atlanta in October to announce a football gameone weekend when he noticed a special phone near the Falcons' bench.He asked the coach what it was for & was told it was a hotline to God.
John asked if he could use it.
Coach told him, "Sure, but it'll cost you $100." Madden scratched his head, then thought, what the heck I need abreak picking the games. He pulled out his wallet and paid the $100.Madden was perfect that week.
The next weekend Madden was in Minnesota when henoticed the same kind of phone on the Viking bench. He asked the coachwhat the phone was for and was told, "It's the hotline to God, and if youwant to use it, it'll cost $100."
\nRecalling last week, Madden pulled out his wallet, paid the money \n& made the call. Madden was perfect that week. \nThe next weekend Madden was in \nTexas Stadium when he noticed the same kind of phone by the Dallasbench. He asked Bill Parcells, "Is that phone the hotline to God?"\n \nBill said, "Yes, and if you want to use it, it\'ll cost 35 cents."\n \nMadden looked incredulously at the coach and said, "Wait a second,\nI just paid $100 in Atlanta & $100 at Minnesota to use the same phone to God. Why does Dallas only charge 35 cents?" \nBill looked at Madden & replied, "In \nDallas, it\'s a local call." \n\n",0]
);
//-->
Recalling last week, Madden pulled out his wallet, paid the money & made the call. Madden was perfect that week.
The next weekend Madden was in Texas Stadium when he noticed the same kind of phone by the Dallasbench. He asked Bill Parcells, "Is that phone the hotline to God?"
Bill said, "Yes, and if you want to use it, it'll cost 35 cents."
Madden looked incredulously at the coach and said, "Wait a second; I just paid $100 in Atlanta & $100 at Minnesota to use the same phone to God. Why does Dallas only charge 35 cents?"
Bill looked at Madden & replied, "In Dallas, it's a local call."
We must read the bible in the context of the whole bible. Here’s why. If we don’t, we could keep women from speaking at all in church (I know that would be hard), we could justify slavery (it was done with the bible), and we could if we tried to say the bible contradicts itself and should not be trusted.
But in our text today, we could say that 4 grown men who have minds of their own, left their good paying jobs and family, and started to follow and be mentored by a total stranger after only hearing him say 10 words. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Those of us who have had amazing encounters in our lives with Jesus thru the Holy Spirit, don’t doubt it could happen that way (and yes it could).
However, there are far too many people who are willing to believe any information given to them if it’s said to be from the bible, without they themselves actually reading the bible and finding out what it says. Let’s say I listened to Benny Hinn. I would come to believe that when I sow abundantly (give him lots of money), abundantly it will be given back to me.
He bases that on Genesis 26 that says Isaac sowed in that land and in that same year reaped a hundredfold.
When we read scripture, we have to take the whole bible in together. Look at the Christmas story. If we only read Matthew, we will see the star and wise men. If we only read Luke, we will see the manger and shepherds who were invited to be witnesses by the angels.
It’s only when we attempt to put Matthew and Luke together that we learn the full beauty of the nativity story. The calling of the disciples is like that also.
Matthew says that Jesus called his disciples as they fished on the Sea of Galilee. According to Matthew, Peter and Andrew were in the process of casting a net in to the sea because….well that’s what fishermen do.
Jesus gives a 10 word invitation and they drop everything to follow this total stranger. Luke has a longer version where the disciples had been fishing all night with no results.
They were cleaning their nets the next day when Jesus approached and asked them to let him on board so he could teach the rapidly growing crowd from the boat. After teaching, he told Peter to put the nets out for a catch. Although they had caught nothing all night, these experienced fishermen put their nets out with extraordinary results.
There were so many fish the boats started try to sink. They had to call their partners James and John. Convinced that this itinerate preacher was something special when he asked them to follow him, they left their boats on the shore and became disciples. Without Luke’s version, we are left with the impression that a 10 word invitation from a total stranger changed their lives.
Now we can go even deeper into the bible. The Gospel of John is a great book. John maintains that before a few of the disciples started following Jesus, they were disciples of John the Baptist. This story gets to Jesus when John the Baptist is out in the Jordan River baptizing (that’s why he’s called the Baptist I suppose).
One day while John stood in the river he saw his cousin Jesus walking along the shore. “Behold the lamb of God.” Andrew, one of John’s disciples, went to check Jesus out. He was so impressed, that he returned with his brother Peter. THEN, John says, Jesus decided to go to Galilee.
You see, Andrew and Peter had already had an encounter with Jesus near the Jordan River. When Jesus came to Galilee and said “Come and follow me and I will teach you to fish for people”, Andrew and Peter did leave everything, but not to follow a complete stranger after a 10 word invitation. It was to follow Jesus whom they had already come to believe was sent from God.
Now here is a question. Does that make the call of the disciples in Galilee less spectacular? Does it take the mystery out of the encounter? Does it make Peter and Andrew less faithful or less uuummm spontaneous?
OR, is the net effect the same? PAUSE
They left everything to follow Jesus just the same. So the disciples were called to follow Jesus.
In relation to us, if you are a Christian, you are already a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a student. A disciple is a learner. The disciple studies at the feet of a rabbi or teacher.
Peter was a disciple first.
Andrew was a disciple first.
