tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-150585302024-03-13T04:08:51.884-07:00Retired & ThinkingMy blog has changed direction with my retirement. I continue to find things in our world that need careful thought and understanding. Many will prove to be inconsequential. Others may be earth-shattering. However, God is on His throne and in charge... and in that alone, we trust and rely.
Peace
AlanAlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-18885244289222859402021-05-29T21:37:00.002-07:002021-05-29T21:55:10.794-07:00Escaping the Night<p> </p><p class="SermonBody">Concetta Antico is a rarity. She has a fourth type of cone
in her eye which enables her to see some 99 million colors, where most of us
see about a million,<a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
An eagle can see a rabbit from about 2 miles away. Then again their vision is eight-times
that of ours. Polar bears can track seals by smell for 20+ kilometers<a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>.
My dog, Missy, heard my dad’s truck turn onto our street which was about .2 of
a mile. It gave her time to jump out of my dad’s chair, stretch, and leisurely
greet him at the door. That’s because dogs hear higher frequencies than we do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Right now, few, if any of us give a thought about the sheer
numbers of things that are touching us and we have no control over it. Various
electromagnet waves from TV, radio, Wi-Fi, light, sound, and all the rest of a
reality we can’t understand because it is hard to learn all that needs to be
understood. And when you start thinking about quantum mechanics things get even
more complicated in my case. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Spiritual Reality</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">I am going to make a guess that most of us believe in the
reality of a spiritual realm. Worship is the means God uses to tell us about
His Kingdom and our responsibilities. There are those who ‘dabble’ in the
spiritual realm. They don’t really believe but they spend time <i>looking into</i>
crystals, unfocused meditation, and even witchcraft at one extreme.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">I contend that the only way to experience a meaningful
connection with the real ‘Spiritual’ realm is through the work of Jesus, God’s
Son. And His work only makes sense after his glorification. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">Grave Situations</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The prophet is in a grave situation in chapter 6 because he
finds himself smack dab, center stage, before the throne of God, Almighty.
Seraphim hide their eyes as the Lord resides on His throne. Isaiah knew what
happened to those who ‘saw’ God—they ceased to exist. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses escaped this because God Himself
shielded him as God moved by him. Here, God is seen, and Isaiah knows his life
is forfeit. He is a sinner, and everyone he knows, all of Israel are sinners as
well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no escape. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Then one of the seraphim brings a hot coal to Isaiah
touching Isaiah’s lips says, “<i>your guilt is taken away </i>and <i>your sin
atoned for”. </i>This act of God’s grace transforms this prophet from
condemnation to being accepted in God’s presence. As Isaiah remains God’s voice
that thunders and He asks, “<i>Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”</i> to
which he says, <i>“Send me.”</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Nicodemus is also in a grave situation but, unlike Isaiah,
he doesn’t realize it. There are no heavenly beings crying out “Holy, holy,
holy” or smoke-filled temple. There is only nighttime in Israel with this
big-name Pharisee Nicodemus comes to speak with this Jesus. Nicodemus just
can’t figure out this Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The Gospel of John is a very ‘relational gospel’. Jesus has
conversations with individuals in order to teach. Here it is <i>“the teacher of
Israel”</i> and in chapter 4 a disgraced Samaritan woman. Keep this in mind as
you read through the gospel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">It takes about three minutes or so to read these verses. Do
you think they only chatted for three minutes? No. I imagine it lasted a few
hours and this snippet is what the Holy Spirit lays on John to record. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Jesus begins by sidetracking Nicodemus and simply telling
him what it takes to have eternal life. But Nicodemus seems to totally miss
Jesus’ point. He isn’t the first or last to misunderstand what Jesus was
saying. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The NPR show, <i>Whad’ya Know</i> began the same way, each
week. Michael Feldman would ask the audience, “Whad’ya know?” and the audience
would respond, “Not much, you?” I can imagine Nicodemus not knowing much as
Jesus says <i>““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot
see the kingdom of God.”</i> And then afterward (v 7) <i>“Do not marvel that I
said to you, ‘You must be born again’</i> and follows up with <i>“So it is with
everyone who is born of the Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Nicodemus finds himself unable to deal with the strangeness
of Jesus’ comments. Finally, he is forced to ask, <i>“What does all this mean?”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Empty Tombs</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Isaiah is brought through his grave situation by the touch
of the coal that cleanses him. Nicodemus seems to be left stranded, but Jesus
demonstrates to him the reason why eternal life resides only in Jesus. He does
this by making it clear that this rabbi knows a lot more than <i>“the teacher
of Israel”.</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Verse 11 <i>“Truly, truly, I say to you, <b>we speak</b> of
what <b>we know</b>, and <b>bear witness</b> to what <b>we</b> <b>have seen</b>,
but <b>you do not receive our testimony</b>.”</i> This is the second Amen, amen
statement of Jesus. The best explanation of the phrase “truly, truly” is “what
I am going to say to you now is certainly true”<a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
What Jesus knows is perfect and total. Nicodemus might recognize Jesus has a
connection with God because of what Jesus has done, but he isn’t able to
testify to Jesus’ Sonship. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Jesus’ experiential knowledge of His identity and He can
express this truth whenever it suits Him. His use of ‘we’ is not a reference to
his disciples but is the royal ‘we’ as my mom called it. As in “We are not
amused”. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Isaiah is undone in the presence of God. Nicodemus merely
wonders at this rabbi. Unlike Nicodemus, who just enters into a conversation,
Isaiah is horrified, his life is over as far as he is concerned, his sin is too
great. But God provides that which atones for his sin. There is no such awe or
recognition by Nicodemus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;">Nicodemus had approached Jesus with a certain amount of
respect (v. 2), but he had not even begun to appreciate who Jesus really was.
At the bottom, Nicodemus’s failure was not a failure of intellect but a failure to
believe Jesus’ witness.”<a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Jesus refers to Numbers 21 in verse 14. The people
complained against God and Moses and God sent snakes into their midst. Many
died but God relented and had Moses create a shake and put it on a pole. When
Moses held aloft the pole with the attached serpent those who had been bitten
and looked at the pole lived. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The snake was a portent for the future when the plan of God
for the redemption of His creation would come to fulfillment in His Son, Jesus.
So too, the work of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is the only means whereby one can receive eternal life. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">We hear of Nicodemus twice more. In 7:50 he asks an angry
group of Jewish leaders if it is right to judge someone without a hearing. He
is slapped down hard by his fellow Pharisees. In John 19:38 Nicodemus helps
another secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus for burial. We do
not know what shaped Nicodemus or moved him from a nighttime visit to joining
with others to honor their crucified Lord. Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="SermonBody"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Footnotes</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>:</b></span></p><p class="SermonBody"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Griffiths</span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Le Gallou</span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Newman and Nida</span></li><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carson 199</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="SermonBody"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">Works Cited</b></p><p class="SermonHeadings"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. Leicester,
England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991. Print. The
Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Griffiths, Sarah. "Artist Sees 100 Times More
Coulours." Daily Mail 2014. Web. 28 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Le Gallou, Sam. "How Far Away Can Dogs Smell And Hear? |
Faculty Of Sciences | University Of Adelaide." Sciences.adelaide.edu.au
2020. Web. 26 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Newman, Barclay Moon, and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on
the Gospel of John. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993. Print. UBS Handbook
Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Works Consulted</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles
Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon 1977 :
Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Burge, Gary M. John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2000. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Butterworth, I., 2015. The Gift. [online] Sermon
Central. Available at: <</span><a href="https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-gift-isaac-butterworth-sermon-on-new-birth-194245"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-gift-isaac-butterworth-sermon-on-new-birth-194245</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">> [Accessed 22 May 2021].<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. Leicester,
England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991. Print. The
Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Fredrikson, Roger L., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. John. Vol.
27. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary
Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Galli, Mark. Jesus Mean And Wild. Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Baker Books, 2008. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Garrity, Amanda. "How To Get Blood Out Of Clothes
Fast." Good Housekeeping. 2021. Web. 26 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Griffiths, Sarah. "Artist Sees 100 Times More
Coulours." Daily Mail 2014. Web. 28 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hamilton, Stephen J. "Born Again": A
Portrait And Analysis Of The Doctrine Of Regeneration Within Evangelical
Protestantism. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2017. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Heschmeyer, Joe. "Leonard Cohen, The
Christ-Haunted." First Things blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2016. Web. 26 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Iceland Review. "Lost Woman Looks For Herself In
Iceland’s Highlands." Iceland Review 2012. Web. 26 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kanagaraj, Jey J. John. Ed. Michael F. Bird and Craig
Keener. Vol. 4. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2013. Print. New Covenant Commentary
Series 51.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Le Gallou, Sam. "How Far Away Can Dogs Smell And
Hear? | Faculty Of Sciences | University Of Adelaide."
Sciences.adelaide.edu.au 2020. Web. 26 May 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Newman, Barclay Moon, and Eugene Albert Nida. A
Handbook on the Gospel of John. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993. Print.
UBS Handbook Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Snyder, Benjamin J. “Clean and Unclean.” Ed. Douglas
Mangum et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014 : n. pag. Print. Lexham Bible
Reference Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Griffiths<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Le
Gallou<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Newman and Nida <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///D:/Documents/1-Church%20Files%20Worship/1%20Teaching%20files%20by%20years/2021/20210530_sermon_trinity%20sunday%20.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Carson 199<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-16476754054905382152021-02-06T17:24:00.000-08:002021-02-06T17:24:06.144-08:00Following Christ<p> Tim Wu in his 2016 book <i>“Attention Merchants”</i> as a
world in which “You don’t sell things to people, you sell people to advertisers
(Wu in Harris).” Google, Microsoft, and Facebook didn’t invent the idea, they
just took it to another level. The start
was in the 1830s with the birth of the <i>New York Sun</i>. They undersold
their competition, charging a penny, and funded the production of their
newspaper with advertising sales. What made them <i>really </i>unique was they
went after news that appealed to the masses, “This meant stories about
‘melancholy’, suicides, and lewd murders. Anything to grab eyeballs (Harris).” According
to Forbes, and other marketing journals, most of us saw 4,000 to 10,000 ads each
day. You may not even realize some were advertisements.</p><p class="SermonBody"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Last year was hard for many people. Even those like myself
who were out in public found things to be strange and odd. Activities, events,
vacations, parties, family gatherings, even funerals had the chance to explode
into horrible centers of disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
lives became subject to the whims of a new virus and the learning curve it took
us through. <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;"><i>“Last year was a year of <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;">again</span>. Each day in 2020 dawned and we got to
work again, feed and homeschooled our children again, watched
COVID-19 numbers rise again, wondered “When will this be over? “again (Kerhoulas<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;">)</span>.”</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">This was a piece in <i>Christianity Today</i> just a couple
of weeks ago. About 2021, she notes, “[P]erhaps these unyielding months of the
pandemic have…Our lives are full of monotony and repetition, and they always
will be (ibid.).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">I believe our texts this morning demonstrate that God has a
different <i>pace</i> about Himself. Incarnate, Jesus shows us a different
discipline than we have and that the outcome of these two means that God’s
blessings are different than we realize.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><b>God’s Pace</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">I’ve told you about Bob Mumford’s example of patience and
training a dog to fetch. The dog isn’t trained when he doesn’t run after the
stick but strains forward, ready to go. Training is done when the stick is
tossed, and the dog remains relaxed and unmoved until ordered to ‘fetch’. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">One of the leaders of <i>Open Doors</i> ministry, which
works for persecuted Christians met Pastor Wang Ming Dao who stood firm for
Christ until his death in ’91. The Chinese pastor asked Ronald, “Young man, how
do you walk with God (Boyd-McMillian 13)?” Reflecting on this he asked, “How
can I talk about the Christian life as walking with God when I so often live it
at a sprint (ibid.)?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">During Ming Dao’s 20-year imprisonment by the Chinese, the pastor commented that it had become a place of “unchosen, unhurried time… There
was nothing to do but to be in God's presence (ibid.).” He summarized his
learning from Wang Dao by writing, <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><i>"One of the keys to the faith of the suffering church: God
does things slowly…We are too quick. We have so much to do—so much in fact we
never really commune with God as he intended (Boyd-MacMillan)."</i></span></p></blockquote></blockquote>
<p class="SermonBody">Ming Dao’s prison was our 2020 but his lasted 20-years.
Will we learn from it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><b>God’s Discipline</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The gospel of Mark has Jesus going to Peter’s home and
healing Peter’s mother-in-law. After Sabbath, in the evening the news of the
exorcism and Peter’s MIL caused others to gather at Peter’s home and Jesus
healed many of them. Early the next morning Jesus leaves the rest of the
household and goes out to a ‘desolate’ place and prays. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Why does Jesus do this? It’s not to regain His power. It’s
not to meditate and empty Himself of all the stress. It is to talk with His
Father about His next steps. Did you know that Satan wasn’t the only tempter
Jesus faced? Right here, He is tempted by those who would be His disciples to
return to Peter’s house. Come back Jesus, we have more people to heal. Pretty
soon they’ll be coming from all over. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">God’s word to His Son was to move into other towns and
preach <i>“for that is why I came out”</i> v38. U2’s <i>“Where the Streets have
no Names”</i> took over 40% of the time spent on their album <i>The Joshua Tree</i>.
