Matthew 5:1-12
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Matthew 7:24-27
24-25"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
October 28, 2007 Message
October 28, 2007
1 Peter 2:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
“Chosen For What?”
I’ve thought about today’s text quite a bit this week, especially the part where the writer of 1 Peter says: “…you are the ones chosen by God” and I’ve thought, ‘that’s pretty neat – to be among those chosen’ – right?
A person can’t help but feel good about that. To be chosen, to be picked, to be selected by God is a good thing, right? But chosen for what ? Well, he does go on to say we have been chosen:
“for …priestly work” – Me?
“…to be a holy people” – Us?
“…to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you…” – Yea, right!
Now, I can go to church most Sunday mornings for an hour or so. Or maybe do whatever needs to be done now and then – like bake some cookies, or clean the windows, or trim the shrubs, or whatever I have time for. I can even give ten cents on the dollar to the church. But to tell others about the difference Jesus has made in my life – I don’t think so! Who’s idea is that, anyway?
Jesus …gave his charge: "…Go out and train everyone you meet …in this way of life …instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.”
Things get more complicated when you consider the source. It’s Jesus who says so. It’s not just the writer of 1 James challenging me, and everyone else here, to go out and tell others about Jesus. It’s Jesus who expects that very thing of his disciples. It’s Jesus who commissions his followers to do what I can’t imagine myself ever doing. Telling others about the ‘way of life’ – his way.
Do you suppose Jesus was only talking to the apostles here… not to me. I imagine that’s it. He’s just talking to them. He chose them, not me, to do it. And besides, we know it’s already been done, right? That’s why we’re here. There’s probably nothing for us to do anyway? Wrong!
Jesus was speaking to all of us – all who call themselves Christian or who one day will. You and I have all been ‘chosen’ – despite our weaknesses. The Bible is filled with examples of God singling out one frail human after another for special things.
Jesus' unlikely choice of Peter as the "rock" seems to be a "foolish" contradiction. Genesis starts with God choosing Abraham, a dried up old man rather than a vital, young man, to become the father of a new nation. What kind of choice is that? And then later, going against cultural tradition, God seems to have a preference for choosing the youngest son for leadership and greatness - Jacob, Joseph, David. And look at the characters God chooses to be prophets – Jeremiah (son of a priest, somewhat withdrawn, perhaps an introvert, who was often overwhelmed by what he was being called to do), Amos (a common man, sent to another land to proclaim the Word to the people; a poor man, sent to speak to the wealthy) Elisha (who was busy plowing in a field when he got the call and who, at first, showed little respect for his teacher).
Even the idea of choosing Israel – such a headstrong, disobedient, and powerless group of misfits - was a decision that calls divine insight into question. Yet they remain God's chosen people.
Who among any of these would have ever considered the possibility of being chosen by God?
Yes, we have been chosen. God has chosen all humans, here and now, to express the divine will and mission. We are to "…Go out and inform everyone …about this way of life …teaching them what Jesus has said.”
We have been chosen to love God and one another and in so doing, to bear fruit in this community and in the world. We have been chosen to follow Jesus the Christ and to tell others about the difference he makes in a person’s life. We have been chosen to make a difference.
Mark Twain said the difference between a word and the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
The late Dr. Paul Sherer once said, “The fundamental joy of being a Christian consists not in being good. But in standing with God against some darkness or some void and watching the light come.”
Our joy comes from our ‘standing’ with God who is a choosing God. We are not called to be a "chosen people" so much as a choosing people - choosing those whom the world has abandoned and claiming them for God. We can celebrate with others their "choosing" moments, when God chooses once again to be with them, regardless of the circumstance. The Hebrews certainly had no reason to feel very "chosen" when they were mucking about in Pharaoh's brickyard - but they were. Joseph did not appear very "chosen" when sold into slavery by his own brothers - but he was. The early Christians didn’t seem very chosen when they were being persecuted or torn apart by wild animals in the Coliseum in Rome – but they were. And undoubtedly there were times Peter didn’t feel chosen when embroiled in the midst of early church controversies and debates.
And what about today? How can you we feel chosen when your life seems to be at a standstill? Or when life seems to be passing you by? When you're 13 and your face is breaking out and your voice is cracking and your body seems to have a mind of its own - can you still be happy about your humanity, a form Christ himself shares with you? When you work hard and get passed up for that promotion or pay raise or your to do list at home keeps getting bigger and bigger and you just get more tired – do you feel you have been set apart for something special then? When you have retired from what you’ve done your whole life and suddenly life’s different, everything has changed. Do you feel chosen then? Or look forward to God's next call in your life?