James and John were disciples first. All 12 of them were first disciples. And what does ALL mean? All means all and that’s all all means. Before you can be anything else, you have to be a student. Jesus is our teacher.
Now when we read the bible, we hear all the sermons or stories Jesus taught. But over those years of his ministry he gave the same sermons and stories over and over. The disciples were with him or in the crowds and heard them again and again. The sermon from Matthew 5 could be the Sermon and the Mount and in another book it could be the Sermon on the Plain and somewhere else it could be the Sermon from the Boat.
Jesus taught his disciples when he taught the multitudes, but he also taught them while walking along the roads, sitting around the dinner table, at weddings and other places. He took every opportunity to train them. Likewise, Jesus is our teacher and rabbi. He will teach us thru the Holy Spirit, but his primary teaching tool is the bible.
As we read, we hear his instructions. For those who are interested to learn, Jesus is still a teacher.
So Jesus called his disciples.
If you are a Christian you are a disciple of Jesus.
So if you are a disciple, you have been called.
Jesus called Andrew and Peter. It was Andrew who first brought Peter to Jesus. Jesus called James and John.
Peter, James and John were in the inner circle and were so close to Jesus that he asked them to follow him to the Garden after the Last Supper where he agonized over his decision of going to the cross.
If you are a Christian, you are just as called. The first step in your journey is to receive and respond to the call of Jesus Christ. Come and follow me and I will make you fish for people.
Before anything else, Jesus calls us. First it’s come and follow me. Then it’s I will teach you to fish for people. The first disciples fished for a living. They knew how to fish for fish. They were not always successful. Like all fishermen they had good days and bad days.
But Jesus said “There’s something more important than having a good day fishing for fish. If you think it’s exciting to catch a big one, just wait until you experience the thrill of helping a person catch the vision of a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
I told you a few weeks ago that I challenged the men’s group that we would go from 10 men sitting around the table to 100 men. Set your goals so you will certainly fail unless God steps in. When we step outside the box and radically change our approach of bringing men into the group, lives can transform.
Pioneer evangelist C.T. Studd is quoted saying “some people want to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop in the yard of hell.”
We sometimes assume that non-Christians understand the jargon we use all the time in church.
Like Narthex. What’s a Narthex? Or church polity. I’ve never used the word polity before. How about “If we look at the Discipline, we can discern how the polity will affect the board’s decision to dedicate a plaque for the Cokesbury saints from here that are gone, and put it in the narthex.” Makes complete sense right?
Evangelism or inviting or whatever you want to call it has changed. Just throwing up a church sign doesn’t do it. We have to meet people where they are. That’s why we had plans today for some guys to go to the races.
This was an opportunity to invite men who don’t go to church, don’t care for church, don’t like the hymns, or have never seen the Cokesbury hymnal and don’t care, or who think church is boring. It wasn’t to get them in a small group and beat them over the head with a bible.
It was to show them that yes Christians like to do things they like; yes Christians like to have fun. Jesus and his buddies had fun together. You could hear Andrew say “Peter knows how to catch fish. He caught one yesterday that had a coin in its mouth. That was a great fish.” Look at Matt. 17 if you wonder what I am talking about.
Jesus says to “follow me”, and we Christians did. Like Andrew, we must now go and introduce others to Christ. Now is the time. Go and be fishers of people. Go and be like Christ.
September 17 sermon Matthew 4: 18-22 the great calling
John Madden was in Atlanta in October to announce a football gameone weekend when he noticed a special phone near the Falcons' bench.He asked the coach what it was for & was told it was a hotline to God.
John asked if he could use it.
Coach told him, "Sure, but it'll cost you $100." Madden scratched his head, then thought, what the heck I need abreak picking the games. He pulled out his wallet and paid the $100.Madden was perfect that week.
The next weekend Madden was in Minnesota when henoticed the same kind of phone on the Viking bench. He asked the coachwhat the phone was for and was told, "It's the hotline to God, and if youwant to use it, it'll cost $100."
\nRecalling last week, Madden pulled out his wallet, paid the money \n& made the call. Madden was perfect that week. \nThe next weekend Madden was in \nTexas Stadium when he noticed the same kind of phone by the Dallasbench. He asked Bill Parcells, "Is that phone the hotline to God?"\n \nBill said, "Yes, and if you want to use it, it\'ll cost 35 cents."\n \nMadden looked incredulously at the coach and said, "Wait a second,\nI just paid $100 in Atlanta & $100 at Minnesota to use the same phone to God. Why does Dallas only charge 35 cents?" \nBill looked at Madden & replied, "In \nDallas, it\'s a local call." \n\n",0]
);
//-->
Recalling last week, Madden pulled out his wallet, paid the money & made the call. Madden was perfect that week.
The next weekend Madden was in Texas Stadium when he noticed the same kind of phone by the Dallasbench. He asked Bill Parcells, "Is that phone the hotline to God?"
Bill said, "Yes, and if you want to use it, it'll cost 35 cents."
Madden looked incredulously at the coach and said, "Wait a second; I just paid $100 in Atlanta & $100 at Minnesota to use the same phone to God. Why does Dallas only charge 35 cents?"
Bill looked at Madden & replied, "In Dallas, it's a local call."