The producer, Brian Eno, was so disgusted with the amount of energy being
expended he wanted the whole tape destroyed and start over. “There’s a part of
Eno that likes instant gratification. He’d rather throw something difficult
away and start something new (Songfacts).” Bono did not like the lyrics. He
calls them a “sketch…I just wouldn’t have rhymed ‘hide’ with ‘inside’ (Daly).” Bono
explains that the context of the song comes from Africa, specifically Ethiopia
where he and his wife worked in an orphanage. <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><i>"In the desert, we meet God. In parched times, in fire and
flood, we discover who we are. That’s my prayer, by the way…Do you want to go
to that other place… where the streets have no name (Wenner).”</i></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Bono’s musical invitation is that alone time that he
learned from other believers in his life. It is the invitation Jesus offers to
Andrew and John when they ask about where Jesus is saying, <i>“Come and see”</i>.
It is found in Christ’s offer to the fishermen, <i>“I will make you fishers of
men”.</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">If you an introvert you may be saying, <i>Yes!!!</i> Don’t
confuse God’s invitation to a desolate place and prayer as being by yourself,
eating food deliveries, and only video chatting. When Jesus is done with this
desolate place He goes out into the world. Verse 39 says, <i>“And he went
throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”</i>
There is a call to being apart, but it is a call that leads us into
involvement. We can’t have one without the other. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><b>God’s Blessing</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Isaiah shows us some of the blessings of God when we walk
at His pace and practice His disciplines. In the midst of the difficulties of
life <i>“Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings like eagles.” </i>We have heard this verse dozens of times.
What does it mean to <i>wait upon the Lord</i>? Does it mean going to a
conference, prayer retreats, giving alms, or something else? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">We wait upon God’s timing. As we wait, we remember that
time doesn’t exist for God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He
is not above time; He is outside of time. He is its very creator in all it’s
mysteries. He knows it all. Psalm 139:4 says, <i>“Even before a word is on my
tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”</i> Altogether means God knows
the very intentions of everything we say. Not just the ones we admit to
ourselves but the responses and reactions that flow from dark, deep places in
our souls. He knows it <i>ALL!</i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">It never gets old for God. Come to God with the same a
dozen times a day and God doesn’t tire of forgiving us. God doesn’t tire of
loving us. God doesn’t tire, or regret sending His Son to die for us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Let me take us back to the beginning of this message where
I talked about our last year being a<i> ‘year of again’</i>, one of monotony.
G. K. Chesterton pointed out that God understands and celebrates those who are
like a child. The child who wants the same book read repeatedly. Or who loves
being tossed up in the air and caught “Do it again” they squeal. To the
parents, grandparents, and stuffy adults who won’t repeat their desire
Chesterton writes:<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpFirst"><i>"For grown-up people are not strong enough to
exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is
possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and
every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. </i><i>It may not be automatic necessity that makes all
daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never
got tired of making them <o:p></o:p>(Chesterton)."</i></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpFirst"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Praise God for Jesus’ love; God’s love; the love from the
Holy Spirit who lives within us repeatedly forgives, sustains, nurtures, and
covers us day-after-day. Let us pray and prepare to come to the Lord’s Table.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Works
Cited</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Boyd-MacMillan,
Ronald. Faith That Endures. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Fleming H. Revell, 2006.
Print. 13-14.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Chesterton,
G. K. Orthodoxy. Serenity Publishers, 2008. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Daly,
Rhian. "Bono Says, 'Where The Streets Have No Name' Is 'Unfinished'."
Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. 2017. Web. 5 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Harris,
Michael. "Review: Tim Wu’s The Attention Merchants Charts The Battle For
Our Mental Landscape." The Globe and Mail. 2016. Web. 5 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Kerhoulas,
Anne. "What Another Year of Routine Teaches us About God."
Christianity Today 2021: Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Wenner,
Jann S. "Bono: The Rolling Stone Interview." RollingStone 2005. Web.
6 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">"Where
The Streets Have No Name By U2 - Songfacts." Songfacts.com. Web. 5 Feb.
2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Wu,
Tim. Attention Merchants. Atlantic Books, 2017. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><b><span style="color: #385623; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Work’s
Consulted<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Boyd-MacMillan,
Ronald. Faith That Endures. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Fleming H. Revell, 2006.
Print. 13-14.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Chesterton,
G. K. Orthodoxy. Serenity Publishers, 2008. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Daly,
Rhian. "Bono Says, 'Where The Streets Have No Name' Is 'Unfinished'."
Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. 2017. Web. 5 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Gibbs,
Alexandra. "MEDIA New TV Binge-Watching World Record Set at 94
Hours." CNBC.com. 2016. Web. 5 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Gladwell,
Malcolm. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference. Little
Brown and Company, 2000. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Harris,
Michael. "Review: Tim Wu’s The Attention Merchants Charts The Battle For
Our Mental Landscape." The Globe and Mail. 2016. Web. 5 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Kerhoulas,
Anne. "What Another Year of Routine Teaches us About God."
Christianity Today 2021: Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Merida,
Kevin. "Gut Instinct." The Washington Post 2002: 10. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Scifres,
Mary, and B. J. Beu. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021: Worship Planning
Resources for Every Sunday of the Year. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2020. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Wenner,
Jann S. "Bono: The Rolling Stone Interview." RollingStone 2005. Web.
6 Feb. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">"Where
The Streets Have No Name By U2 - Songfacts." Songfacts.com. Web. 5 Feb.
2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Wu,
Tim. Attention Merchants. Atlantic Books, 2017. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-8931579346096621012021-01-28T09:59:00.001-08:002021-01-28T10:08:40.837-08:00Grace:Unexpected, Unappreciated, and Unused<p> Dave Boon and his wife June and a 13-year-old boy, Gary
Martinez were headed to a youth group ski trip when they were slammed over a
guardrail by tons of snow avalanching down the hillside. It was tossed clear of
the avalanche by a tree that the car struck and was left upside-down and
pointed back up the hill. Freeing themselves, they were amazed there were no
serious injuries.</p><p class="SermonBody"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">In reflecting on the accident David said, “<span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The signs say,
'Avalanche Area, No Stopping,' We've driven by their hundreds of times…. We
have skied avalanche chutes, worn (emergency) beepers, always carried an
avalanche shovel. We've seen avalanches. But in our wildest dreams, we never
imagined getting hit in a car by one (O’Driscoll)."</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Unexpected</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Jesus comes as the unexpected one. His incarnation was
debated, prayed for, and sought but as the warrior king who would displace
Rome. N.T. Wright wrote, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote>"Christmas is not about the living God coming to tell
us everything's all right. John's gospel isn't about Jesus speaking the truth
and everyone saying: "Of course! Why didn't we realize it before?" It
is about God shining his clear, bright torch into the darkness of our world,
our lives, our hearts, our imaginations—and the darkness not comprehending it.
It's about God, God as a little child, speaking words of truth, and nobody
knowing what he's talking about (Wright)."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">John 1:11 says it best, <i>“He came to his own, and his own
people did not receive him.”</i> But do we receive Him? Not the Jesus we <i>want
</i>Him but as who He is? America’s Four Gods is a 2010 book in which two
Baylor professors attempt to define and describe our view of ‘moral authority’.
Their novel study method was to extrapolate their answers by “our conception of
God to determine whether and how our theological ideas matter for politics and
culture (Anderson). Their multiple conception of god flows out of an 85%
agreement that God is loving. From this comes a concept of god that is
authoritative, benevolent, critical, or distant. None of them reflect the <i>“only
begotten son”</i> of the gospels.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">From the gospel, recall Jesus’ sermon in Nazareth in which
his neighbors say <i>“isn’t this Joseph’s boy”</i> Lu 4:22. Jonah expected God’s
to be gracious. That’s why he ran the opposite way the first time God called
him. Look at the beginning of chapter 4, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote><i>“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
And he prayed to the Lord … “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in
my country? …for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> 4:1-2.</span></i></blockquote><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span class="SermonHeadingsChar"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">Unappreciated</span></b></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Mark 6 Jesus
returns to Nazareth and is rejected. Verses 3-4 reads, “And they took offense
at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his
hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” The people knew
Jesus. Jesus was a known quantity. Everyone knew where Jesus was supposed to do
and what He was expected to say. Before we shake our heads at their lack of
faith let me ask, how much do we appreciate God’s grace? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Jonah knew God was gracious. Jonah never mentions
repentance at all in his message. Yet <i>“the people of Nineveh believed God.
They called for a fast and put-on sackcloth, from the greatest...to the least
of them”</i> 3:5. God’s graciousness seems to overflow when people repent. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Let me suggest you sit down this afternoon and read all of
Jonah. It is only four chapters but, spoiler alert it is the most unsatisfying
ending for a person chosen to preach God’s love. Like a three-year-old, Jonah
is left pouting on a hillside because God saved Nineveh.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Among
the attributes of God, though they are all equal, mercy shines with even more
brilliancy than justice (Cervantes).” But do we see that when the people who
are saved, preserved, rescued, or made whole people we don’t like? They may
well be people we don’t know. People who we are at odds with over politics,
morality, or anything else.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">What I’ve come across in the lives of many people,
including myself, is an attitude that says, “God will forgive me since I asked.
I know God wants me to change and I’d like to…<i>but not really.</i>”
Repentance and Grace go together. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote>"When grace introduces us to repentance, the two of
us become best friends. When anything else introduces us to repentance, it
feels like the warden has come to lock us up. But when grace gets involved, the
truths of repentance reveal a fabulous world of life-freeing beauty (Thrall,
McNicol and Lynch 155)."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">What I find even more bothersome is how easy it becomes to
separate my faith from any <i>lasting</i> change in my life. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Underused</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The Letter of James is not written to pagans but to
followers of Christ. Yet in 4:2-3, He writes, “You desire and do not have, so
you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not
have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask
wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” We have either heard or heard of
preachers who will teach, that if we ask for it in the name of Jesus. For some
people it seems that “in the name of Christ, Amen” is a spell to be cast that
obligates God to be our puppet. Rick gave me a great mug that says, “I can do all
things through a verse taken out of context”. That is so true. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">When was the last time you asked for God’s grace? Before I
started this sermon, I’d have been hard-pressed to answer that myself. We
expect God’s grace. We rely on God’s grace. We assume God’s grace. But have we
ever sought His grace or asked for His grace, or waited upon His grace? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">One reason for my hesitancy to use God’s grace is that I’ll
be expected to show grace to other people who I don’t really like. <i>“But I
say to you. You shall love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you so
you may be children of your Father who is in heaven”</i> Mt 5:44-45. A preacher
friend had an image of a cross on his checks, yes that dates us. He had the
bank remove them and he explained to me, “If I want to be butt to someone, I
don’t want them to know I’m a Christian.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">I pray that God’s grace will surprise us in unexpected
ways. I pray we might become appreciative of God’s loving-kindness that is ever-present through the Holy Spirit. I ask that we may not shy from seeking God’s
grace daily. Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="SermonBody"><br /></p>
<p class="SermonParts"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Works Cited</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Anderson,
Matthew Lee. "America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--And What that
Says about Us." <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">ChristianityToday.com</span>.
2010. Web. 23 Jan. 2021.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">"Miguel De
Cervantes Quotes." Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 22 Jan. 2021. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">O'Driscoll, Patrick. "Avalanche Sends Travelers Tumbling".
USA Today 2007: 3a. Web. 22 Jan. 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Thrall, Bill, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch. True Faced. Navpress,
2003. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Wright, N.T. "What Is Our World." Christianity Today 2006:
Print.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-1993309932435168352021-01-17T10:19:00.000-08:002021-01-17T10:19:13.739-08:00God's Call<p> </p><p class="SermonBody"><span style="font-size: medium;">I started to add up the number of blocked calls on my cell
phone but stopped at 140 because I still had to write a sermon. We block calls
for a variety of reasons, but it calls down to this. ‘We don’t want to listen
to them.’ Both passages this morning deal with God’s calling of us to be His
people. These are positive examples of those who did ‘block’ God’s call but
sought to understand them and do what God says.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Samuel is awakened 3 times by a voice. The third time Eli,
Samuel’s mentor, tells him to answer the voice with <i>“Speak, for your servant
is listening”</i> (9). In the Gospel of John two followers of The Baptizer,
John points out to them ‘<i>the lamb of God’ </i>(36) so they follow and when
confronted by a simple question asks, <i>“Rabbi where are you staying”</i> (38)?
In the rest of the verses of John, you hear other calls to those who are
gathered.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>To what does God call us?</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are endless answers as to what or where God’s call leads. But His call will not
go against Jesus’ description of His people as salt and light to the world.
God’s call will not go against His teaching that says, <i>“But I say to you, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of
your Father who is in heaven” </i>(MT 5:44-45). Nor does God’s will for our
lives nullify Jesus’ command to love one another or His calling that we <i>will
be</i> His witnesses to the whole world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
believe that God’s calling brings about wholeness in the most perfect sense of
that word—peace or Shalom. God’s message to Samuel is to restore faithfulness
to the nation so that we read<i>, “Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The
guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering’”</i>
(1Sm 3:14). In John, the wholeness produced is that of God’s call to a group of
men to become witnesses to things that change one’s name, like Peter and
changes one perception such as Nathaniel who will perceive the heavenly realm. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
culture would love to see wholeness break forth in so many places. We long for
the issue of race and the police, the politics of division, the cancel culture,
and a sense of being lost during this ongoing pandemic all to become places of
wholeness. And the good news says that in Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>How do we hear this call? </b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
perceive God’s call, you must hear it, listen to it, discern its application
and act on it. Reading God’s word is a classical way of hearing and
listening to God’s voice and call. But there are those still small voices that
speak God’s call into one’s life as well as the words of a wise elder or even a
2-year-old pulling on one’s preaching robe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most difficult part in my opinion is to discern when God is speaking and when
we’re telling ourselves what we want to hear God say. In 1995 Doug McClary and
I were in Toronto and experienced firsthand what was being called the blessing.