However, God chooses us not just once, but over and over again throughout our lives, chooses us to help embody the life and mission of the incarnate Lord every day.
If nothing else today - remember this: God has chosen you. God is with you and in you, and God is empowering you. You see, as committed Christians we are not about doing the work of this church. We're not even about doing God's work. God is doing God's work through us!
And Jesus promises, “I'll be with you as you do this…”
Considering that, I guess it’s good after all – to be chosen! And it is very good news, good news indeed.
1 Peter 2:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
“Chosen For What?”
I’ve thought about today’s text quite a bit this week, especially the part where the writer of 1 Peter says: “…you are the ones chosen by God” and I’ve thought, ‘that’s pretty neat – to be among those chosen’ – right?
A person can’t help but feel good about that. To be chosen, to be picked, to be selected by God is a good thing, right? But chosen for what ? Well, he does go on to say we have been chosen:
“for …priestly work” – Me?
“…to be a holy people” – Us?
“…to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you…” – Yea, right!
Now, I can go to church most Sunday mornings for an hour or so. Or maybe do whatever needs to be done now and then – like bake some cookies, or clean the windows, or trim the shrubs, or whatever I have time for. I can even give ten cents on the dollar to the church. But to tell others about the difference Jesus has made in my life – I don’t think so! Who’s idea is that, anyway?
Jesus …gave his charge: "…Go out and train everyone you meet …in this way of life …instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.”
Things get more complicated when you consider the source. It’s Jesus who says so. It’s not just the writer of 1 James challenging me, and everyone else here, to go out and tell others about Jesus. It’s Jesus who expects that very thing of his disciples. It’s Jesus who commissions his followers to do what I can’t imagine myself ever doing. Telling others about the ‘way of life’ – his way.
Do you suppose Jesus was only talking to the apostles here… not to me. I imagine that’s it. He’s just talking to them. He chose them, not me, to do it. And besides, we know it’s already been done, right? That’s why we’re here. There’s probably nothing for us to do anyway? Wrong!
Jesus was speaking to all of us – all who call themselves Christian or who one day will. You and I have all been ‘chosen’ – despite our weaknesses. The Bible is filled with examples of God singling out one frail human after another for special things.
Jesus' unlikely choice of Peter as the "rock" seems to be a "foolish" contradiction. Genesis starts with God choosing Abraham, a dried up old man rather than a vital, young man, to become the father of a new nation. What kind of choice is that? And then later, going against cultural tradition, God seems to have a preference for choosing the youngest son for leadership and greatness - Jacob, Joseph, David. And look at the characters God chooses to be prophets – Jeremiah (son of a priest, somewhat withdrawn, perhaps an introvert, who was often overwhelmed by what he was being called to do), Amos (a common man, sent to another land to proclaim the Word to the people; a poor man, sent to speak to the wealthy) Elisha (who was busy plowing in a field when he got the call and who, at first, showed little respect for his teacher).
Even the idea of choosing Israel – such a headstrong, disobedient, and powerless group of misfits - was a decision that calls divine insight into question. Yet they remain God's chosen people.
Who among any of these would have ever considered the possibility of being chosen by God?
Yes, we have been chosen. God has chosen all humans, here and now, to express the divine will and mission. We are to "…Go out and inform everyone …about this way of life …teaching them what Jesus has said.”
We have been chosen to love God and one another and in so doing, to bear fruit in this community and in the world. We have been chosen to follow Jesus the Christ and to tell others about the difference he makes in a person’s life. We have been chosen to make a difference.
Mark Twain said the difference between a word and the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
The late Dr. Paul Sherer once said, “The fundamental joy of being a Christian consists not in being good. But in standing with God against some darkness or some void and watching the light come.”
Our joy comes from our ‘standing’ with God who is a choosing God. We are not called to be a "chosen people" so much as a choosing people - choosing those whom the world has abandoned and claiming them for God. We can celebrate with others their "choosing" moments, when God chooses once again to be with them, regardless of the circumstance. The Hebrews certainly had no reason to feel very "chosen" when they were mucking about in Pharaoh's brickyard - but they were. Joseph did not appear very "chosen" when sold into slavery by his own brothers - but he was. The early Christians didn’t seem very chosen when they were being persecuted or torn apart by wild animals in the Coliseum in Rome – but they were. And undoubtedly there were times Peter didn’t feel chosen when embroiled in the midst of early church controversies and debates.