We must read the bible in the context of the whole bible. Here’s why. If we don’t, we could keep women from speaking at all in church (I know that would be hard), we could justify slavery (it was done with the bible), and we could if we tried to say the bible contradicts itself and should not be trusted.
But in our text today, we could say that 4 grown men who have minds of their own, left their good paying jobs and family, and started to follow and be mentored by a total stranger after only hearing him say 10 words. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
Those of us who have had amazing encounters in our lives with Jesus thru the Holy Spirit, don’t doubt it could happen that way (and yes it could).
However, there are far too many people who are willing to believe any information given to them if it’s said to be from the bible, without they themselves actually reading the bible and finding out what it says. Let’s say I listened to Benny Hinn. I would come to believe that when I sow abundantly (give him lots of money), abundantly it will be given back to me.
He bases that on Genesis 26 that says Isaac sowed in that land and in that same year reaped a hundredfold.
When we read scripture, we have to take the whole bible in together. Look at the Christmas story. If we only read Matthew, we will see the star and wise men. If we only read Luke, we will see the manger and shepherds who were invited to be witnesses by the angels.
It’s only when we attempt to put Matthew and Luke together that we learn the full beauty of the nativity story. The calling of the disciples is like that also.
Matthew says that Jesus called his disciples as they fished on the Sea of Galilee. According to Matthew, Peter and Andrew were in the process of casting a net in to the sea because….well that’s what fishermen do.
Jesus gives a 10 word invitation and they drop everything to follow this total stranger. Luke has a longer version where the disciples had been fishing all night with no results.
They were cleaning their nets the next day when Jesus approached and asked them to let him on board so he could teach the rapidly growing crowd from the boat. After teaching, he told Peter to put the nets out for a catch. Although they had caught nothing all night, these experienced fishermen put their nets out with extraordinary results.
There were so many fish the boats started try to sink. They had to call their partners James and John. Convinced that this itinerate preacher was something special when he asked them to follow him, they left their boats on the shore and became disciples. Without Luke’s version, we are left with the impression that a 10 word invitation from a total stranger changed their lives.
Now we can go even deeper into the bible. The Gospel of John is a great book. John maintains that before a few of the disciples started following Jesus, they were disciples of John the Baptist. This story gets to Jesus when John the Baptist is out in the Jordan River baptizing (that’s why he’s called the Baptist I suppose).
One day while John stood in the river he saw his cousin Jesus walking along the shore. “Behold the lamb of God.” Andrew, one of John’s disciples, went to check Jesus out. He was so impressed, that he returned with his brother Peter. THEN, John says, Jesus decided to go to Galilee.
You see, Andrew and Peter had already had an encounter with Jesus near the Jordan River. When Jesus came to Galilee and said “Come and follow me and I will teach you to fish for people”, Andrew and Peter did leave everything, but not to follow a complete stranger after a 10 word invitation. It was to follow Jesus whom they had already come to believe was sent from God.
Now here is a question. Does that make the call of the disciples in Galilee less spectacular? Does it take the mystery out of the encounter? Does it make Peter and Andrew less faithful or less uuummm spontaneous?
OR, is the net effect the same? PAUSE
They left everything to follow Jesus just the same. So the disciples were called to follow Jesus.
In relation to us, if you are a Christian, you are already a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a student. A disciple is a learner. The disciple studies at the feet of a rabbi or teacher.
Peter was a disciple first.
Andrew was a disciple first.
James and John were disciples first. All 12 of them were first disciples. And what does ALL mean? All means all and that’s all all means. Before you can be anything else, you have to be a student. Jesus is our teacher.
Now when we read the bible, we hear all the sermons or stories Jesus taught. But over those years of his ministry he gave the same sermons and stories over and over. The disciples were with him or in the crowds and heard them again and again. The sermon from Matthew 5 could be the Sermon and the Mount and in another book it could be the Sermon on the Plain and somewhere else it could be the Sermon from the Boat.
Jesus taught his disciples when he taught the multitudes, but he also taught them while walking along the roads, sitting around the dinner table, at weddings and other places. He took every opportunity to train them. Likewise, Jesus is our teacher and rabbi. He will teach us thru the Holy Spirit, but his primary teaching tool is the bible.
As we read, we hear his instructions. For those who are interested to learn, Jesus is still a teacher.
So Jesus called his disciples.
If you are a Christian you are a disciple of Jesus.
So if you are a disciple, you have been called.
Jesus called Andrew and Peter. It was Andrew who first brought Peter to Jesus. Jesus called James and John.
Peter, James and John were in the inner circle and were so close to Jesus that he asked them to follow him to the Garden after the Last Supper where he agonized over his decision of going to the cross.
If you are a Christian, you are just as called. The first step in your journey is to receive and respond to the call of Jesus Christ. Come and follow me and I will make you fish for people.
Before anything else, Jesus calls us. First it’s come and follow me. Then it’s I will teach you to fish for people. The first disciples fished for a living. They knew how to fish for fish. They were not always successful. Like all fishermen they had good days and bad days.
But Jesus said “There’s something more important than having a good day fishing for fish. If you think it’s exciting to catch a big one, just wait until you experience the thrill of helping a person catch the vision of a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
I told you a few weeks ago that I challenged the men’s group that we would go from 10 men sitting around the table to 100 men. Set your goals so you will certainly fail unless God steps in. When we step outside the box and radically change our approach of bringing men into the group, lives can transform.