It was a time of personal healing and growth but the last night as we waited
for prayer, I convinced myself what I wanted God to say through the person
praying for me. It didn’t happen. The person came up, laid hands on me, and
simply said, “Renew his ministry”. That was the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
traveled from Toronto to Atlanta to attend the Pastor’s conference in the
Georgia Dome. Hanging one side of the platform is a huge banner of 2 Timothy
1:6 <i>“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the
laying on of my hands.”</i> It appears that God knows what I need better than I
do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hearing
God’s call is different than listening to God’s. Hearing is biological whereas
listening is an active reflection on what is heard as well as weighing the
messages within the hearing. We do this as we are still, seek and watch, pray,
stand ready, and we also need to have a lot of humility that we are hearing God
and not ourselves. And repent and confess when we share those things that did
not come from God but just make sense to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>Hearing God I transformative…</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eli is
faithful to God’s call and tells Eli about God’s impending judgment upon his
family. His obedience to God impacts how Samuel is seen by others, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;"><i>“The Lord was with Samuel as he
grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And
all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a
prophet of the Lord” (1Sm 3:19-20).</i></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John’s gospel is full of conversion that brings
about wholeness through the process of transformation. The disciples of John
the Baptizer find the Messiah. Jesus transforms Simon by renaming him Cephas
meaning rock (42). A day later Nathaniel is impressed that Jesus knew what he
had been doing before Philip invited him to come and see Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;"> <i>Jesus said, “You believe because I told
you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven
open, and the angels of God ascending and descending the ‘Son of Man’”
(Jn 3: 50-51).</i><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote>
<p class="SermonHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>Why entertain God’s call?</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The reason we seek God’s call is because of the title of
Jesus, “Lamb of God”. Where does your mind go when you hear lamb? I was raised
in a suburb. We didn't’ have lambs unless it was in a petting zoo but when John
used the word <i>lamb</i> among Jews the first thought they’d had would have
been food and sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Every morning and night a lamb was killed and offered to
God as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. What makes Jesus different is that
He is <b><i>The</i></b> Lamb <b><i>of</i></b> God. He not only belongs to God,
but Jesus comes from God to fulfill His calling to be the sacrifice for our
sins. No other religion I am aware of has God sacrificing their child for the
sins of humanity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Listen to the voices of our world and you will hear calls
to be fair, loving, selfish, greedy, altruistic, and to take care of number
one. Nowhere will you hear the answer to the eternal question, “what’s wrong
with me and us?” It is this wrongness that Jesus corrects on the cross. Seek
our Lord, to hear his call, and be His person that we may all receive His
blessing. Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-3020081320640377102021-01-01T10:35:00.000-08:002021-01-01T10:35:07.250-08:00Now that you're here, where do you go?<p> Apparently, 2020 was not strange enough to keep people from
stealing baby Jesus from nativity scenes from community and church displays.
From sorority sisters to the Walmart employee who posted a photo of himself
with the stolen statue of Jesus on Facebook (Cooper) and (Kulze). But it is not a new
phenomenon. December 1953, the year I was born. Detective Friday took on the
case of “The Big Little Jesus” on <i>Dragnet.</i> In this case, Friday and Smith
(this is before Harry Morgan was on the show) tell the priest they can’t find
Jesus.</p><p class="sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">In the midst of the dialogue a young boy, Paco Mendoza, shows
up with baby Jesus in a wagon. He had promised the Baby Jesus the first ride in
his new wagon for which he’d prayed. Father Rojas explains that Paco’s family
is poor to which Friday replies, “Are they Father (Snauffer)?” Case closed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">Jesus has been stolen as a prank or as an act of hatred. Paco fulfilled
his promise of the first ride in his new wagon. Sadder is that Jesus is often
just overlooked or ignored even during this season of His birth.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: TiepoloSCITCTT; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Disinterest<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="sermon">This disinterest is one of three responses to Jesus we see in
Matthew 2. That’s the response of those scribes whom Herod tasked with
researching Messiah and His birth. For them, it was a research problem to be
answered even though, as descendants of Abraham, they had a vested interest in
the coming of Messiah. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">The very ones who should be watching for Messiah missed Him.
The <i>People of God</i> missed God’s greatest gift of love and ends up being
upstaged by pagan stargazers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">The excuses I hear are, “I tried the ‘Jesus thing’ when I was
younger”. Or “I’m so busy keeping up with life I don’t have the (time, energy,
attention, etc.) to put into religion.” Others aren’t willing to take a stand
for Jesus because they know their world, friends, and even jobs, depend on
distancing themselves from Christ <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">, In my opinion, the saddest is the response like Beni, a wishy-washy character, in the 1999
movie <i>The Mummy. </i>Confronted with the creature Beni, presents various talismans from a necklace and prays or makes incantations to protect him. Finally, he
holds out a “Star of David” and in Hebrews says, "'<i>Do not fail to protect me’. </i>The mummy pauses and in ancient Egyptian answers 'The language of the slaves...I may have use for you.' (Sommers).” Sadly, most people fall
into the camp that doesn't seek God till they are threatened.</p><p class="sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><b><span style="font-family: TiepoloSCITCTT; font-size: 22.0pt;">Hatred
and Fear<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="sermon">More evident in this story is the fear and hatred of Herod. It
is an understatement to say he was paranoid. He had a wife and at least two
sons killed because he feared plots against him. This was so well known that a
Caesar August joked it was preferable to be Herod’s pig (<i>hus</i>) than his
son (<i>huios</i>). This is especially insulting since Herod was Jewish. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">The coming of Messiah would strip Herod of all he had and his
very identity as king. Messiah would disrupt the ‘peace’ between Rome and
Israel. This hatred would lead Herod to order the death of children around
Bethlehem.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: TiepoloSCITCTT; font-size: 22.0pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Worship<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="sermon">The rarest response and the one we wish to see in our lives is
that of the Magi—worship. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">What we don’t know about the Magi is greater than what we do
know. We don’t know their names. We don’t know what ‘star’ they saw which led
them to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem. We don’t know how many of them there
were. We can only guess at the reasons for the gifts they bring. Matthew
doesn’t answer any of these questions. The other gospel writers don’t mention
them at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">Here is what we do learn from these men. We are to keep an eye
out for Christ and what God is busy doing in our world. Their learning lets them
see the significance of the star or alignment. They knew it was more than
important it was life-altering. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">Do we realize this today? To what extent do we choose to
live as if this truth was all that matters? Jesus repeatedly told us to be awake
and keep watch as to the times. That isn’t just concerning the end times. Paul
is aware of God’s shutting doors and leading him to Greece. What is God up to
in your life? Have you asked Him? Have you prayed over the possibilities or,
like some of us, made up your mind then asked God to make it work out?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">Secondly, they took steps to honor God by seeking this king.
The only reason Herod was involved with these travelers was they expected this king to be born in the palace. Where else would a King be born? After all, the son of the King is the next King, usually. <o:p></o:p>I am assuming they must have been somewhat confused by this, knowing Herod was the king but had no idea about this child's birth.</p>
<p class="sermon">Gaining the information they needed they continued their course, following this star. Once found they enter the
house, worship the child, and give
gifts to Him. Three to six weeks from Persia or elsewhere to welcome a new king
and he is found a regular village house.</p><p class="sermon">What it does say that they “worshipped” Him. They didn’t just
honor Him. There is no sign they <i>believed </i>as we do but I must believe
they saw something unique in this child. He was more than just the King of the
Jews. He was more than the son of Herod. Warned of Herod’s duplicity, these men
found another way home. But what about us.</p><p class="sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="sermon">Where are you standing—buried in your daily life and work;
standing with Herod in Jerusalem; or entering into the house to worship Jesus?
Where do you go from here?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-family: TiepoloSCITCTT; font-size: 18.0pt;">Works
Cited<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">Cooper, Wes. "Baby Jesus
Stolen from a Local Church's Nativity Scene." wjbf.com. N.p., 2019.
Web. 28 Dec. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">Kulze, Elizabeth. "A Brief
History of Stealing Baby Jesus." Vocativ. 2013. Web. 28 Dec. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;"><i>"</i>The Little Big
Jesus<i>" Dragnet</i>. 24 December 1953 Jack <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">Parpola, Simo. "The Magi
and The Star." Biblical Archaeological Society 2001. Web. 28 Dec. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">Snauffer, Douglas (2006). Crime
Television. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, (Greenwood Publishing Group).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">Sommers, Stephen. The Mummy. USA
Morocco: Universal Production, 1999. DVD.<o:p></o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-7982746226346289572020-12-19T23:14:00.001-08:002020-12-19T23:14:39.150-08:00Patience is a Virture--so what?<p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What a year. We’ve been waiting for things to get back to normal. Waiting for schools to start and restaurants to open. Waiting for family reunions, weddings, and funerals. Waiting for test results, the next wave of virus, and a vaccine. Waiting seems to have been the theme of 2020. </span></b>What’s promised for 2021? Very likely, more of the same. Normality? Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new head of the CDC said on Wednesday,</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">“I think we should manage our expectations in terms of taking off our masks… over time we will be able to maybe one day, not be in our masks anymore, but I have told my family I anticipate they’ll be wearing a mask for the better part of ’21 (Vanderberg).” </span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><p>Let that sink in for a moment. What’s your response angry, disheartened, bothered, or maybe apathetic. My guess is that whatever we’re feeling it isn’t relief. But take heart because, for God’s people, waiting is not new. Listen to these two verses of scripture. “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” And “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Those are the last verse in Malachi and the first verse in Matthew. Between those two lies 400 years. Protestants or protest-<i>ants</i> call this the 400 years of silence because there were no new prophets until John the Baptist was born. </p><p>God may not have raised up a prophet, but He remained active, moving, and shaping His people in order to prepare the world for the coming of the Christ. Do you think a group of brothers ran the Greek army out of Israel on their own? Did they capture Jerusalem and the temple on their own? When the Temple is rededicated. Various Greek idols and the rest were taken from the Holy place and disposed of. Who do you think made one night of oil last for eight? It is YHWH, I Am, He who promises, through Malachi, the coming of Elijah. </p><p>J.R.R. Tolkien had Gandalf explain, “A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means too (Tolkien).” God is in control always. Always, God is in control. In the unsettled coming 2021 be of good cheer for it looks as if our God would have us, once more, wait. W</p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Patience of Joseph </b></span></p><p>Ever been in a ‘no-win’ situation? Like the man on the witness stand who asked if he’d stopped beating his wife? Yes, or No doesn’t answer the question. Joseph and Mary are engaged. Marriage in Jesus’ day isn’t the same as marriage today. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Engagement or betrothal=married in the sight of the legal entities. </span></b></i></li><li><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">There is no intimacy during this betrothal. The wife lived with her parents </span></b></i></li><li><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">It wasn’t religious but social. There were no religious weddings. They were a matter of community, money, and honor.</span></b></i></li></ol><p></p><p>You can imagine Joseph discovering Mary is pregnant and being told of Gabriel’s announcement to her. He could accuse her of being unfaithful and she would be shamed and hated along with her family. If things got out of hand she could have been stoned. Joseph could divorce her. When word got out, he’d look foolish for making promises he couldn’t keep. Good news, God had a third choice for Joseph. In a dream he’s told to take her as his wife and that Jesus would be “God with us”</p><p>Jesus was “born of a virgin” but God chose to protect Mary and Jesus through the courage of a man named Joseph. Joseph takes her and waits for the birth of his child. It is Joseph who gives normality to the family. He fills it out and makes it so Jesus doesn’t stand out as strange or unusual.</p><p><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">Patience of God’s People</span></b></p><p>James commands the church to be patient four times in four verses. The Greek word <i>macromoen</i> translated as ‘patience’ is a compound word made up of “macro” in the sense of ‘long’ or ‘far’ and ‘anger’ or ‘wrath’. It means that we, God’s people are to be ‘long-tempered’ not ‘short-tempered.’</p><p>James references two sources of patience with which the people were familiar. The prophets like Jeremiah and others “spoke in the name of the Lord” (v10) even though it brought them suffering. James reminds us how we honor or bless those who have remained steadfast in tough situations. I and Bonhoeffer would disagree on some foundational theology, but I honor his steadfastness in the face of the Nazis. I couldn’t have done it. James mentions Job’s steadfastness because it is in being steadfast, patient, longsuffering, we perceive God’s purpose.</p><p>I love that his first example of patience is so regular and ordinary. Farming requires consistent and ongoing patience and so James says, “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains” (v7).</p><p>Patience establishes our hearts. That is, it sets a stone or something firmly in place, “makes it fast (Liddell).” To establish in place or make firm (Swanson). And for James the purpose or goal for which we firmly set our hearts patiently is “for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (v8).</p><p>Paul Williams flying in particularly choppy air found other passengers grabbing seat backs and armrests as the plane bucked. Across the aisle, a mom held her infant close to her resting her face on her infant’s head softly singing. He writes, </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">“I realized God knew good and well what he was doing. The power of love trumps fear, rewards risk, and brings meaning and life to an otherwise frightening world. Over and over again...I give my heart for Christmas, wholly amazed at the wonder of it all (Williams).” </span></i></p></blockquote><p>Get ready for Jesus is coming and the world will never be the same. Join me in prayer.</p><p><b style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Works Cited</b></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fritz, Freddy. "God's Prescription for Patience." Sermon Central. 2006. Web. 19 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Liddell, H.G. A lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English lexicon 1996 : Print</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1997 : Print.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vanderberg, Madison. "Biden’s New CDC Director Says To ‘Manage Our Expectations’ About Masks." Yahoo.com. 2020. Web. 18 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Williams, Paul. "A Father's Risk and A Mother's Love." Preaching Today. 2009. Web. 18 Dec. 2020</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;">Works Consulted</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Butterworth, Isaac. "Christmas Interruptions: Joseph." Sermon Central. 2014. Web. 19 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colson, Charles W, and Harold Fickett. The Faith. Zondervan, 2008. Print.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fritz, Freddy. "God's Prescription For Patience." Sermon Central. 2006. Web. 19 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 1–13. Vol. 33A. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1993. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kilgore, Samantha. "Honey-Rae: Devoted Parents Tattoo Entire Legs To Replicate Daughter’s Birthmark." The Inquisitr.com. 2015. Web. 18 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Liddell, H.G. A lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English lexicon 1996 : Print.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Smithsonian Channel. Apollo 13'S Intense Comms Blackout. 2019. Web. 18 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 1997 : Print.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tozer, A. W, and Harry Verploegh. The Warfare Of The Spirit. Wingspread Publishers, 1993. Print.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vanderberg, Madison. "Biden’s New CDC Director Says To ‘Manage Our Expectations’ About Masks." Yahoo.com. 2020. Web. 18 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wilkerson, Charles. "Courageous Faith." Sermon Central. 2009. Web. 19 Dec. 2020.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Williams, Paul. "A Father's Risk and A Mother's Love." Preaching Today. 2009. Web. 18 Dec. 2020.</span></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-55204156712638533392020-11-28T05:57:00.001-08:002020-11-28T05:57:30.254-08:00First Steps<p> December 23, 1776, Thomas Paine wrote “These are the times that