And what about today? How can you we feel chosen when your life seems to be at a standstill? Or when life seems to be passing you by? When you're 13 and your face is breaking out and your voice is cracking and your body seems to have a mind of its own - can you still be happy about your humanity, a form Christ himself shares with you? When you work hard and get passed up for that promotion or pay raise or your to do list at home keeps getting bigger and bigger and you just get more tired – do you feel you have been set apart for something special then? When you have retired from what you’ve done your whole life and suddenly life’s different, everything has changed. Do you feel chosen then? Or look forward to God's next call in your life?
However, God chooses us not just once, but over and over again throughout our lives, chooses us to help embody the life and mission of the incarnate Lord every day.
If nothing else today - remember this: God has chosen you. God is with you and in you, and God is empowering you. You see, as committed Christians we are not about doing the work of this church. We're not even about doing God's work. God is doing God's work through us!
And Jesus promises, “I'll be with you as you do this…”
Considering that, I guess it’s good after all – to be chosen! And it is very good news, good news indeed.
Monday, October 22, 2007
October 28, 2007 Readings
1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message)
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
Monday, October 15, 2007
October 21, 2007 Readings
1 Peter 4: 10
Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help.
John 14: 12-18
"If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do."
"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!"
"I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back."
Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help.
John 14: 12-18
"If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do."
"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!"
"I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back."
Sunday, October 14, 2007
October 14, 2007 Message
October 14, 2007
Romans 8:28, John 15:16
“Your Gifts Are More Than Money”
"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. - John 15:16
“That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” - Romans 8:28
This past week I’ve thought about the words of today’s text many times, especially the part when Jesus tells his followers: “you didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you,” and at first I thought, ‘well, that’s pretty simple – God has chosen people like you and I to be doing all the things we’re doing. And that’s pretty special – to be chosen – right? I hear that and I stand taller, my shoulders go back a little and my chest goes out a lot, and my expression takes on a certain smugness. To be chosen, to be picked, to be selected is good, right - but for what?
“To be put in the world to bear fruit,” Jesus says. And I think, woe! That’s not really a suggestion he’s making. He’s not hinting. It’s more of a command, when you get right down to it. And that makes it not quite so simple. In fact that could make things a little complicated, to say the least. Now there are expectations, things I should do, things I can’t imagine myself ever doing. And my only out is to think, ‘Well, maybe Jesus wasn’t talking to all of us after all.’ Maybe he was just talking to the apostles. Or maybe he’s just taking to some of us. Yea, that’s it. He’s just talking to a few of us. Wrong!
I think Jesus was speaking to all of us. We have all been ‘chosen’ and ‘placed in the world’ ‘to bear fruit.’ The problem may be we haven’t fully understood the part when he says, “As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.” In other words, ‘If you’re on God’s team, God will provide all you need to do the work, if you ask.’ Actually I believe God has already provided all the resources this church needs to fulfill God’s plan for us today, we just haven’t realized it, yet. And so we need to ask God to point out all of those things to us and to help us realize the resources are there in the future as well.
When we think of resources, we usually think of financial resources – our money, our investments. It’s true, our money is part of our resources, but there is more. Our resources also include our time, our possessions, our contacts, our hobbies, among other things. The question we want to ask ourselves as Christians is this, “How do we best utilize the resources we’ve been given to impact God’s purposes for God’s church – here in this place and in the world?”
Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21 not to “store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” So what’s the difference? Well, his point is that we are to invest in things that have eternal value, of which there are only two: God and people. How do we invest in these? By using our resources well, that’s how.
Remember the parable of the talents? The more that is invested, what? The more that is received! The more resources we use for God’s purpose, the more resources we will be given, so that we will have even more resources to use, and even more resources to be given… what a wonderful “catch 22, isn’t it?”
You have heard the saying, “from those to whom much is given, much will be expected,” right? This is what that parable means. The more you have been given, the more you are expected to give. And the more you give, the more you will receive. And the more you receive, the more you are expected to give… and on and on and on – that’s eternal.
Investing in things that are eternal also involves setting priorities based upon our experiencing the kingdom of God – living in the life of Christ, experiencing God’s presence and love - now. We can use these resources in so many ways to glorify God. Whether it is making school or health kits or filling them; walking from Watkins to Norway in the CROP walk or sponsoring those who do; volunteering our time at Bidwell-Riverside or helping out with the Bazaar; going on a mission trip to South or Central America or writing a check for one of the special Sunday offerings; providing music for worship or breaking up cement; cooking breakfast or drying dishes; teaching a lesson or leading a song; inviting others to church or giving them a ride; baking pies or eating them - all are important and necessary in being the church. I can’t begin to mention them all.