Pioneer evangelist C.T. Studd is quoted saying “some people want to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop in the yard of hell.”
We sometimes assume that non-Christians understand the jargon we use all the time in church.
Like Narthex. What’s a Narthex? Or church polity. I’ve never used the word polity before. How about “If we look at the Discipline, we can discern how the polity will affect the board’s decision to dedicate a plaque for the Cokesbury saints from here that are gone, and put it in the narthex.” Makes complete sense right?
Evangelism or inviting or whatever you want to call it has changed. Just throwing up a church sign doesn’t do it. We have to meet people where they are. That’s why we had plans today for some guys to go to the races.
This was an opportunity to invite men who don’t go to church, don’t care for church, don’t like the hymns, or have never seen the Cokesbury hymnal and don’t care, or who think church is boring. It wasn’t to get them in a small group and beat them over the head with a bible.
It was to show them that yes Christians like to do things they like; yes Christians like to have fun. Jesus and his buddies had fun together. You could hear Andrew say “Peter knows how to catch fish. He caught one yesterday that had a coin in its mouth. That was a great fish.” Look at Matt. 17 if you wonder what I am talking about.
Jesus says to “follow me”, and we Christians did. Like Andrew, we must now go and introduce others to Christ. Now is the time. Go and be fishers of people. Go and be like Christ.
September 11th 5 year memorial service
September 11th 5 year memorial service
What can I say about what happened 5 years ago? I was not in NY. I was not in DC. I was not in the field in PA. I was sitting at work, staring at my computer, wondering what kind of day I was going to have. We lived in TN at the time, and we had TVs all throughout the building. CNN or Foxnews was the standard channel they were on.
After the first plane hit, we were in shock, but we didn’t know what happened. Was there an explosion-was it a bomb?? Then the reports started to come in. Then the second plane hit.
This was not an attack on another city thousands of miles away. This was an attack on me and you and everyone else in America. 3000 people died on that day 5 years ago. That’s 3000 immediate families and even more extended families and friends who were affected.
Our lives, beliefs, values, democracy, and freedom were attacked that day and so many people feel helpless to cope with it. Many times we just go throughout our day, getting by……numbed by all the anger, violence, and injustice in our world. Everything we are, they hate. Everything we believe, they condemn.
You don’t have to feel helpless though.
The question I asked myself, and I’m sure you asked yourself and the people around you is “Why?”. Why did it happen? This group that perpetrated the acts were extremist Islamist Fascist. They killed Christians, Jews, Muslims (yes their own religion), atheist, and everyone in between.
5 years later we don’t have the #1 man involved although we have a lot of the others. Was America being punished by God for not staying with it’s Christian roots? We are one of the few nations supporting Israel, God’s chosen people. Doesn’t that get us at least one “get out of jail free” card with God?
You might say, Pastor, didn’t you tell us last week that Jesus came to not only save us from eternal hell, but also hell on this earth?? From where I was sitting, I would say that day in NY was pretty close to hell.
Our scripture passage today gives us an answer to these questions. For God so loved the world…. When God the made the world……… when he looked and decided to bring each of us into this world, he made us with love. He didn’t want to control us like pawns moving across a chess board. He wanted us to live, live in abundant love for each other.
But evil came into the world. That evil is so tempting. It fooled many people into believing they knew better than God and could do a better job of running the world. So they turned away from this God they could not see and went another way.
God didn’t want that for us. He wanted eternal life with him. But since we were full of stinky stuff, we were not worthy to even be in the same room as God. And there was no amount of scrubbing that would get that nasty smell off. So God took care of us.
He sent his Son down to the earth. Jesus is the second part of the trinity and is God also. God came down to earth as one of us, but he didn’t smell. He was perfect.
Now read in verse 16…God didn’t want us to perish but have eternal life.
Then in 17, God didn’t send Jesus to condemn us, but that we may be saved thru him. God was tired of us wasting away in the cess pool of life away from him. He desired to have a relationship with us. One built on love and trust.
Jesus did not condemn us. We had already done that when we turned away from God in the first place. Jesus came to save us from death. Jesus came to make our lives better by living in relation with him so we can make it thru the tough times.
So back to the question. Why? God didn’t make 9-11 happen. This world stinks. It really does. The smell of evil (that is sin) is all around. Plain and simple, it’s all over the world. Those men who hijacked the planes, those who blew up the USS Cole, those who blew up the barracks in Saudi Arabia are evil.
Some would say there is good somewhere in them. They would say “oh they were raised that way and indoctrinated into that way of life”. I have to disagree. Some suicide bombers have given up before pulling the trigger. Closer to home, I’ve seen repeat offenders turn their life around and leave the crime ridden past of theirs.
Anne Rice went from writing books about vampires and death to a book about the childhood of Jesus. Truth and love changed the hearts of these people.
What about those who were killed on 9-11, you may ask? Did they go to heaven. I’m not here to pass judgment on anyone. That’s not my job. My job is to spread the good news to as many people as possible before Christ comes back in final victory. All I can say about the people of 911 is God (father son and holy spirit) is a God of judgment, mercy and love. He loves them more than we ever have.