try men’s souls” in reference to “summer soldiers” who fought well in Spring
and Summer but gave up and went home in the cold. It was a statement read to
the Colonial army at Valley Forge before they crossed the Delaware River and
attacked the British.</p><p class="Sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Let me paraphrase this for the Body of Christ. These are <i>still</i>
the times that try <i>the human soul</i>. The ‘<i>fair-weather believer’</i>
will, <i>in 2020</i>, shrink from the service of their <i>Lord.</i> Unsettled,
uncertain, and unprecedented describe the last year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">This was the second Thanksgiving Phyllis and I had alone. The
first being 1980 when we moved to Abilene Texas. I couldn’t sneak pieces of
turkey to John as I carved it. There were no kids begging to watch <i>their
shows</i>. In some ways it was empty. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">There have been other eras in which times seemed empty and
without hope. I came across a meme the last week or so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">“It’s important to remind people of the true meaning of
Christmas: ghosts terrorizing rich people in the middle of the night until they
agree to pay their employees more”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">In fact, Charles Dickins wrote <i>A Christmas Carol </i>because
he’d read of girls seeing dresses six days a week for 16 hours a day and of “8-year-old
children who dragged coal carts through tiny subterranean passages over a
standard 11-hour workday (Broich).” We have laws that protect children, but
such <i>unprecedented times</i> are still the reality for some in our world. Remember
the controversy of Nike and Adidas and the use of sweatshops and child workers?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">I want you to know that God’s people are not free from ‘fair
weather’ christians. I’ve known more than a few from pastors to people with a
seemingly unshakable faith. Something happens and they fold up their tent and
fade away into the mists. We cannot force them to believe. But we can work in
our own lives so that we don’t run the risk of becoming just one more ‘church
drop out’. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">I want to suggest that Mark 1:1 is our starting place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me suggest we return to something that is
elementary to us, God’s Son, Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">The Beginning</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Mark 1:1 reads, “<i>The beginning of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God." </i>With Mar there is no Mary or Joseph. We
don’t hear of Herod or a census nor are there angels, or shepherds. It is as if
Jesus just fell into history at a point and Mark started the story. The lack of
no nativity doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It just means Mark wasn’t led to
tell the stories he’d heard from others. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The beginning may be <i>temporal</i> having to do with the time
of Jesus’ coming. Yet the word has other senses. Remember axioms in geometry or
algebra? They are rules that ‘just are’ you can’t prove them, but they are
believed as a grounded starting place for math.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">“Beginning”, as Mark uses it, "can also denote the 'first
things,' 'elementary principles or the 'rudimentary elements' (Guelich
8)." In verses, 2-3 Mark reaches back into the lives of Isaiah and Malachi
in order to show how Jesus fulfills their prophecy. This “’ beginning’ is not
just a moment in time, it is a step-in eternity (McKenna and Ogilvie 24).” This
truth doesn’t start in zero AD but before the world was formed. John writes the
same thing, <i>“In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the
Word was God”</i> Jn. 1:1<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Jesus and his calling that starts off Mark. Jesus and His
purpose for coming to us are equally ‘set in stone’ facts with which people
have to deal each day. Thus, the object of this beginning is <i>the</i> gospel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><b>The Gospel</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">It is not <i>a</i> gospel, like one among many, but “<i>the
gospel”. </i>And uses it “in the absolute sense (Guelich 8).” The clearest
translation for the term <i>Gospel</i> is <i>Good News.</i> It is the “’ reward
for good news’… the good tidings of God’s redemptive act in Jesus Christ
(Bratcher and Nida 2)." This gospel is the starting place for Advent. Todd
Outcalt writes, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"><span class="SermonQuoteChar"><span style="font-style: normal;">"Advent
begins—and in fact, the entirety of the Christian journey begins—at the point
where we accept Jesus as our Guide and begin to walk with his calm assurances
in the midst of our fears (Outcalt)."</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Keep this in mind as we continue through the next few months.
Science can fail us, but Christ does not. Political wins and losses may elate
or discourage us, but Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">It can be very tempting to become ‘fair-weather followers’ and
walk away when the world is in such turmoil. Such people are not ‘bad’, but they
have just not been grasped by the gospel and held captive. God takes the initiative
of wrestling with us and holding tight to those who He saves because <i>the
good news,</i> takes place only through His son, Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><b>Jesus Christ</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">For Mark Jesus is not just a name. He is The Messiah or the
Christ. He isn’t the ruler who wanted to ‘Make Israel Great Again’. He was
about as far removed from the expected military and political leader as you get.
He is the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>2</sup>He had no form or majesty that we
should look at him,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and no
beauty that we should desire him.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup>3 </sup>He was despised and rejected by
men,</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a man
of sorrows and acquainted with grief;</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpLast">and as one from whom men hide their faces</p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpFirst"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuoteCxSpMiddle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuoteCxSpMiddle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuoteCxSpMiddle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuoteCxSpLast"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">He transforms lives. He raises the dead. He restores withered
hands. He touches lepers and lets a woman touch him. He breaks the social
rules of His day. He eats with those who are hated. He teaches those who are
unlearned. He feeds throngs and blesses children. Jesus is not the hero comes to
put things right. This time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">You noticed that, didn’t you? <b>This time…</b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>He
is coming back and, as Mark 13:32 says about the timing <i>“no one knows, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”</i>. We are to
remain on guard and stay awake. Why? So, when he does return, we are ready for
Him, and not caught unawares. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Is anyone tired of wearing masks and the various closures and
lockdowns? What you’re feeling is called “COVID fatigue”. The attitude that
says “we've been doing this a long time, I thought it was a short-term
situation, it's going on and on and on and I'm getting tired of it, and I'm
tired of wearing a mask, and I'm tired of putting my life on hold (Cuomo).” Such
fatigue wears on us till we forget about a mask once then twice etc. Then when
we can’t breathe, or our child or parent can’t breathe we get back with the
program. But it’s too late. The saddest situations are the 30-year-old who went to
a COVID party thinking it was a hoax. His nurse reported he told her, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">‘You know, I think I made a mistake.' And this young man
went to a COVID party,” she said. “He didn’t really believe. He thought the
disease was a hoax. He thought he was young and invincible and wouldn’t get
affected by the disease (NBC News).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">To remain alert and awake today means masks and social
distancing. Spiritually it involves knowing the times in which we live. Is the
return of Christ right around the corner? I don’t know. A great many situations
and tragedies have given rise to speculation on Jesus’ return. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">We, his people who wait for our Lord’s return need to do this
Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p><b style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">Works Cited</b></p><p class="SectionHeadings"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bratcher, Robert G., and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on
the Gospel of Mark. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993. Print. UBS Handbook
Series. p2<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1–8:26. Vol. 34A. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated, 1989. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">McKenna, David L., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Mark. Vol. 25.
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary
Series.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NBC News. "‘I Think I Made a Mistake’: Young Man from
Texas Dies After Attending COVID-19 Party." <a href="https://www.nbc12.com.2020/"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.nbc12.com.2020</span></a>. Web. 25 Nov. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Outcalt, Todd. Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions
for Advent and Christmas. Upper Room Books. Kindle Edition. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paine, Thomas. "Thomas Paine: American Crisis."
Ushistory.org. Web. 26 Nov. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-16851127347211604102020-10-10T22:41:00.002-07:002020-10-10T22:41:16.131-07:00Choices and Chances<p><b>Did you ever miss a get together only to find out that it was
the party of the year?</b> About 47 years ago in an accounting class at
Cal State Hayward, Dr. Zambetti told us how much he hated one particular movie.
He stayed home to watch it while his roommate went to the party at which the
host handed out shares of a stock that had just gone public. I can’t remember
the company but missing that party made Zambetti sick every time he saw that
movie come on TV.</p><p class="Sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">I can only imagine how much one would miss if they said ‘no’ to
a royal wedding because that’s what Jesus describes in this parable. The King’s
son was being wed and all the stops were pulled out for this wedding. An
obvious first invitation had already gone out. It would be like our ‘save the
date’ announcements. Now, it was time to present the second invitation is sent
to these previously invited. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The response is unbelievable. It is unthinkable. After all,
this was the King whose party they ignored. Matthew says they <i>“paid no
attention”</i>, the only use of this Greek word in the Gospels (Hagner). In
their place are those on the streets. Not high society but bad and good.
Gentiles, others who couldn’t keep the law, normal, every day, people. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>The Guests</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The first group who had received the servant’s news that the
feast was ready, were God’s own people. The Jews, children of Abraham, and the
people of the Covenant those to whom God had saved from Egypt and Assyria.
Their reaction is “they didn’t care (Blomberg 327).” When they scorned the
provision and protection of their God and King another group was invited. They
are too interested in business and land. “Their response is just conceivable at
the literal level of the story as treason and revolution (ibid.).” Thursday
night we were watching <i>Celebrity Family Feud </i>in which two sets of
football greats were playing for charity. In the lighting round the question
was asked, “’On a level from 1 to 10 how important is the almighty dollar?’ to
which the first contestant, with little hesitation, said ‘10’(<i>Celebrity
Family Feud</i>).” The number one action from the surveyed audience was, in
fact, 10.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Granted it was the result of 100 people but how much does this
reality resonate in our reality. The leadership and people of Israel “are
preoccupied with their own affairs and are actively rebellious (Wilkins 178).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Those on the streets were the equivalent of the “<i>tax
collectors, and sinners”</i> (Mt 9:10-11) with whom Jesus had eaten and
entertained. The bible does not soft-pedal failure. Those coming into the
King’s part includes bad and good people. Like the parable of the Wheat and
Tares there comes a time to separate them. But that time is in God’s hand, not
ours. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>God’s Judgment</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">There are two experiences of judgment in this passage. The
first is against those who had been invited and refused. Verse 7 reads, <i>“The
king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned
their city.”</i> Our Lord pronounces what would happen to Jerusalem and the temple
in a few short decades. Josephus writes, <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: left;">“One of the soldiers, neither awaiting orders nor filled
with horror of so dread an undertaking, but moved by some supernatural impulse,
snatched a brand from the blazing timber and, hoisted up by one of his fellow
soldiers, flung the fiery missile through a golden window.… When the flame
arose, a scream, as poignant as the tragedy, went up from the Jews … now that
the object which before they had guarded so closely was going to ruin”
(VI.250–253 quoted in Hendriksen and Kistemaker).”</p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Why would he do such a thing? It was because such a refusal on
the part of those invited shamed and deliberately insulted the host. I was not
just a breach of social etiquette, it was “an act of rebellion (Keener).”
Couple the concerted refusal with the murder of those whom the King had sent
was “explicitly revolutionary act (ibid.).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The second episode of judgment comes against a man at the
wedding feast who had not dressed appropriately. "The wedding garment is
symbolic of a totally new mode of existence. This man sat at the wedding banquet,
but his heart was not there (Augsburger and Ogilvie)." There is conjecture
about how these people would have found or purchased such clothes when invited.