Our contacts (all those people in our address books) are resources, too. Maybe we can ask them to speak to a Sunday School class or other group in the church. Maybe they can help with a project or be a resource for ideas or information. What are your resources? Who are the people you know? How can you use them to serve others and glorify God?
And what about your experiences? We all have a past. Good or bad – our experiences make us who we are today. Some people give themselves credit for the good things that happen to them and blame God for the bad. The reality is that we are not responsible for all the good things, and God doesn’t cause the bad things that we experience, even though God is always at work to use those experiences – good and bad – to fulfill God’s purposes.
Some of you have experienced devastating things in your life: perhaps the death of someone very close to you, a divorce, the loss of a job, or whatever. Your life was turned upside down. But you made it through it all. Might God use you today or tomorrow to help someone going through the very same thing? You bet! In fact, God probably has plans to do just that.
Some of you may, in the past, have been involved in doing something for the church. Maybe your experience wasn’t good – not because you were doing anything wrong, but because you were doing the wrong thing. What others are to do may not be what God intends me to do. But God does expect me to do something – and has in fact already provided the resources for me to do it. I may already know what they are not, I just need to find out what they are!
When you think about it, all our experiences – family experiences, work experiences, all our relationships and circumstances – are components of who we are and what we might do. Everything in life prepares us for our ministry. In that sense our experiences, good and bad, all draw us closer to God, and as we see God use them for God’s purposes, we develop a better understanding of God’s will I our lives.
What experiences and circumstances in your life might be used for God’s purposes?
Jesus has called us to love and in so doing, to bear fruit in this community and in the world. He urges his followers to make a difference. To do that, we must use our resources, our experiences and our circumstances for God and for others. What does it mean to be a Christian?
Mark Twain said the difference between a word and the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. United Methodist Bishop, William Willimon has said, “Christians are those who, through baptism, have signed on, have publicly committed themselves, to obey Jesus.” The late Dr. Paul Sherer once said, “The fundamental joy of being a Christian consists not in being good. But in standing with God against some darkness or some void and watching the light come.”
If nothing else today, remember this: God has chosen you. God is with you and in you, and God is empowering you. You see, as committed Christians we are not doing our work. We're not even doing God's work. God is doing God's work through us!
That's why Jesus makes the astounding statement that the Father will give us whatever we ask in his name--not anything we want, not anything that we might try to do, but what God wants and wills to do through us.
And that is to love God’s creation.
Romans 8:28, John 15:16
“Your Gifts Are More Than Money”
"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. - John 15:16
“That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” - Romans 8:28
This past week I’ve thought about the words of today’s text many times, especially the part when Jesus tells his followers: “you didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you,” and at first I thought, ‘well, that’s pretty simple – God has chosen people like you and I to be doing all the things we’re doing. And that’s pretty special – to be chosen – right? I hear that and I stand taller, my shoulders go back a little and my chest goes out a lot, and my expression takes on a certain smugness. To be chosen, to be picked, to be selected is good, right - but for what?
“To be put in the world to bear fruit,” Jesus says. And I think, woe! That’s not really a suggestion he’s making. He’s not hinting. It’s more of a command, when you get right down to it. And that makes it not quite so simple. In fact that could make things a little complicated, to say the least. Now there are expectations, things I should do, things I can’t imagine myself ever doing. And my only out is to think, ‘Well, maybe Jesus wasn’t talking to all of us after all.’ Maybe he was just talking to the apostles. Or maybe he’s just taking to some of us. Yea, that’s it. He’s just talking to a few of us. Wrong!
I think Jesus was speaking to all of us. We have all been ‘chosen’ and ‘placed in the world’ ‘to bear fruit.’ The problem may be we haven’t fully understood the part when he says, “As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.” In other words, ‘If you’re on God’s team, God will provide all you need to do the work, if you ask.’ Actually I believe God has already provided all the resources this church needs to fulfill God’s plan for us today, we just haven’t realized it, yet. And so we need to ask God to point out all of those things to us and to help us realize the resources are there in the future as well.