I’m more concerned with you here on earth now. If you knew Jesus was coming back to earth in one year, what would you do different. Would your life change in any way? Do you know for sure your spouse, your kids, your mom and dad, your best friend or neighbor are all Christian.
Have you ever said anything to them about it?
You’re here alive now. Jesus said to let the dead be dead. My brother-in-law said to not put flowers on his grave site because he is not there. That’s just a shell of a body in the ground.
When we take communion in a little while, let go and let God take control, not only of your life and the direction it’s going, but also let God have all that anger and pain your feeling. Move that out of heart.
Let Jesus fill it in with his love and compassion he has for you. Let go of the worries of yesterday or the worries of tomorrow. Jesus said you have enough on your plate today. Give that to me and don’t worry about it.
Our God is a big God. He wants to transform that anger and sorrow you have into new life. If you feel less than perfect, he wants to make you whole.
What can I say about what happened 5 years ago? I was not in NY. I was not in DC. I was not in the field in PA. I was sitting at work, staring at my computer, wondering what kind of day I was going to have. We lived in TN at the time, and we had TVs all throughout the building. CNN or Foxnews was the standard channel they were on.
After the first plane hit, we were in shock, but we didn’t know what happened. Was there an explosion-was it a bomb?? Then the reports started to come in. Then the second plane hit.
This was not an attack on another city thousands of miles away. This was an attack on me and you and everyone else in America. 3000 people died on that day 5 years ago. That’s 3000 immediate families and even more extended families and friends who were affected.
Our lives, beliefs, values, democracy, and freedom were attacked that day and so many people feel helpless to cope with it. Many times we just go throughout our day, getting by……numbed by all the anger, violence, and injustice in our world. Everything we are, they hate. Everything we believe, they condemn.
You don’t have to feel helpless though.
The question I asked myself, and I’m sure you asked yourself and the people around you is “Why?”. Why did it happen? This group that perpetrated the acts were extremist Islamist Fascist. They killed Christians, Jews, Muslims (yes their own religion), atheist, and everyone in between.
5 years later we don’t have the #1 man involved although we have a lot of the others. Was America being punished by God for not staying with it’s Christian roots? We are one of the few nations supporting Israel, God’s chosen people. Doesn’t that get us at least one “get out of jail free” card with God?
You might say, Pastor, didn’t you tell us last week that Jesus came to not only save us from eternal hell, but also hell on this earth?? From where I was sitting, I would say that day in NY was pretty close to hell.
Our scripture passage today gives us an answer to these questions. For God so loved the world…. When God the made the world……… when he looked and decided to bring each of us into this world, he made us with love. He didn’t want to control us like pawns moving across a chess board. He wanted us to live, live in abundant love for each other.
But evil came into the world. That evil is so tempting. It fooled many people into believing they knew better than God and could do a better job of running the world. So they turned away from this God they could not see and went another way.
God didn’t want that for us. He wanted eternal life with him. But since we were full of stinky stuff, we were not worthy to even be in the same room as God. And there was no amount of scrubbing that would get that nasty smell off. So God took care of us.
He sent his Son down to the earth. Jesus is the second part of the trinity and is God also. God came down to earth as one of us, but he didn’t smell. He was perfect.
Now read in verse 16…God didn’t want us to perish but have eternal life.
Then in 17, God didn’t send Jesus to condemn us, but that we may be saved thru him. God was tired of us wasting away in the cess pool of life away from him. He desired to have a relationship with us. One built on love and trust.
Jesus did not condemn us. We had already done that when we turned away from God in the first place. Jesus came to save us from death. Jesus came to make our lives better by living in relation with him so we can make it thru the tough times.
So back to the question. Why? God didn’t make 9-11 happen. This world stinks. It really does. The smell of evil (that is sin) is all around. Plain and simple, it’s all over the world. Those men who hijacked the planes, those who blew up the USS Cole, those who blew up the barracks in Saudi Arabia are evil.
Some would say there is good somewhere in them. They would say “oh they were raised that way and indoctrinated into that way of life”. I have to disagree. Some suicide bombers have given up before pulling the trigger. Closer to home, I’ve seen repeat offenders turn their life around and leave the crime ridden past of theirs.
Anne Rice went from writing books about vampires and death to a book about the childhood of Jesus. Truth and love changed the hearts of these people.
What about those who were killed on 9-11, you may ask? Did they go to heaven. I’m not here to pass judgment on anyone. That’s not my job. My job is to spread the good news to as many people as possible before Christ comes back in final victory. All I can say about the people of 911 is God (father son and holy spirit) is a God of judgment, mercy and love. He loves them more than we ever have.
I’m more concerned with you here on earth now. If you knew Jesus was coming back to earth in one year, what would you do different. Would your life change in any way? Do you know for sure your spouse, your kids, your mom and dad, your best friend or neighbor are all Christian.
Have you ever said anything to them about it?
You’re here alive now. Jesus said to let the dead be dead. My brother-in-law said to not put flowers on his grave site because he is not there. That’s just a shell of a body in the ground.
When we take communion in a little while, let go and let God take control, not only of your life and the direction it’s going, but also let God have all that anger and pain your feeling. Move that out of heart.
Let Jesus fill it in with his love and compassion he has for you. Let go of the worries of yesterday or the worries of tomorrow. Jesus said you have enough on your plate today. Give that to me and don’t worry about it.