But the point Jesus makes is that not everyone who was sitting at the table was
meant to be at that table. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">A far more feasible scenario would be the servants of the King
would offer festal robes to those who respond in obedience to the King’s
summons. Apparently, all but this one man accepted the robe. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">This one man, however, had looked at his own robe, had
perhaps lightly brushed it off with his hand, and had then told the attendant,
‘My own robe is good enough. I don’t need the one you’re offering me.’ Then, in
an attitude of self-satisfaction and defiance, he had marched to the table,
where he was presently reclining; or from which, when the king entered, he,
along with the other guests, had just now arisen (Hendriksen and Kistemaker
797)."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">He is summarily grabbed, bound up, and thrown out of the feast
into Hell. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"><b>Our Salvation</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The good news is found in the last phrase in verse 14, <i>“Everyone
is invited, not all are chosen”</i> God’s nation—Israel—was among the called,
the invited ones. Next come the people on the streets. Some may have come from
the destroyed city itself. Most came from the surrounding areas around the town
like that we provide people which is calming as well as surprising. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Here redemption and election rear its head. The old question we
have before us is that is the man chosen to be a bad example or does he
testifies to <i>our</i> reaching for what we need, instead of letting the King's
gracious love gives us our true need. Righteousness is our decision, empowered
by the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Remember the passage from Isaiah 25? It is the picture of God’s
feast <i>“for all people”</i>. It isn’t just the food that is offered to us who
are there but God. <i>“He will swallow up death for eternity.”</i> Tears are
wiped away and the blame and finger-pointing by the world, reproach, is taken
away as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The promise of this passage in Matthew like that in Isaiah is
in the future. It is a certainty for those prepared for the wedding feast. But
it is also the promise that those who do not belong will not be allowed to
remain. Our job is to invite all people to come in for God’s calling is for all
people. However, God’s election, or salvation, is reserved for those whom God
has chosen. Let’s pray.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><b><i><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: medium;">Works Cited</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Augsburger,
Myron S., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Matthew. Vol. 24. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson
Inc, 1982. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Blomberg,
Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Print. The New American Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Celebrity
Family Feud. Steve Harvey. October: 2020<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Hagner,
Donald A. Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995. Print.
Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Hendriksen,
William, and Simon J. Kistemaker. Exposition of the Gospel According to
Matthew. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001. Print. New
Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Keener, Craig
S. Matthew. Vol. 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997. Print. The IVP
New Testament Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Wilkins,
Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print.
The NIV Application Commentary. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The
Pillar New Testament Commentary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Works Consulted</i></b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">AP.
"Everett Bride Calls Off Wedding, Throws Party For The Homeless." The
Seattle Times 2005. Web. 9 Oct. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Augsburger,
Myron S., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Matthew. Vol. 24. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson
Inc, 1982. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Beehler,
John. "A Yugo and a BB Gun." Sermon Central. 2002. Web. 6 Oct. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Blomberg,
Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Print. The New American Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Celebrity
Family Feud. Steve Harvey. October: 2020<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Hagner,
Donald A. Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995. Print.
Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Hendriksen,
William, and Simon J. Kistemaker. Exposition of the Gospel According to
Matthew. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001. Print. New
Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Keener, Craig
S. Matthew. Vol. 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997. Print. The IVP
New Testament Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">McLaughlin,
Rebecca. Confronting Christianity. Crossway, 2019. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Morris, Leon.
The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Pink, Daniel.
"What Happened To Your Parachute?." Fast Company. 1999. Web. 9 Oct.
2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Wilkins,
Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print.
The NIV Application Commentary. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The
Pillar New Testament Commentary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-79881001457637809472020-09-18T22:29:00.002-07:002020-09-18T22:29:50.707-07:00Generosity in a stingy time<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Matthew is the only gospel that includes this story and it
expands on helps explain the previous chapter in which a rich man walks away
from Christ and the disciples, who had <i>“left everything and followed”</i>
Christ asks, <i>“What will we have?”</i> v. 27</b>. Jesus tells them that they will
judge Israel and that anything they have lost—houses, brother, sister, parents,
children, or land <i>“for my name's sake”</i> will inherit eternal life and an
overabundance of what has been lost. Jesus summarizes this teaching in 19:30 and
20:16. They aren’t exactly the same but their similarity tie them to one
another; “<i>But many who are first will be last, and the last first” </i>and <i>“So
the last will be first, and the first last”</i>.</span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">The story that leads off chapter 20 is as normal to life in the
first century as commuting is for us. A vineyard owner, quite possibly during
harvest, makes repeated trips to a common area where people gathered for work. He
offers to pay the going rate of a ‘denarius’ for each man’s work. Later, at 9
am, noon, 3 pm, and as late as 5 pm hiring people with the agreement in verse 4
<i>“whatever is right I will give you.”</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">At closing time, the owner pays all the workers the same
wage—one denarius. The ones that worked one hour as well as the ones that
worked a 12-hour day earned the same. Those who worked all day were upset. They
expected to get more because of the time they’d work. It wasn’t fair to their
way of seeing things. They were upset that their boss would equate their value
with that of men who only worked an hour. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Begrudging Spirit</span></b></p><p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those who felt cheated had accepted the world’s way of
negotiating their pay which, “is part of the value system or the world…a system
[that] uses productivity to determine wages (Baeta).” Our Lord’s Kingdom
doesn’t work the way the world does. It is a different value system in which
God treats us “not according to <i>our</i> works but according to His <i>compassion</i>
and <i>mercy</i> (ibid.).”</span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first workers, when confronted with apparent unfairness
responded in terms of self-interest. “He was only thinking about himself, not
about the generosity and intervention of the landowner or the fortune of the
other laborers (Wilkins 665)." Like those hired earlier the landowner pays
them a <i>fair</i> amount (Blomberg 302). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t be shocked by this for it is evident in the lives of
others in Gods’ Word. In Exodus 16 The grumbling of the people is repeated 15
times in these short verses. They aim their grumbling at Moses and Aaron, but
Aaron informs the people, <i>“in the morning you shall see the glory of the
Lord, because He has heard your <b>grumbling</b> against the Lord”</i> v7. At
the end of Jonah’s ministry, the prophet is left alone and unhappy because God
forgave the Ninevites. Jonah is angry over a plant God allowed to grow and then
destroyed. When asked by God in verse 9, <i>“God said to Jonah, ‘Is your anger
about the shrub a good thing?’ and Jonah said, ‘Yes, my anger is good—even to
the point of death!’.” </i>If you have never read Jonah it ends with him
sulking on a hillside overlooking the city that had received the gracious mercy
of God</span>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>The Grace of God</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">The landowner—God answers his workers and us by reminding us
that he will do what he wants with his resources. Jesus’ response to one of the
grumblers, ‘Friend’ is not friendly. It appears two other places in this gospel
“and in each case the person is in the wrong (Augsburger and Ogilvie).” Both
are in Matthew 22 and one identifies an invitee to a wedding feast who couldn’t
bother to dress for it. The other instance is Jesus’ response to Judas’ kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">God’s generosity is at work here in these stories. It will come
to fruition in less than a few months when Jesus is nailed to a cross and
executed. The grace of God speaks to our culture today here in the U.S. when it
comes to race and poverty. The teaching of this story is not meant to promote
economic equality or a higher minimum wage, unlike the statement, “This theme of
economic and political reversal is a red thread throughout Jesus’s teaching
(DeCort).” No! Jesus’ point is that God is gracious, more gracious than the
world could fathom. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"><span style="font-size: medium;">"In the kingdom where grace reigns supreme, the
equality of saints is significantly conditioned only by the priority of the
last. The sovereignty of grace relegates the doctrine of rewards to a position
of lesser importance (Hagner 573)."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">What we ‘get out of’ being saved is <i>not</i> as important to
God as ‘being real in loving’ others. When we question God’s grace or
‘begrudge’ in verse 15<b> <span style="font-family: Bwgrkn;">ponhro,s</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is to judge someone as evil,
wicked, sinful, and even the Evil One (Wilkins 665).”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">We need to
be on our toes when it comes to this because some of us have been following
Christ for many years. They run the risk of thinking they’re more important
because they know where the bodies are buried. Some have belonged long enough
they seem to be long-timers. Such need to guard against making their desires
normative for all Christ-followers. New believers also have to become grounded
so that they do not believe that ‘finally the church can know what it needs to
do.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you
watched the news this week you saw a great human example of God’s graciousness
when Lisa and Joe Waldner who offered the use of their travel trailer </span>Pikkaart<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to Lee and Church Borgia who
evacuated their home and ended up in their van in the Oregon State Fairgrounds. The Waldner’s settled the couple and their pets in the trailer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although a
bit hesitant to loan out his trailer Joe Waldner says, “He has regretted it for
a moment (Orti).” Ellen Donovan, a Red Cross volunteer described this couple’s
generous nature, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"><span style="font-size: medium;">"He went and bought a generator for them because there are no hookups over there, and every 12 hours he drives over there and he
fills the generator with gas and just does a general check-up, nobody asked
this man to do this, he and his wife did this on their own (Orti)."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a human example of living a generous life. I do not know the spiritual nature of
the couple, but I have to say they are a wonderful reflection of God’s
graciousness toward each of us. Let us pray.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Works Cited</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Augsburger, Myron S., and Lloyd
J. Ogilvie. Matthew. Vol. 24. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982. Print.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Baeta, William. "Don't
Begrudge God's Generosity." Sermon Central. 2014. Web. 15 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol.
22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">DeCort, Andrew. "Jesus: A
New Beginning For Christian Politics-- Was Jesus Political?." Andrew
DeCort. 2018. Web. 17 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28.
Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol.
22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">DeCort, Andrew. "Jesus: A
New Beginning For Christian Politics-- Was Jesus Political?." Andrew
DeCort. 2018. Web. 17 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28.
Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nikolic, Isabella.
"Pensioner Is Arrested for Making 24,000 Complaint Calls To Telephone
Company In Japan." MSN. 2019. Web. 15 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Orti, Camila. "Strangers
Lend RV To Displaced Couple Sleeping In Van At Oregon State Fairgrounds."
KPTV.com. 2020. Web. 17 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application
Commentary.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Works Consulted</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Augsburger, Myron S., and Lloyd
J. Ogilvie. Matthew. Vol. 24. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982. Print.
The Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barclay, Newman M., Jr. A
Concise Greek-English dictionary of the New Testament. 1993 : Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Baeta, William. "Don't
Begrudge God's Generosity." Sermon Central. 2014. Web. 15 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bernhard, Toni. "20
Quotations on Generosity: A Profound Act Of Kindness." Psychology Today
2014. Web. 14 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol.
22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">DeCort, Andrew. "Jesus: A
New Beginning For Christian Politics-- Was Jesus Political?" Andrew
DeCort. 2018. Web. 17 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28.
Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nikolic, Isabella.
"Pensioner Is Arrested for Making 24,000 Complaint Calls To Telephone
Company In Japan." MSN. 2019. Web. 15 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Orti, Camila. "Strangers
Lend RV To Displaced Couple Sleeping In Van At Oregon State Fairgrounds."
KPTV.com. 2020. Web. 17 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pikkaart, Curry. "Can You
Live with Grace?" Sermon Central. 2011. Web. 17 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application
Commentary.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-45518605379523093302020-09-12T10:49:00.004-07:002020-09-12T10:49:50.457-07:00Count to 100<p> Ernest Hemingway begins his story, “Capital of the World” by
describing a joke in Madrid in which</p><p class="Sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7e_Dbb-FVFQ/X10J0Bf-S0I/AAAAAAADedM/BOG7K7yz7rIPYJAXeyPJMWjXmBLYgzytwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/seven_16065c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="131" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7e_Dbb-FVFQ/X10J0Bf-S0I/AAAAAAADedM/BOG7K7yz7rIPYJAXeyPJMWjXmBLYgzytwCLcBGAsYHQ/w131-h131/seven_16065c.jpg" width="131" /></a>“A father who came to Madrid and inserted and
advertisement in the personal columns of El Liberal which said: ‘PACO MEET ME
AT HOTEL MONTATA NOON TUESDAY ALL IF FORGIVENG PAPA, and how a squadron of
Guardia Civil had to be called out to disperse the eight hundred young men who
answered the advertisement (Hemingway 44).” </blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The legend may have struck Hemingway as funny but there may
well be no greater need for everyone than to hear <i>all is forgiven.</i> That
is the truth of following Jesus. I could not believe God loved me and there are
times even today I cannot fathom that truth. But it is absolutely, 100%, true.