When we think of resources, we usually think of financial resources – our money, our investments. It’s true, our money is part of our resources, but there is more. Our resources also include our time, our possessions, our contacts, our hobbies, among other things. The question we want to ask ourselves as Christians is this, “How do we best utilize the resources we’ve been given to impact God’s purposes for God’s church – here in this place and in the world?”
Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21 not to “store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” So what’s the difference? Well, his point is that we are to invest in things that have eternal value, of which there are only two: God and people. How do we invest in these? By using our resources well, that’s how.
Remember the parable of the talents? The more that is invested, what? The more that is received! The more resources we use for God’s purpose, the more resources we will be given, so that we will have even more resources to use, and even more resources to be given… what a wonderful “catch 22, isn’t it?”
You have heard the saying, “from those to whom much is given, much will be expected,” right? This is what that parable means. The more you have been given, the more you are expected to give. And the more you give, the more you will receive. And the more you receive, the more you are expected to give… and on and on and on – that’s eternal.
Investing in things that are eternal also involves setting priorities based upon our experiencing the kingdom of God – living in the life of Christ, experiencing God’s presence and love - now. We can use these resources in so many ways to glorify God. Whether it is making school or health kits or filling them; walking from Watkins to Norway in the CROP walk or sponsoring those who do; volunteering our time at Bidwell-Riverside or helping out with the Bazaar; going on a mission trip to South or Central America or writing a check for one of the special Sunday offerings; providing music for worship or breaking up cement; cooking breakfast or drying dishes; teaching a lesson or leading a song; inviting others to church or giving them a ride; baking pies or eating them - all are important and necessary in being the church. I can’t begin to mention them all.
Our contacts (all those people in our address books) are resources, too. Maybe we can ask them to speak to a Sunday School class or other group in the church. Maybe they can help with a project or be a resource for ideas or information. What are your resources? Who are the people you know? How can you use them to serve others and glorify God?
And what about your experiences? We all have a past. Good or bad – our experiences make us who we are today. Some people give themselves credit for the good things that happen to them and blame God for the bad. The reality is that we are not responsible for all the good things, and God doesn’t cause the bad things that we experience, even though God is always at work to use those experiences – good and bad – to fulfill God’s purposes.
Some of you have experienced devastating things in your life: perhaps the death of someone very close to you, a divorce, the loss of a job, or whatever. Your life was turned upside down. But you made it through it all. Might God use you today or tomorrow to help someone going through the very same thing? You bet! In fact, God probably has plans to do just that.
Some of you may, in the past, have been involved in doing something for the church. Maybe your experience wasn’t good – not because you were doing anything wrong, but because you were doing the wrong thing. What others are to do may not be what God intends me to do. But God does expect me to do something – and has in fact already provided the resources for me to do it. I may already know what they are not, I just need to find out what they are!
When you think about it, all our experiences – family experiences, work experiences, all our relationships and circumstances – are components of who we are and what we might do. Everything in life prepares us for our ministry. In that sense our experiences, good and bad, all draw us closer to God, and as we see God use them for God’s purposes, we develop a better understanding of God’s will I our lives.
What experiences and circumstances in your life might be used for God’s purposes?
Jesus has called us to love and in so doing, to bear fruit in this community and in the world. He urges his followers to make a difference. To do that, we must use our resources, our experiences and our circumstances for God and for others. What does it mean to be a Christian?
Mark Twain said the difference between a word and the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. United Methodist Bishop, William Willimon has said, “Christians are those who, through baptism, have signed on, have publicly committed themselves, to obey Jesus.” The late Dr. Paul Sherer once said, “The fundamental joy of being a Christian consists not in being good. But in standing with God against some darkness or some void and watching the light come.”
If nothing else today, remember this: God has chosen you. God is with you and in you, and God is empowering you. You see, as committed Christians we are not doing our work. We're not even doing God's work. God is doing God's work through us!
That's why Jesus makes the astounding statement that the Father will give us whatever we ask in his name--not anything we want, not anything that we might try to do, but what God wants and wills to do through us.
And that is to love God’s creation.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
October 14, 2007 Readings
Romans 8:28 (The Message)
28That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
John 15:9-17 (The Message)
9-10"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.
11-15"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.
16"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
17"But remember the root command: Love one another.
28That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
John 15:9-17 (The Message)
9-10"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.
11-15"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.
16"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
17"But remember the root command: Love one another.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
October 7, 2007 Message
Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 23:11-12 (The Message)
The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss: Bartholomew and the Oobteck
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:14-15, “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.” Here now, is the prayer, from the preceding verse, which Jesus was referring to (as it appears in The Message by Eugene Peterson.