Our God is a big God. He wants to transform that anger and sorrow you have into new life. If you feel less than perfect, he wants to make you whole.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
September 11th
We have a 9-11 memorial service scheduled for 6pm. It's going to be a busy day with a meeting @ 2:30, service @ 6, board meeting @ 7 then another meeting on Tuesday.
What can I say about 9-11 when I was not in NY, DC, or the field in PA?? I think the thing to say is this was not an attack on NY. This was an attack on America and the freedom we enjoy. We worship, we have happy marriages, we love others (even those we don't totally agree with). THose who attacked us will not stop ever. Their only 'end game' is total destruction of the infadels. They don't know complete salvation. Unless they are martyred, they are not assured that 'Allah' will let them into heaven. They have that chalkboard faith of good and bad checks.
As Christians, on the other hand, we are assured of our salvation by the blood of the one who stood in our place.
I pray for tomorrow. I pray that even if one person shows up for our service, they can be healed of any pain felt, and they can move on and grow into what Christ wants the to be. Transformation is what I want!!!
What can I say about 9-11 when I was not in NY, DC, or the field in PA?? I think the thing to say is this was not an attack on NY. This was an attack on America and the freedom we enjoy. We worship, we have happy marriages, we love others (even those we don't totally agree with). THose who attacked us will not stop ever. Their only 'end game' is total destruction of the infadels. They don't know complete salvation. Unless they are martyred, they are not assured that 'Allah' will let them into heaven. They have that chalkboard faith of good and bad checks.
As Christians, on the other hand, we are assured of our salvation by the blood of the one who stood in our place.
I pray for tomorrow. I pray that even if one person shows up for our service, they can be healed of any pain felt, and they can move on and grow into what Christ wants the to be. Transformation is what I want!!!
Monday, September 04, 2006
September 3 sermon Be Doers James 1: 17-27
September 3 sermon Be Doers James 1:17-27
Who is James?? James was the oldest brother of Jesus. He didn’t even believe Jesus was the messiah until after Jesus was resurrected and then showed up in front of James. James became the head of the Jerusalem church and was the one who corrected the issues between the Jews and Gentiles and smoothed out any complaints.
Many people don’t like James though. He focuses on the law and faith, while Paul seems to focus on grace and faith. Interestingly, there is not dissention and conflict with James and Paul. They are actually complementary and focus on different aspects of love, law and faith.
James starts in our selected scripture saying “every good gift comes from the father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” The best gift to get from God is the same gift he gave to Solomon in the Old Testament. When God told Solomon he could have any gift he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom.
In chapter 1 verse 5, Peter says “If anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously.” What is wisdom?? Wisdom is not just acquiring information, but practical insight with spiritual implications. James is compared to Proverbs by most scholars because the whole book is practical wisdom for the people.
Speaking of wisdom, Proverbs says Wisdom will protect you from the wicked; Wisdom is understanding; Wisdom is supreme, though it costs all you have. So wisdom is that good and perfect gift James is talking about.
James goes on to say that the Father of heavenly lights does not change like shifting shadows. He is saying God, the father created everything you see. He created the heavenly lights and he is pure light that never goes out or leave so the shadows are never there.
I love to take pictures. PULL OUT YOUR CAMERA. When photographers take pictures, they have to think about the shadows created with the flash of their camera. And if the sun is just going down or coming up then new shadows are created.
But God is radiant light that is all over. There are no shadows created because God surrounds us with his pure light leaving no room for shadows.
James says God chose to give us birth thru the word of truth. This is not creation when we were born at our first birth date. He is referring to regeneration…… Being Born Again.
His audience was called to be first-fruits. Just like the first part of a harvest was given to God based on the OT book of Leviticus, these first believers in Christ are a sign of the harvest of Christians to come.
Jesus makes a reference to this also when he says “Look how ripe the harvest is. We need to bring it in, but the workers are few.”
My dear brothers and sisters, all of you, (and what does all mean; all means all and that’s all all means). All of you should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
Oh my gosh. I don’t like these rules. It goes totally against the judgment of those of us who know everything. Quick to listen and slow to speak. Brandy got mad at me one time. Here’s how it went.
Brandy says (yelling): You don’t listen enough and take my feelings and ideas into consideration. I don’t feel like you care. Etc etc.
Sean hears: You don’t blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Sean yells back: Why are you yelling at me?
I wasn’t listening. But boy I was quick to speak. I wanted to make my point and make sure I go the last word in.
Oh I was talking to someone the other day about funerals and they said they had heard about people video taping their final will. That way there is no question what was meant with the written will……… and they could get the last word.
OK…so be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger for anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James is writing about communication skills.
I tell you, miscommunication is the biggest cause of arguments and problems today. Also, email and cell phones makes the possibility of communication problems even greater.
Mike sent me an email the other day in all caps saying he would be too busy to play on a softball team. I sent an email back saying “OK, stop yelling at me”. All caps in email is considered yelling.
Also, just putting a comma in a different place of your sentence will change the meaning of that sentence.
SO your communication gets all messed up and one party gets mad about it, because they did not understand what you were saying. They communicate back (in a not so nice way), and make you mad also. Then the anger flairs up.