And the release from our past mistakes, crimes, sins, and errors may be the
number one need we all face in this life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Peter doesn’t ask his question about how many times in order to
find a way to get back at someone. He knows that God graciously set up
sacrifices that were the means of making atonement. And the teaching in Judaism
“is that three times was enough to show a forgiving spirit (Wilkins 622).” Peter
is going above and beyond the law’s requirement but for those who have been
confronted with the reality of God’s Kingdom and Jesus. That encounter changes
everything. Thus, Jesus tells Peter <i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times”</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> v.23. Most of us have read
seventy times seven, but the most common Greek reading is seventy-seven
(Blomberg 282). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">It doesn’t
really matter because Jesus’ point is that there is no top end to how many
times we forgive. “One is to keep on forgiving far beyond the point where one
has lost count of the wrongs (Nolland 755).” The forgiveness that we are to
extend is based “squarely on the foundation of God’s forgiveness of the
disciple (Hagner 537)” or us.” The reason for such a mindful forgiving is
because of the scope of sin which God forgives through His Son on the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">God’s Forgiveness</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The parable or story Jesus presents to His disciples is
unbelievable. Assume a talent of silver equaled 6000 drachmas we’re talking
about one of these paying for a whole year for 24 people at our current 40-work
week. A talent is not a monetary denomination but a measure. This may well be “more
than all the actual coinage in circulation in Egypt at the time (Keener).” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The point wasn’t the amount the servant owed but the ludicrous
claim that he would pay it back. We may see selling a person and their family
into slavery as barbaric but to do that in order to pay off debts was
“extremely common (Blomberg 283)” This man went before the King with nothing to
bargain with but he emerges burden free. It is not an exaggeration to say, “is
life has been transformed (Nolland 758).” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The king takes pity on this servant. It is the word used for
Jesus having compassion on the crowds who followed and sought Him. It is also
used of the pity with which Jesus is moved to heal the blind lepers in Matthew
20 in which Jesus heals two blind men. “Forgiveness means it finally becomes
unimportant that you hit back (Lamott).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Forgiveness and reconciliation cannot be separated and that is
what makes offering grace so difficult. We fail at this, but God does it
perfectly. “<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">To forgive
means that one genuinely loves, and this love can move beyond the issue to the
person and that one cares more about the person than about what he or she has
done (Augsburger).” What makes God’s forgiveness so overwhelming for many of us
is that any forgiveness given <i>by</i> God is activated only within a
relationship <i>with</i> God.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Our Forgiving</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The contrast in Jesus’ story is how unforgiving this same
servant is as he searches out someone who owes him a paltry sum of money. I
love how Keener in his commentary writes, “apparently the forgiven slave,
instead of internalizing the principle of grace, had decided to become
ruthlessly efficient in his exacting of debts (Keener)." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">“Forgiveness is never easy; it is hard. It is the most
difficult thing in the universe. Forgiveness means that the forgiving person as
the innocent one resolves his own wrath over the sin of the guilty one and lets
the guilty one go free. To forgive means that one genuinely loves… Forgiveness
frees the person for the options of living. Our refusal to forgive is a power
play that limits the offender, that holds the guilty “under one’s thumb,” or
power. But such forgiveness is always in relationship, hence the condition of
repentance. It is not a package that one accepts and runs away with. It is only
known in reconciliation (Augsburger).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Jesus’ point is that when we, the hugely indebted servant, come
across someone who has a relatively small amount to pay off, the second
servant, God is watching. Jesus summarizes His story, by saying, <i>“And in
anger, his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his
debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not
forgive your brother from your heart”</i> Vv.34-35.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Have you ever told your kid to tell another kid, “your sorry”?
Were they sorry? Maybe when they are three but try that with a 12-year-old you
may hear words and even see a general acknowledgment of the other person. But
odds are you won’t get compliance with what you wanted. <i>“From your hearts”</i>
calls for sincerity, not just appearances (Hagner 540). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">If we are going to accept the forgiveness of the great burden
of sin which nailed Jesus to a cross we had better realize that to not forgive
“each other for sins that remain trivial in comparison (Deidun 219)" to
our own debt owed to God. I want to end by addressing the worry that we’re
being too permissive about God’s gift of forgiveness. Jesus wasn’t worried
about giving people permission to sin.</p><p class="Sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote>He wasn't afraid of giving the prodigal son a kiss instead
of a lecture, a party instead of probation; and he proved that by bringing in
the elder brother at the end of the story and having him raise pretty much the
same objections you do. He's angry about the party. He complains that his
father is lowering standards and ignoring virtue--that music, dancing, and a
fattened calf are, in effect, just so many permissions to break the law. And to
that, Jesus has the father say only one thing: "Cut that out! We're not
playing good boys and bad boys anymore. Your brother was dead and he's alive
again. The name of the game from now on is resurrection, not bookkeeping
(Capon)."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="Sermon">We’ve known people who can’t see past God as a bookkeeper with
credits and debits listed in the columns of our lives. But in truth,<br /> the column
that contains the red-inked entries of our liabilities can’t be read because
they are covered with the blood of Jesus, our Savior. We are forgiven because
of Jesus. We are forgiven because of God’s love. We are forgiven and reminded
of it by the Holy Spirit that lives within us. Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Works Cited</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Augsburger, Myron S., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Matthew. Vol. 24.
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary
Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Capon, Robert Farrar. "Between Noon and Three."
Christianity Today. Web. 12 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Deidun, T. "The Parable of The Unmerciful Servant (Mt.
18:23–35)." BTB 6 (1976): 219. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lamott, Anne. Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. Riverhead
Trade, 2006. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hemingway, Ernest. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest
Hemingway. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New
Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nolland, John. The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the
Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2005.
Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">Works consulted</span></p><p class="MsoTitle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Augsburger, Myron S., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Matthew. Vol. 24.
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary
Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Capon, Robert Farrar. "Between Noon and Three."
Christianity Today. Web. 12 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Deidun, T. "The Parable of The Unmerciful Servant (Mt.
18:23–35)." BTB 6 (1976): 219. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lamott, Anne. Plan B: Further Thoughts om Faith. Riverhead
Trade, 2006. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Newman, Barclay M., Jr. A Concise Greek-English dictionary of
the New Testament. 1993 : n. pag. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hemingway, Ernest. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest
Hemingway. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hendriksen, William, and Simon J. Kistemaker. Exposition of
the Gospel According to Matthew. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1953–2001. Print. New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New
Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Liddell, H.G. A lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s
Greek-English lexicon 1996 : n. pag. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nolland, John. The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the
Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2005.
Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Story, Norm. "Waiting for Someone To Say Grace."
Sermon Central. 2004. Web. 7 Sept. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-891503390516645862020-08-29T00:18:00.006-07:002020-08-29T00:18:55.720-07:00Fish or get out of the boat<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Our two passages before us today couldn’t be more different.
One is a story of Peter, once more, getting it wrong. Paul’s letter to the
Romans is almost a laundry list of living for Jesus. I propose they are more
related than we think. Matthew paints a bold background of what it means to
follow Jesus.</b></span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus uses a ‘roller’ as He plasters dark reds and brown on
the canvas before us. Painted with His blood, the ESV uses 20 words to define
Christ’s calling, </span><i style="font-size: large;">“If anyone would come after me, let them deny themself and
take up their cross and follow me”</i><span style="font-size: large;"> v 24. Jesus makes it so clear b</span><span style="font-size: large;">ecause
moments earlier Peter had tried to tell Jesus what was best for him.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to die but Peter thought that was
a horrible idea and told Jesus so. I’m pleased to hear Jesus does not give in
to Peter but called him to account, <i>“Get behind me, Satan! You are a
hindrance” </i>v23. This is because Jesus’ call is for us to follow Him to
death—Yes, eternal life. But death nonetheless because that is the very meaning
of ‘taking up a cross’. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">Four hundred years before Christ the Persians came upon the
Greek city-state and came to a pass called Thermopylae. Here 300 Spartans faced
off against Xerxes. Observers went forward in the pass and found the Greeks “brushing
their long hair and doing calisthenics and other such things (McGuiggan)” which
Xerxes was told, was in preparation for their death. Herodias reports that
Xerxes sought out Demaratus, a former Spartan king, in camp with him who said</span>, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote>“O, king. Hear then now also: these men have come to fight
with us for the passage, and this is it that they are preparing to do; for they
have a custom which is as follows: whenever they are about to put their lives
in peril, they attend to the arrangement of their hair (Herodias 7.209)".</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">These 300 went on this mission aware that they were not going
to survive. They walked away from their families and sons knowing they’d never
see them again. They left the homes and lives they’d made never to see them
again. And these were pagans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the call of God on our lives. This is the command of
Christ and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is our commission to bear up,
trudge forward, in the bold attempt to be like our Lord—Jesus.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ever-present Sin</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">What keeps us from doing this is the fact that we are sinners.
Sin is part of our DNA at birth and we affirm our desire to sin daily as we
commit acts of sin and refuse to do acts of love. Theologically they are sins
of commission and sins of omission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our sin impedes our willingness to follow Christ not Christ’s
command to pick up the cross and follow. In the world most people, a <i>huge</i>
majority never think about sin at all. Doing what is wrong brings ‘shame’ upon
their family. Misbehavior is labeled as non-patriotic, giving in to bad influences,
or denying the political will of those in power. This is true of many here in
the U.S. as well, as fewer and fewer people have any religious knowledge<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">We who use that sin often deal with it by denial, pointing
fingers at others or the world around us, or comparing our sin to other’s sin.
What is different is that we should be aware of the pain our sin causes our
Lord. I the Bible, Moses is sheltered by God’s hand as YHWH walks by and
although alive, his face glowed, so as to scare the rest of the Israelites.
Isaiah is facedown before the throne of YHWH and says, <i>“Woe is me! For I am
lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”</i> 6:5. And
Elijah seeking God is confronted with the creator in a whispering small voice.
Hearing this 1 Kings 19:13 says, “W<i>hen Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face
in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we area confronted with that life-changing moment instead
of humbling ourselves and admitting our situation we are like those who try to
grab their carryon baggage while the plane is on fire around them. That
happened when a British Airways plane caught fire on the ground in Las Vegas.
Photos showed people coming from the smoke “holding purses, flip-flop sandals,
rolling bags and shoulder bags (Gold).” Weiss, an aircraft safety person summed
it up well saying, “We put more value in possessions than common sense and the
reality of what happens (ibid).”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>Ever-present God</b></span></p><p class="MsoTitle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Being a sinner is a fact but the <i>gospel</i>, literally ‘good
news’ is that God present as well and, in His presence, He offers us a chance
to live as His people. Confession is our admission that God is correct—about
us, our world, our future, our past, and everything else. God is right and
correct and we are not. Thus, when Moses is sheltered by God’s hand as He passes,
and an angel brings a coal to touch Isaiah’s lips we see God’s provision for
sinfulness. How much greater is that seen in Jesus, carrying His cross through
the streets of Jerusalem to the hill, outside the gates where He is executed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Along with confession we often hear the word ‘repentance’. The
most common definition is to literally ‘turn around and go the way you were
going’. In today’s language, you might use, ‘recalculating’. It becomes real,
life-changing and world-shaking when we live the life Paul describes in our
Romans 12 passage. Repentance has an inherent danger in becoming a source of
pride and therefore ‘works.’ We run a risk when we make ‘changing our life’ all
about <b><i>us</i></b> changing our life when we didn’t have the power to turn
to Christ in the first place. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Romans 12:9-21gives us a laundry list of what a life that
confesses one’s sin and Christ’s Lordship looks like. I believe <i>“Let love be
genuine”</i> v.9 is the general command of Paul to the Roman church. It fits
with Jesus’ greatest commandment. What follows is a list of what genuine love
looks like. I came up with 19 positive actions in the ESV. Let me give you my
top three failures—<i>"</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be
patient in tribulation”</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> v. 12. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“never avenge yourself”</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> v. 19. And my favorite, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“live in harmony”</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> v.16. Do I have the others down? Not at all. But these three are ones
that seem to float to the top of the scum pond of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Let me offer some
general thoughts on living with an ever-present God. First, admit you are a
screw-up and that God loves you still. Part of this is recognizing that our sin
is what killed Jesus. Our sin is what is shown in the scars from the thorns
shoved down on His head and in the torn flesh of His back. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Second, be reminded,
by coming to Christ, and admitting there is little you can do and even want to do
to change. Apart from the Power of the Holy Spirit. You might take stock of
your life and see what leads you to fall into sin but, except in very small,
rare situations we will never overcome sin by our own willingness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Third is that we are
to rely on God’s love because it is His love, demonstrated on the cross by
God’s Son, Jesus, who dwells in our hearts as the Holy Spirit who destroys the
outcome of sin for eternity. Sometimes we think that all we need to know is
“Jesus loves me, this I know…” but Christ’s love involves carrying a cross
toward death. His love doesn’t comfort us like a warm fuzzy blanket. It’s an
AED, a defibrillator, an epi shot, or Narcan designed to keep us alive, bring
us back from the dead, and give us a life worth living. May we discover His
power to grab hold our cross and follow after our Lord, lets pray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Works Cited</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gold, Ashley. "The Fury Over 'Hand Luggage' Plane
Evacuees." BBC News. 2015. Web. 28 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Herodotus. Herodotus, Histories. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2013. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">McGuiggan, Jim. God of the Towel. New York: Howard Books,
2014. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Works Consulted</u></b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Benedict. Great Christian Thinkers. Minneapolis, MN:
Fortress Press, 2011. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gold, Ashley. "The Fury Over 'Hand Luggage' Plane
Evacuees." BBC News. 2015. Web. 28 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Herodotus. Herodotus, Histories. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2013. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heuertz, Christopher L. Simple Spirituality: Learning to See
God In A Broken World. IVP, 2009. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hoffman, Michael. Emperor's Club. Universal Pictures, 2002.
film.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York: Walker & Co.,
1987. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">McGuiggan, Jim. God of the Towel. New York: Howard Books,
2014. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vassallo, Wanda. "Little Boy Just Wants to Go
Home." Preaching Today. Web. 28 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-57616846349465444042020-08-15T22:47:00.002-07:002020-08-15T22:47:35.809-07:00Rules and Worship<p> <b>When reading scripture, it is important to know the context in
which the verses take place.</b> What we learn in verses 10-28 flow from the
Pharisees complaining to Jesus about the disciples breaking of the <i>“tradition
of the elders”</i> v2. In answer, Jesus shows them their own ‘law-breaking’ in
order to further their greed.</p><p class="Sermon"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b>Connected stories</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">From here Jesus address the people who have gathered to hear
Him. These two stories—what defiles a person and the healing of the Gentile’s
daughter are connected. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Those of Israel, the Pharisee, and everyday Jews had been
raised on the logic that “ceremony=rightness with God”. Keep the Sabbath and
its rules and God blesses you. Bring the proper sacrifice at the right time and
God accepts you, forgives your sin, etc. Do ritual washing and don’t touch
non-Kosher food and you will stay healthy. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">“But” Jesus does here what he did earlier in the Sermon on the
Mount. There Christ said, <i>“You have heard… <b>BUT</b> I say”</i>. He doesn’t
offer an expansion on the practice, Jesus advocate something “radically new”
(Morris 395). To become defiled isn’t a casual brushing up against something
that is unclean. “It is something that affects the person at the root of his or
her being. (Morris 395).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The people expected the Pharisees to understand and make sense
of God’s law. Their purpose was to help the people interpret what it looked
like to be part of God’s chosen people. Jesus points out to the people and the
Pharisees that they had missed the point on clean and unclean. Uncleanliness
doesn’t reside in not fulfilling a rule. Uncleanliness resides in what comes
forth from the heart. Paul explained this in Romans 3:23, <i>“For all have
sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”</i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The Pharisees had clung to their traditions so tight that when
they are confronted with the Kingdom of God—Jesus they miss Him. But they go
beyond self-deception and “<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">have misled the people with their traditions, so Jesus gives due warning
to the crowd (Wilkins 536)."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon">For those in the crowd hearing Jesus, this was an
earth-shattering reality. The rules by which they had kept themselves ‘clean’
had been overturned by Jesus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The woman is connected to these Pharisees by what she wasn’t. She
is not part of God’s people she’s a Gentile. She’s female, heathen, enemy of
Israel, and interrupting our time with Jesus. The disciples complain <i>“she is
crying out after <u>us</u>”</i> (v. 23) but she’s calling to Jesus. How like
the disciples to make it about them when they aren’t even been addressed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The same Jesus is present for the crowd, including the
Pharisees, and this woman. Those who should have recognized Messiah didn’t.