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Keep us forgiven with you - and forgiving others.
Hear us always say, “I’m sorry” – and just as often say, “It’s okay.”
(Holding up a baggie of green ‘slime,’ say to everyone:)
"King Derwin's magicians came up with Oobleck, something like this green slime."
"We see this as something fun, but imagine if it were falling from the sky like rain or snow. What would happen to us then, or to our houses, or to our cars? In the Kingdom of Didd, it messed up everything, didn’t it? No one could move. No one could cook. No one could go to work or play music. It wouldn’t be much fun, then, would it?”
"Bartholomew was just a boy, but he knew how much of a problem Oobleck could be. He thought King Derwin had made a mis-take, and he told him so. The king is not alone. Once during a children's sermon, the leader asked, "What is the Bible about?" A child respond-ed, "It's all about good people." That’s not exactly right, is it?
The Bible is full of stories of people who make mis-takes. This is what makes the Bible so real to us, because we know that in real life everyone makes mistakes. Through-out the Bible we find people who were not so good, who made mistakes and errors in judgment, people who gave in to temptation, who surrendered to the lust for power. It started way back with Adam, and included the likes of: Jacob, Moses, David, Peter and Paul. At some point, in order to move on, each and every one had to summon the humility and courage to say the magic words: "I'm sorry." Whether they were a king or not didn't matter.
Read the summary of Bartholomew and the Oobleck on pages 60-62 of The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss.
Bartholomew and the Oobleck is a story about a king who has a problem. In addition to having trouble admitting he was wrong, King Derwin of the Kingdom of Didd, has trouble being content with what he has and has become upset with, of all things, the sky.
Every year, the sky produced rain in the spring- sunshine in the summer - fog in the autumn - and, of course, snow in the win-ter. But the king was bored with them all. He wanted something new. Bartholomew tried to tell him though he couldn’t rule the sky.
But the king would not take no for an answer. He called on his magicians to work on something. Against Bartho-lomew's advice, the magicians promised the king that the next day he would have his wish. It would come in the form of a sub-stance called "oobleck."
Sure enough, the king awakens to the sight of little green drops of oobleck raining down from the sky. He is so happy he declares a holiday and orders the bell ringer to ring the bell. But the bell won't ring, because it's covered with the sticky green stuff. Then the trumpeter tries to sound an alarm, but his trumpet gets clogged up with oobleck.
Oobleck sounded like a good idea, but soon it caused more trouble than it was worth and literally gummed up the works of the entire Kingdom of Didd. Cooks couldn’t cook; fiddlers couldn’t fiddle; no one could do anything. Everyone’s stuck and it keeps coming.
The wise Bartholomew tells King Derwin he can end this whole disaster by saying two simple words: "I'm sorry." But the king can't do it. He’s too proud to admit being wrong.
Bartholomew looks him straight in the eye and says, "You may be a mighty king. But you're sitting in oobleck up to your chin. And so is everyone else in your land. And if you won't even say you're sorry, you're no sort of a king at all!"
Finally, the king acknowledges that Bartholomew is right and says the magic words. The oobleck disappears, and all is well with the kingdom again. All of a sud-den, rain, sun, fog, and snow don't seem so bad anymore.
What was the big mistake that King Derwin made?
King Derwin's had his magicians come up with something different – Oobleck.
What happened as a result?
The oobleck quite literally gummed up the works of the entire Kingdom of Didd.
]How were people hurt by what the King did?
No one could do anything. They were stuck.
Who talked the king into changing his mind?
Bartholomew
Bartholomew told the king that he only had to say two words to make the Oobleck go away.
What were they?
"That's right. The two words the king had to say were 'I'm sorry.' He didn't want to say them though, did he? He didn't want to admit that he had made a mistake.
King Derwin of Didd is fictional, but his inability to say "I'm sorry" is all too real. In fact, for many of us, those two short words can be among the hard-est words to say. Oh, they're not so hard to say when we are late for an appointment or accidentally step on someone's toe. We say, "Sorry about that," and a minute later it's forgotten. But what about the father who real-izes that many of his adult children’s problems are the result of his having been too busy to spend time with them when they needed him most? Or what about the mother who for years has emotionally abused her children? What about the long-time friend who, in a moment of weakness or bad judg-ment, betrays a trust? What about….?
Aren’t we far too often like King Derwin, not wanting to admit it when we've made a mistake. We would rather blame it on others or pretend that everything is all right. And yet, saying 'I'm sorry' to the people we have hurt and to God is the first step toward fixing the mistakes we have made. I can think of times I needed to say I’m sorry, and didn’t. I imagine you can as well.