So therefore get rid of all the evil and malice that is in you. Just like Jesus said, If you are angry with your brother or sister, go and make amends with them, and THEN come and talk to me. When the anger has moved out of your life, you can then accept the word of God fully, which can save you.
Now I am going to tell you how to be blessed. Do you want to blessed? I want to be blessed. I can’t wait for Jesus to tell me “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
James says that if you listen to the word, the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue to follow it, not forgetting what you heard, but continuing to do it, you will be blessed.
What does that mean?? Well if you listen to my sermon, and when I come to you on Wednesday and ask you what I talked about, and you remember it, you are blessed :o). Not exactly.
The perfect law is the moral and ethical teaching of Christianity, which is based on the 10 commandments and Jesus clarified this even more in his teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount.
This perfect law gives freedom. The sinner is a slave to sin. Why a slave?? Because the slave cannot break free on his own. The slave has to be given freedom by his master, and sin does not give in without a fight.
There is truth in this teaching in that for a slave to have this perfect freedom James is talking about, he must be freed by something greater than the sin and greater than himself. He must look to the perfect law of Jesus Christ to become free. There was The Law in the Old Testament.
You can refer back to Leviticus for that if you have some time and a few shots of caffeine.
Jesus came not to destroy this law, but to fulfill it and by accepting Jesus as our Savior (that’s big word implying he has to save us from something). By accepting Jesus as our Savior, he, as the perfect law, will free us from the enslavement of sin.
Without the saving power of Jesus we will stay in sin forever. The only punishment available for sin (or another way to put it is the only option and destination when we have this sin in us) is death and eternity away from God. When we are freed by Jesus, our enslavement to sin is no more and eternal life with him is our only future.
Now in the last two verses, 26 and 27, James explains what true religion is. It is controlled speech, and protection of the weak. Pure religion (or as many people today would say pure spirituality) is taking care of those who can’t always take care of themselves.
They are not always helpless per se, but can use some help. James says orphans and widows, because in his day, they were the groups left behind in life and not taken care of. Today I will add the single mom, the working poor, and how about the “string of bad luck” guy.
Last week we pulled a vehicle into Bill’s hanger and he changed the brakes out and on another one I changed the oil. The only expense the owner had was for parts. $140 brake replacement turned into a $30 brake replacement. That’s what James is talking about when he says “be a doer”. I love our men’s group. I talk about the men’s group because I’m not involved in the Methodist Women’s group. Something about not being a woman…I think. Not sure what all that is about.
But before our men’s meeting last month, Dan called me. I know Dan can’t do too much physically. But he asked me about getting those guys who have not been in church to hear the announcement about the men’s meeting. I told him the only thing I could think of was to call them. He volunteered on the spot to call them.
The bible says God will give us work based on our gifts and abilities. Dan opened my eyes to that verse right then.
Finally James says to not get polluted by the world. Be in the world, not of the world. We can’t hide away in these 4 walls. We are called to go out into the world and make it better. The salvation Jesus brings is not to just keep us out of Hell at the end of this life.
Salvation is from the hell in this world also. We are here to transform this world. We are here to make it better. See these bags next to the podium?? Each of these is a meal for a family in need.
And yeah I know feed a man a fish and he is full for a day but teach him to fish and he is full for a lifetime. Sometimes people just need to eat for today just to make it. That’s why we are taking these bags to Waxahachie Care food bank.
And if you didn’t get to bring anything, but still want to, you can grab a bag in the back and bring it to the church tomorrow. During communion this morning you can leave money on the alter rail. This will also go to Waxahachie Care. Giving is not a mandatory thing. Give out of your abundance and what you are led to give.
Join me on page 13 in your hymnal for our communion service….
Who is James?? James was the oldest brother of Jesus. He didn’t even believe Jesus was the messiah until after Jesus was resurrected and then showed up in front of James. James became the head of the Jerusalem church and was the one who corrected the issues between the Jews and Gentiles and smoothed out any complaints.
Many people don’t like James though. He focuses on the law and faith, while Paul seems to focus on grace and faith. Interestingly, there is not dissention and conflict with James and Paul. They are actually complementary and focus on different aspects of love, law and faith.
James starts in our selected scripture saying “every good gift comes from the father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” The best gift to get from God is the same gift he gave to Solomon in the Old Testament. When God told Solomon he could have any gift he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom.
In chapter 1 verse 5, Peter says “If anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously.” What is wisdom?? Wisdom is not just acquiring information, but practical insight with spiritual implications. James is compared to Proverbs by most scholars because the whole book is practical wisdom for the people.
Speaking of wisdom, Proverbs says Wisdom will protect you from the wicked; Wisdom is understanding; Wisdom is supreme, though it costs all you have. So wisdom is that good and perfect gift James is talking about.
James goes on to say that the Father of heavenly lights does not change like shifting shadows. He is saying God, the father created everything you see. He created the heavenly lights and he is pure light that never goes out or leave so the shadows are never there.
I love to take pictures. PULL OUT YOUR CAMERA. When photographers take pictures, they have to think about the shadows created with the flash of their camera. And if the sun is just going down or coming up then new shadows are created.
But God is radiant light that is all over. There are no shadows created because God surrounds us with his pure light leaving no room for shadows.
James says God chose to give us birth thru the word of truth. This is not creation when we were born at our first birth date. He is referring to regeneration…… Being Born Again.