It’s a Gentile woman yelling out, <i>“O Lord, Son of David”</i>. She calls Him
Messiah. She recognizes His status and knows He can help her. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b>Differing Fates</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The difference between the crowd and their spiritual leaders
and this woman is their faith and their fate. The Pharisees armed with their
rules have no notion who Jesus is. This woman comes in with an exposed, faith
in, and belief of God through Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">Jesus tells his disciples that the
Pharisees weren’t part of God’s planting. They would be uprooted and destroyed.
Leon Morris writes, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote>Jesus makes clear his contempt for the teachers who so
confidently claimed to know the ways of God, but who had not been “planted” by
the God to whom they so brazenly appealed. So far from being reliable
expositors of the kingdom of God, the Pharisees were not even in the kingdom (Morris
396)."</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="Sermon">What’s more, Jesus then tells the disciples to pay them no mind.
They are like blind men leading a line of blind people toward a pit. And the
proof is seen in the words that the Pharisees spew forth. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">It’s Peter who asks on behalf of the disciples for clarification.
We know this because Jesus says, “you all” in His response, <i>“Are you also
still without understanding?”</i> v. 16. Jesus explains the hypocrisy of the
Pharisees “to their own inner impurity…lead the people astray because they
can’t see the truth of God’s will (Wilkins 537).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">I wish I were able to see the dialogue between this Canaanite
woman and Jesus. I’d love to have seen the look on their faces, the body
language, and inflection as they spoke. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">The only thing he says, and it appears to be to the disciples
is <i>“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”</i> v. 24. Then
this Gentile woman knees before Jesus and speak with a Jewish Rabbi. I don’t
know how to describe how unheard of this would have been in the ancient world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Women didn’t approach men in the streets. Men and women didn’t
talk to one another in public unless they were married. And a Jew, a Rabbi
nonetheless, doesn’t engage a Gentile. The Jewish morning blessing, Birkot
Hashachar included “Blessed are you God, Sovereign of the universe who did not
make me a Gentile” and another that “God did not make me a woman” (Axelrod).” Yet,
here is Jesus speaking to both in public. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">She kneels before Jesus undeservedly. She has not earned the
right to be heard. She has not kept the law perfectly. She is a simple woman
with a simple request she simply seeks mercy for her terribly demonized
daughter. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Jesus tells her we don’t give food meant for our children to
the guard dogs. To which she counters, yes but the dogs that sleep with the
family are free to eat even small scraps that fall from the table. Have you
seen the Bounty ad where the dog is thinking “Yessss!” as the dropped food
slides toward the table? I love Jesus’ answer. “<i>O woman, great is your
faith”</i> (v.28). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">He hadn’t found this faith among the Pharisees or those blindly
caught up in following the rules in an attempt to be reconciled. He finds in
among the pagan who knew her need. John Hamm who starred on <i>Mad Men</i> did
a stint in rehab and when interviewed about it said, “. It’s not a weak move to
say, ‘I need help.’ In the long run, it’s way better because you have to fix it
(Bagley).” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p><b style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;">Application</b></p><p class="MsoTitle"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">I believe the truth in this passage is extremely important for
us. Like the Pharisees and the religious crowd who looked to them for truth it
becomes easy to become performance-driven. This happens when we measure the
spiritual faithfulness by some outward measure. It can be simply whether the
person goes to church. It can revolve around the way they talk in public. It
used to be based on how a person dressed on Sunday morning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon">Pharisees put the emphasis on keeping the law and they had good
reason because they believed that the exile into Babylon was caused by the
people <i>not</i> keeping the law. In the centuries since it had become
something less.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">As we
follow Jesus today, in the midst of a world gone crazy, who do we listen to in
order to hear what is true, critical, right, pure, and of God? You and I are
tempted to let Facebook and YouTube define the way we live rather than looking
into God’s Word. We are tempted to let our view of legislation and politicians influence
what we pronounce as ‘good’ rather than listen to Christ and the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">As we
continue toward a hotly contested election and the current pandemic It is more
important than ever to humbly submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything other than Christ (as revealed in
Gods' Written Word) is a blind guide. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;">Works Cited</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Axelrod (Cantor), Matt. "Birkot Hashachar: Giving
Thanks Each Morning | My Jewish Learning." My Jewish Learning. Web. 15
Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bagley, Christopher. "Jon Hamm On Life After Mad Men
and Why Being Single "Sucks"." InStyle. 2017. Web. 14 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids,
MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The
Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;">Works Consulted</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Axelrod (Cantor), Matt. "Birkot Hashachar: Giving
Thanks Each Morning | My Jewish Learning." My Jewish Learning. Web. 15
Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bagley, Christopher. "Jon Hamm On Life After Mad Men
and Why Being Single "Sucks"." InStyle. 2017. Web. 14 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bonnard, Pierre. L’Evangile Selon Saint Matthieu, 2nd ed.
(Neuchâtel, 1970) p.229<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bornkamm, G., Barth, G., and Held, H. J. Tradition and
Interpretation in Matthew (London, 1963)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bullock, Ian. "Why Are We Offended? - Sermon for Proper
15 - Year A." Sermon Central. 2020. Web. 13 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Liddell, H.G. A lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s
Greek-English lexicon 1996 : n. pag. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids,
MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The
Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Newman, Barclay M., Jr. A Concise Greek-English dictionary
of the New Testament. 1993 Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Robinson, Haddon. "To Illustrate." Leadership
Journal 1983: n. pag. Print.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Smillie, “‘Even the Dogs’: Gentiles in the Gospel of
Matthew,” 73–97<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Snyder, Benjamin J. “Clean and Unclean.” Ed. Douglas Mangum
et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014 : Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><o:p> </o:p></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-32582510663937831912020-08-07T14:41:00.003-07:002020-08-07T14:41:14.137-07:00I Got You!<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> <b><span style="color: #38761d;">A universal truth in life is that we will have stress.</span></b> Acute’ stress is short-lived, situational,
but can be earth-shattering—death of a friend, stuck in traffic, argument with
a spouse, child, or boss. Acute stress passes. Following an experiment
demonstrating how acute stress can
increase mental acuity one doctor wrote, “I think intermittent stressful events
are probably what keeps the brain more alert, and you perform better when you
are alert,” she said (</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sanders</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">)</span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Chronic stress is just nasty, it increases risks like<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> “chronic obesity, heart
disease and depression (Sanders)." Chronic stress can come from the constant presence of acute stressors partnered with no way to escape. There is
no control over those things that bring chronic stress into our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The biggest contribution to date by atheist Dr. Richard Dawkins
(IMHO), is gifting the world with the word ‘meme’. They are important because
they allow us to deal with some of the stressors we face in our world on a
daily basis. ‘Memes have become a very common part of social media culture
(</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Cole-Black</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">).” These photos, quips, and the like summarize what we have been
thinking for too long. The purpose run the gamut from pure entertainment to
“how we record our history through our lens (Cole-Black)” commented a
20-year-old. “Memes have become a common way of processing fear and tragedy
through humor (Al-Heeti)." Our laughter does help with acute and chronic
stress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">COVID-19, international political issues, and even killer wasps
are just a few of the stressors in our life—acute and chronic. Couple these
with the normal stresses we face—kids, work, homes, and the rest and it becomes
very desirable to find a place free from stress. You might recall the old
commercial “Calgon take me away”, but UC Berkeley did a study in which an
amoeba, living in a stress-free situation didn’t thrive, but died (Ortberg 47).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">If we are going to face stress and we need stress to continue
to live how can we manage what happens so as to honor God? First, when God
appears in the midst of our stressed lives, He will demand a response from us.
Often, what God calls us to isn’t simple, clear-cut, or easy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Jesus, walking on the water is in all the gospels except Luke.
Only Matthew tells us of Peter walking on the lake. We’ve seen this story in
our minds a million times. A storm on Galilee, seasoned fishermen trying to
row. A mysterious person walking toward the boat. And in a moment of faith Peter
calls to Jesus and the Lord invites Peter to join him. Peter becomes fearful,
sinks and Jesus grabs him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The fact is there is no storm. They are rowing into the wind
which is difficult. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John alone says the
“sea rose” which could be a rough chop to large swells. Four of those, at least,
fished for a living. They knew what they were doing out on Galilee. They’d
rowed and sailed that lake almost daily. This trip wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t
as fearful as when the woke Jesus up certain they were going to die. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">It was about 3 a.m. and these men had been rowing and covered about
three or four miles by 3 a.m. They weren’t afraid of the wind or the weather
but when they saw someone <span class="ScriptureChar">“walking on the sea”</span>
and <span class="ScriptureChar">“they were terrified.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the weather but an apparent ghost
coming toward them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Jesus knows they’re afraid and identifies Himself. Peter
exhibits some faith when he <span class="ScriptureChar">“Lord, if it is you,
command me to come to you on the water.”</span> Peter climbs over the side and
starts to walk toward Jesus. We don’t know how far he got but we do know is that
the wind was easier to notice than Jesus and so he sank shouting for Jesus who
grabs Peter, saves him, and calms the winds. Question Peter’s faith all you
want but how many of us would have even stepped over the side? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"><b><i>Peter recognizes Jesus</i></b></span></h1>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">What gives Peter the guts to do the unthinkable is that Peter recognized
Jesus. He’s afraid, like the rest, but he’s also sure that if this really is
Jesus everything will be okay. It is John 21 in which Peter recognizes Jesus
and plunges into the lake to swim to shore. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">If we’re waiting for God and God shows up it’s a good thing to
be able to recognize Him. I wonder how many people have missed God’s call and
purpose by failing to recognize Him and His call. Lois Prater, in 1991 at 76
years-old she sold her Seattle-area home and most of her belonging and became a
full time missionary into orphans in the Philippines. She started an orphanage
there and in the 13 years she was there she <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">“suffered a broken leg, been hospitalized with pneumonia
and tuberculosis, and has been ill with intestinal worms during her tenure in
the Philippines. The hot weather, the spicy food and the distance from her
family add to her hardships… My only regret is I didn’t start earlier when I
was young (Wood).’’<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote><p></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Had she recognized Christ early on can you imagine what might
have happened. You know those who have recognized Jesus’ claim on their lives.
Some step out in faith and others reason themselves out of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;"><b><i>Acting on what Jesus says</i></b></span></h1>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Peter doesn’t question Jesus’ intent when he says, <span class="ScriptureChar">“If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”</span>
Read ‘if’ as ‘since’ and you understand that Peter is confessing his belief in
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Those who recognize Jesus have to ask if we believe that He
knows what’s best? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus tells us
to not be afraid do, we believe Him and throw our leg over the side of the
boat? I wish I could shout, “Of course, here I come Jesus” or do we talk
ourselves out of it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">In obedience to Jesus and with a faith in Christ’s word Peter
walked to Jesus and sank. This happened because Peter focused on his situation
and not the savior. Peter was distracted by the wind so that he lost sight
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Today, in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic where is God?