Ours is a merciful, loving God who is always ready to forgive us when we admit that we have done something wrong and say, 'I'm sorry.' And that is good news indeed!
And just as importantly, as we learn in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35, God expects us to forgive others as well. In this way we can clean up - or get rid of - the ‘Oobleck’ that is created when we make mistakes.
Act out the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. Choose youth/adults to act out the parts of the king, the first servant, the second servant, and the other servants.
Matthew 18:23-35 (The Message)
Jesus: The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a large debt.
The king: John, you own me one hundred thousand dollars. Pay up!”
The first servant: “I can’t Sire, I don’t have that much money.”
The king: “Guards, take this man, his wife and all his children to the slave market and auction them off and bring me the money!”
Jesus: The poor servant threw himself at the king's feet and begged for mercy.
The first servant: “No Sire, not that. Give me another chance and I'll pay it all back.”
The king: “Okay, I’ll take pity on you. Your debt is forgiven. You can go.
Jesus: "The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded,
The first servant: “You own me ten dollars. Pay up. Now!”
Jesus: "The second servant threw himself down and begged,”
The second servant: “Oh, please, give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.”
The first servant: “No way. Pay me. Now! You can rot in jail unless I get my money.”
Jesus: “When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. The king summoned the man and said,
The king: “You wicked servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. You should be as forgiving to your fellow servant who asked for your mercy? Guards, torture this servant until I get what is owed me.
Jesus: “And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for forgiveness.”
It's one thing to say, "I'm sorry"; it's another to say, "I forgive you." Yet, both are critical. For without forgiveness, the connection remains broken. And just in case you’re wondering, this means forgetting as well. If we can-’t forget, how can we fully forgive and move on? Those who don’t know how to for-give others can’t possibly experience the freeing power that comes from being forgiven. It’s in forgiving, we not only free others, but we also free ourselves to live on.
Saying "I'm sorry" are freeing words indeed, as are the words "I forgive you."
May we all be free today, free indeed!
The Gospel According To Dr. Seuss: Bartholomew and the Oobteck
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:14-15, “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part.” Here now, is the prayer, from the preceding verse, which Jesus was referring to (as it appears in The Message by Eugene Peterson.
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Keep us forgiven with you - and forgiving others.
Hear us always say, “I’m sorry” – and just as often say, “It’s okay.”
(Holding up a baggie of green ‘slime,’ say to everyone:)
"King Derwin's magicians came up with Oobleck, something like this green slime."
"We see this as something fun, but imagine if it were falling from the sky like rain or snow. What would happen to us then, or to our houses, or to our cars? In the Kingdom of Didd, it messed up everything, didn’t it? No one could move. No one could cook. No one could go to work or play music. It wouldn’t be much fun, then, would it?”
"Bartholomew was just a boy, but he knew how much of a problem Oobleck could be. He thought King Derwin had made a mis-take, and he told him so. The king is not alone. Once during a children's sermon, the leader asked, "What is the Bible about?" A child respond-ed, "It's all about good people." That’s not exactly right, is it?
The Bible is full of stories of people who make mis-takes. This is what makes the Bible so real to us, because we know that in real life everyone makes mistakes. Through-out the Bible we find people who were not so good, who made mistakes and errors in judgment, people who gave in to temptation, who surrendered to the lust for power. It started way back with Adam, and included the likes of: Jacob, Moses, David, Peter and Paul. At some point, in order to move on, each and every one had to summon the humility and courage to say the magic words: "I'm sorry." Whether they were a king or not didn't matter.
Read the summary of Bartholomew and the Oobleck on pages 60-62 of The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss.
Bartholomew and the Oobleck is a story about a king who has a problem. In addition to having trouble admitting he was wrong, King Derwin of the Kingdom of Didd, has trouble being content with what he has and has become upset with, of all things, the sky.
Every year, the sky produced rain in the spring- sunshine in the summer - fog in the autumn - and, of course, snow in the win-ter. But the king was bored with them all. He wanted something new. Bartholomew tried to tell him though he couldn’t rule the sky.
But the king would not take no for an answer. He called on his magicians to work on something. Against Bartho-lomew's advice, the magicians promised the king that the next day he would have his wish. It would come in the form of a sub-stance called "oobleck."