His audience was called to be first-fruits. Just like the first part of a harvest was given to God based on the OT book of Leviticus, these first believers in Christ are a sign of the harvest of Christians to come.
Jesus makes a reference to this also when he says “Look how ripe the harvest is. We need to bring it in, but the workers are few.”
My dear brothers and sisters, all of you, (and what does all mean; all means all and that’s all all means). All of you should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
Oh my gosh. I don’t like these rules. It goes totally against the judgment of those of us who know everything. Quick to listen and slow to speak. Brandy got mad at me one time. Here’s how it went.
Brandy says (yelling): You don’t listen enough and take my feelings and ideas into consideration. I don’t feel like you care. Etc etc.
Sean hears: You don’t blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Sean yells back: Why are you yelling at me?
I wasn’t listening. But boy I was quick to speak. I wanted to make my point and make sure I go the last word in.
Oh I was talking to someone the other day about funerals and they said they had heard about people video taping their final will. That way there is no question what was meant with the written will……… and they could get the last word.
OK…so be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger for anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James is writing about communication skills.
I tell you, miscommunication is the biggest cause of arguments and problems today. Also, email and cell phones makes the possibility of communication problems even greater.
Mike sent me an email the other day in all caps saying he would be too busy to play on a softball team. I sent an email back saying “OK, stop yelling at me”. All caps in email is considered yelling.
Also, just putting a comma in a different place of your sentence will change the meaning of that sentence.
SO your communication gets all messed up and one party gets mad about it, because they did not understand what you were saying. They communicate back (in a not so nice way), and make you mad also. Then the anger flairs up.
So therefore get rid of all the evil and malice that is in you. Just like Jesus said, If you are angry with your brother or sister, go and make amends with them, and THEN come and talk to me. When the anger has moved out of your life, you can then accept the word of God fully, which can save you.
Now I am going to tell you how to be blessed. Do you want to blessed? I want to be blessed. I can’t wait for Jesus to tell me “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
James says that if you listen to the word, the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue to follow it, not forgetting what you heard, but continuing to do it, you will be blessed.
What does that mean?? Well if you listen to my sermon, and when I come to you on Wednesday and ask you what I talked about, and you remember it, you are blessed :o). Not exactly.
The perfect law is the moral and ethical teaching of Christianity, which is based on the 10 commandments and Jesus clarified this even more in his teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount.
This perfect law gives freedom. The sinner is a slave to sin. Why a slave?? Because the slave cannot break free on his own. The slave has to be given freedom by his master, and sin does not give in without a fight.
There is truth in this teaching in that for a slave to have this perfect freedom James is talking about, he must be freed by something greater than the sin and greater than himself. He must look to the perfect law of Jesus Christ to become free. There was The Law in the Old Testament.
You can refer back to Leviticus for that if you have some time and a few shots of caffeine.
Jesus came not to destroy this law, but to fulfill it and by accepting Jesus as our Savior (that’s big word implying he has to save us from something). By accepting Jesus as our Savior, he, as the perfect law, will free us from the enslavement of sin.
Without the saving power of Jesus we will stay in sin forever. The only punishment available for sin (or another way to put it is the only option and destination when we have this sin in us) is death and eternity away from God. When we are freed by Jesus, our enslavement to sin is no more and eternal life with him is our only future.
Now in the last two verses, 26 and 27, James explains what true religion is. It is controlled speech, and protection of the weak. Pure religion (or as many people today would say pure spirituality) is taking care of those who can’t always take care of themselves.
They are not always helpless per se, but can use some help. James says orphans and widows, because in his day, they were the groups left behind in life and not taken care of. Today I will add the single mom, the working poor, and how about the “string of bad luck” guy.
Last week we pulled a vehicle into Bill’s hanger and he changed the brakes out and on another one I changed the oil. The only expense the owner had was for parts. $140 brake replacement turned into a $30 brake replacement. That’s what James is talking about when he says “be a doer”. I love our men’s group. I talk about the men’s group because I’m not involved in the Methodist Women’s group. Something about not being a woman…I think. Not sure what all that is about.
But before our men’s meeting last month, Dan called me. I know Dan can’t do too much physically. But he asked me about getting those guys who have not been in church to hear the announcement about the men’s meeting. I told him the only thing I could think of was to call them. He volunteered on the spot to call them.
The bible says God will give us work based on our gifts and abilities. Dan opened my eyes to that verse right then.
Finally James says to not get polluted by the world. Be in the world, not of the world. We can’t hide away in these 4 walls. We are called to go out into the world and make it better. The salvation Jesus brings is not to just keep us out of Hell at the end of this life.
Salvation is from the hell in this world also. We are here to transform this world. We are here to make it better. See these bags next to the podium?? Each of these is a meal for a family in need.
And yeah I know feed a man a fish and he is full for a day but teach him to fish and he is full for a lifetime. Sometimes people just need to eat for today just to make it. That’s why we are taking these bags to Waxahachie Care food bank.
And if you didn’t get to bring anything, but still want to, you can grab a bag in the back and bring it to the church tomorrow. During communion this morning you can leave money on the alter rail. This will also go to Waxahachie Care. Giving is not a mandatory thing. Give out of your abundance and what you are led to give.
Join me on page 13 in your hymnal for our communion service….
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