Sure enough, the king awakens to the sight of little green drops of oobleck raining down from the sky. He is so happy he declares a holiday and orders the bell ringer to ring the bell. But the bell won't ring, because it's covered with the sticky green stuff. Then the trumpeter tries to sound an alarm, but his trumpet gets clogged up with oobleck.
Oobleck sounded like a good idea, but soon it caused more trouble than it was worth and literally gummed up the works of the entire Kingdom of Didd. Cooks couldn’t cook; fiddlers couldn’t fiddle; no one could do anything. Everyone’s stuck and it keeps coming.
The wise Bartholomew tells King Derwin he can end this whole disaster by saying two simple words: "I'm sorry." But the king can't do it. He’s too proud to admit being wrong.
Bartholomew looks him straight in the eye and says, "You may be a mighty king. But you're sitting in oobleck up to your chin. And so is everyone else in your land. And if you won't even say you're sorry, you're no sort of a king at all!"
Finally, the king acknowledges that Bartholomew is right and says the magic words. The oobleck disappears, and all is well with the kingdom again. All of a sud-den, rain, sun, fog, and snow don't seem so bad anymore.
What was the big mistake that King Derwin made?
King Derwin's had his magicians come up with something different – Oobleck.
What happened as a result?
The oobleck quite literally gummed up the works of the entire Kingdom of Didd.
]How were people hurt by what the King did?
No one could do anything. They were stuck.
Who talked the king into changing his mind?
Bartholomew
Bartholomew told the king that he only had to say two words to make the Oobleck go away.
What were they?
"That's right. The two words the king had to say were 'I'm sorry.' He didn't want to say them though, did he? He didn't want to admit that he had made a mistake.
King Derwin of Didd is fictional, but his inability to say "I'm sorry" is all too real. In fact, for many of us, those two short words can be among the hard-est words to say. Oh, they're not so hard to say when we are late for an appointment or accidentally step on someone's toe. We say, "Sorry about that," and a minute later it's forgotten. But what about the father who real-izes that many of his adult children’s problems are the result of his having been too busy to spend time with them when they needed him most? Or what about the mother who for years has emotionally abused her children? What about the long-time friend who, in a moment of weakness or bad judg-ment, betrays a trust? What about….?
Aren’t we far too often like King Derwin, not wanting to admit it when we've made a mistake. We would rather blame it on others or pretend that everything is all right. And yet, saying 'I'm sorry' to the people we have hurt and to God is the first step toward fixing the mistakes we have made. I can think of times I needed to say I’m sorry, and didn’t. I imagine you can as well.
Ours is a merciful, loving God who is always ready to forgive us when we admit that we have done something wrong and say, 'I'm sorry.' And that is good news indeed!
And just as importantly, as we learn in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35, God expects us to forgive others as well. In this way we can clean up - or get rid of - the ‘Oobleck’ that is created when we make mistakes.
Act out the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. Choose youth/adults to act out the parts of the king, the first servant, the second servant, and the other servants.
Matthew 18:23-35 (The Message)
Jesus: The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a large debt.
The king: John, you own me one hundred thousand dollars. Pay up!”
The first servant: “I can’t Sire, I don’t have that much money.”
The king: “Guards, take this man, his wife and all his children to the slave market and auction them off and bring me the money!”
Jesus: The poor servant threw himself at the king's feet and begged for mercy.
The first servant: “No Sire, not that. Give me another chance and I'll pay it all back.”
The king: “Okay, I’ll take pity on you. Your debt is forgiven. You can go.
Jesus: "The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded,
The first servant: “You own me ten dollars. Pay up. Now!”
Jesus: "The second servant threw himself down and begged,”
The second servant: “Oh, please, give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.”
The first servant: “No way. Pay me. Now! You can rot in jail unless I get my money.”
Jesus: “When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. The king summoned the man and said,
The king: “You wicked servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. You should be as forgiving to your fellow servant who asked for your mercy? Guards, torture this servant until I get what is owed me.
Jesus: “And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for forgiveness.”
It's one thing to say, "I'm sorry"; it's another to say, "I forgive you." Yet, both are critical. For without forgiveness, the connection remains broken. And just in case you’re wondering, this means forgetting as well. If we can-’t forget, how can we fully forgive and move on? Those who don’t know how to for-give others can’t possibly experience the freeing power that comes from being forgiven. It’s in forgiving, we not only free others, but we also free ourselves to live on.
Saying "I'm sorry" are freeing words indeed, as are the words "I forgive you."
May we all be free today, free indeed!
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