What does He call us to do? I haven’t received a vision of God’s wishes, but I
can tell you that it is easy to get swamped by the details and the destructive
power of the stress and lose sight or our Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Let me offer us some guidance from God’s Word as we go through
this time of stress. Approach any and all answers, truth, stories, and even
your own feelings with a humble attitude. Being humble doesn’t mean we believe
everything we hear and read but that we, like Mary that first Christmas, <span class="ScriptureChar">“pondered all these things”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span class="ScriptureChar"><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><span class="ScriptureChar">Secondly, remember that God is in
charge. The “devil may be in the details” but the real, life changing power is
in Christ. In the 1978 movie, Superman there is a scene in which Lois falls off
the Daily Planet and, of course she is caught by Superman who says,</span><span class="ScriptureChar"><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="SermonQuoteCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpFirst"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> Easy, miss. I've got you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="SermonQuoteCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You - you've got me? Who's got you (Donner)?”</span></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuoteCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We will sink from time to time. We can fall into thinking we
know best. We can even believe we’re doing what God wants us to do when we know
it goes against Jesus teaching. Even in the midst of such things we’ve been
‘got’ by Jesus. One last thought—as safe as staying on board may seem, it was
not where Peter belonged. No matter how ‘safe’ your life is. No matter how safe
and secure you want it to be. No matter how uneventful you desire to live your
life. Jesus has other plans for us. I pray we will not be so afraid of
abandoning ship that we abandon our first love instead. Let’s pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="Sermon"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><b>Works Cited</b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Al-Heeti,
Abrar. "Coronavirus Memes Help an Isolated World Cope With 'Existential
Dread'." CNET. 2020. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Cole-Black,
Ameena. "The Purpose of Memes." BEACON. 2020. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Donner,
Richard. Superman. Hollywood: Warner Bros., 1978. film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Ortberg,
John. If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of The Boat. [S.I.]:
Zondervan, 2008. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Sanders,
Robert. "Researchers Find Out Why Some Stress is Good for You."
Berkeley News. 2013. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wood, Gail.
"Lois Prater's Childhood Missionary Dream Is Fulfilled--At Age 76."
Charisma Magazine. 2002. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="SectionHeadings"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Works Consulted</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Al-Heeti,
Abrar. "Coronavirus Memes Help an Isolated World Cope With 'Existential
Dread'." CNET. 2020. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Cole-Black,
Ameena. "The Purpose of Memes." BEACON. 2020. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Donner,
Richard. Superman. Hollywood: Warner Bros., 1978. film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Ortberg,
John. If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of The Boat. [S.I.]:
Zondervan, 2008. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Sanders,
Robert. "Researchers Find Out Why Some Stress is Good for You."
Berkeley News. 2013. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Wells,
Madeline. "Funny Quarantine Memes to Help You De-Stress." SFGate.
2020. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Wood, Gail.
"Lois Prater's Childhood Missionary Dream Is Fulfilled--At Age 76."
Charisma Magazine. 2002. Web. 7 Aug. 2020.</span></span><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-51088976503453132792020-08-01T08:09:00.000-07:002020-08-01T08:09:06.137-07:00What did you eat today?<div class="WordSection1">
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Matthew 14:13-21 is one of the few experiences shared in
each of the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are very similar in many places,
but it must have been a special reason for John to record it. </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">John, like the
others, is concerned with showing his readers and the world who Jesus is. John
records the intent of the people, to take Jesus and make Him King. Soon
afterward in John 6: 26ff, Jesus confronts the crowd,</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i></i></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i></i><blockquote><i>“Truly, truly, I say
to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because
you ate your fill of the loaves”</i> which leads to verse 35 where Jesus
reveals <i>“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger,
and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”</i></blockquote><i></i></span></blockquote><i></i></h4><p class="SermonBody"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Style2"><font color="#783f04" face="georgia" size="6"><i>Jesus and God</i></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">At the center of God’s creation is Jesus. The tipping point
for all life is found in Jesus. Nothing is grander, more life-changing,
fulfilling, earth-shattering, or joyous than Jesus. Jesus is the Gospel and if
we miss this, we miss everything, <i>everything!</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">I owe a lot in this discussion to the work of Dr. Thomas Torrance,
systematic theologian and Presbyterian with an unwavering belief and trust in
Jesus. His approach to every passage of scripture was to ask, “Who does this
passage say Jesus is (Bester)?” Pastor Garrett Dawson wrote of Torrance, “What
is at stake here is the belief that who we see God to be for us in Jesus Christ
is who God is antecedently and eternally in himself (Dawson).” In other words,
Jesus the perfect, human/divine reality of God who created heaven and earth.
There is no other God than whom God reveals Himself to be in Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Torrance served as a stretcher-bearer in World War 2. He
wrote of coming across a mortally wounded soldier who asked, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote"></p><blockquote>“‘Padre, is God really like Jesus?’ I assured him that he
was the only God that there is, the God who had come to us in Jesus, has shown
his face to us, and poured out his love to us as our Savior. As I prayed and
commended him to the Lord Jesus, he passed away (Torrance 15).”</blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Torrance continues to write of the impression this had made
on him and said, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">“I kept wondering afterward what modern theology and the
Churches had done to drive some kind of wedge between God and Jesus. There is
no hidden God... no God behind the back of the Lord Jesus, but only the one
Lord God who became incarnate in him. 2 Truly, when we try to look into the face of God, it is the face of Jesus Christ revealed in the gospels that comes
before us (ibid.).”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Our sin divided us at Babel and God calls us together at
Pentecost. We broke ourselves into Greeks and Jews; free and slave; male and
female; yet the Kingdom of Christ finds us together as a great multitude of
which the Apostle John writes:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote">I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that
no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and
language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were
wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And
they cried out in a loud voice:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 1.5in;"><i></i></p><blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 1.5in;"><i>“Salvation belongs to our God,<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 1.5in;"><i>who sits on the throne,<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0.6in 12pt 1.5in;"><i>and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10</i></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0.6in 12pt 1.5in;"><i></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Division is the outcome of sin; reconciling--uniting is God’s
work through Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Style2"><b><i><font color="#783f04" size="6">God Cares</font></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">In Matthew’s account of this miracle, something amazing
takes place. Jesus comes ashore and finds a large group of people who had
followed Him, and three things happen. Jesus saw the people, had compassion on
the people, and healed their sick. Jesus didn’t just ‘feel for the people’. The
word translated ‘compassion’ means to have a sense of concern that flows from the
deepest place in which soul-wrenching pain, love, and hurt burn with a life of
their own. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Verse 20 gives us Matthew’s view of what took place, <i>“And
they all ate and were satisfied.”</i> This speaks directly to the physical
hunger they had felt after a day of walking and listening to Christ, but I
think there is a deeper satisfaction that comes from having Jesus feel
compassion for us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">As I pointed out, Jesus knew that there were selfish people
who wanted a King who could keep them fed, as in John 6. But there were also
those who, perhaps for the first time, felt okay.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">I read Isaiah 55:1-5 today and
it is Jesus who invites and fulfills God’s call,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div class="WordSection2"><blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i></i></p><blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i>“Come, everyone who thirsts,<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i> come to the
waters;<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i>and he who has no money,<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i> come, buy and
eat!<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i>Come, buy wine and milk<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i> without money
and without price.</i></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i></i><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="SermonBody">If we are honest with ourselves it is easy to be like those
described in verse 2. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i></i></p><blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in;"><i>“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, </i><i>and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”</i></p></blockquote><p class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 12pt;"><i></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The reason for such forgetfulness, rebellion, or silliness
is that we believe we know best. We don’t seek the way of Christ. I read of a pastor who went to see a speech therapist who was also a
psychologist. Two of his children started having issues with stuttering. He shared how the doctor cursed him out for being at the
root of the problem. The doctor asked when we’d taken a vacation. The pastor tried to get around the question by saying<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonQuote" style="margin-top: 0in;"></p><blockquote> “I was too busy to take time with my family. I
remember I used to say that the Devil never takes a vacation, so why should I?—And
I never stopped to think that the Devil wasn’t to be my example <span style="background: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "gotham a", serif;">(Bayly and Bayly)."</span></blockquote><p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><span style="background: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "gotham a", serif; line-height: 115%;">Who is our example? Who is our
role model?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Style2"><font color="#660000" face="georgia" size="6"><i>God’s in Charge</i></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The disciples were consumed with assumptions. As the day
grew longer “neither Jesus nor the crowd was preparing to bring things to an
end, so they took the initiative (Morris 377).” How like us. We know that “God
helps those who help themselves” right. No! He doesn’t. Those who help
themselves end up worshipping a golden calf, murmuring against God and betray
Jesus, so he might become who Judas wanted Him to be. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Verses 16-18 each begin with the word ‘but’. <i>“But Jesus
said…”</i> and then commands them to feed the people. The nature of this
command is seen in that Jesus uses the pronoun <i><b>“you”</b></i> which, unneeded in Greek, when used makes it even more emphatic—think of it in terms of Jesus using your middle
name when He calls you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The disciples wanted the people to go away. This was how
they handled people who they felt were too inconvenient to see Jesus. They
tried to protect Jesus from parents who wanted their children blessed. They
believed tried to manage Jesus. They saw themselves as the <i>Messianic Chief
of Staff</i> who was to plan Jesus’ agenda and take care of those who, they thought,
He didn’t have time to deal with. </p><p class="SermonBody"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="SermonBody">So, when Jesus issues His command to
the disciples they are rocked on their heels. He doesn’t give them the means to do what He commanded. He doesn't even offer a hint.</p><p class="SermonBody"> <i>“But…we only have five
loaves…”</i> Jesus listens with the intent to do what He had already planned to
do. What He teaches us is to turns <i>ours and</i> their attention away from
the hopelessness of the situation and the easy solution and invites them <i>and
us</i> to think how they <i>and us</i> could help (Morris 377-378).”</p><p class="SermonBody"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Once again Jesus speaks beginning with <i>“but bring them
here to me”</i> the sack lunch they had found. Not only does Jesus ‘satisfy’
the hunger of the people but he demonstrates before 5,000 the fulfillment of
manna given from God to the people. He shows His compassion is not reserved for
those who bring perfect lambs to the temple but all who are far off. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">Let me close, reminding us to remember <i>who</i> and <i>whose
</i>we are. I was blessed to have Dr. Abd-al-Malik teach Hebrew at Fuller. I
didn’t learn much Hebrew, but I became acquainted with a man who lived a life
he described as “teaching is my spiritual child (Barber).” Among the things I
learned was to “Trust Allah and believe” by the way Allah simply means God in
Arabic and probably flows from the ancient term El for God in Job and
elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody">The other thing I remember is his humility. When someone
would say, “Dr. Malik” he would often stop us and explain “it’s Abd-al-Malik,
the <i>servant of the King</i> I am not the King, that is Jesus.” May we
remember we are the servant of God and not speak and ask as if we are a god…
Let’s pray.<o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Works Cited</b></p><p class="Style2"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="1">Bayly, Joseph, and Timothy
Bayly. Out Of My Mind. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="1">Barber, Mary. "Everybody's
'Favorite Teacher' At Cal State L.A. Doesn't Intend to Become History Just
Yet." Los Angeles Times. 1985. Web. 31 July 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="1">Bester, Joco. "More Than A
Miracle." Sermon Central. 2013. Web. 29 July 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="1">Dawson, Gerrit Scott.
"Recovering the Ascension For The Transformation of the Church."
Theology Matters 2001: 1ff. Print.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="1">Morris, Leon. The Gospel
according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans;
Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font size="1">Thomas F. Torrance, A Passion
for Christ, Lenoir: PLC Publications, 1999, p. 15</font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Works Consulted</span></b></p><p class="Style2"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Amenyah, Ivy
Drafor. "Feeding the Five Thousand." Sermon Central. 2017. Web. 29
July 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Bayly, Joseph,
and Timothy Bayly. Out Of My Mind. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House,
1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Barber, Mary.
"Everybody's 'Favorite Teacher' At Cal State L.A. Doesn't Intend to Become
History Just Yet." Los Angeles Times. 1985. Web. 31 July 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Bester, Joco.
"More Than A Miracle." Sermon Central. 2013. Web. 29 July 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Dawson, Gerrit
Scott. "Recovering the Ascension For The Transformation of the
Church." Theology Matters 2001: 1ff. Print.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Hagner, Donald A.
Matthew 14–28. Vol. 33B. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1995. Print. Word Biblical
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Hendriksen,
William, and Simon J. Kistemaker. Exposition of the Gospel According to
Matthew. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001. Print. New
Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Jackson.
"Facebook Post Inspires Michigan Mail Carrier to Give Kidney To
Stranger." MLive. 2019. Web. 1 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Köster, Helmut.
“Σπλάγχνον, Σπλαγχνίζομαι, Εὔσπλαγχνος, Πολύσπλαγχνος, Ἄσπλαγχνος.” Ed. Gerhard
Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich. Theological dictionary of
the New Testament 1964– : 548–559. Print.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Morris, Leon. The
Gospel according to Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B.
Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992. Print. The Pillar New Testament
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Rushford, Greg.
"What Is The Role Of The White House Chief Of Staff? - Dummies."
dummies. 2012. Web. 1 Aug. 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><font size="1">Thomas F.
Torrance, A Passion for Christ, Lenoir: PLC Publications, 1999, p. 15</font><o:p></o:p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="SermonBody"><br /></p></div>Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-53167588733866833502020-05-30T10:43:00.005-07:002020-05-30T10:45:48.337-07:00All Together Now!<br />
<div class="Sermon">
<i><span style="color: #990000;">Have you ever had a ‘bad’ week? Someone once said, “You can
tell you’re going to have a bad week when a camera crew from 60-minutes is in
the office on Monday and would like to ask you some questions.”</span></i> Here are some
other possible ways you can tell things are going to get hairy. The
orthodontist says your kid needs braces and then asks if you think the blue or
silver BMW is nicer. Your spouse gives you a ticket to Fiji for your
anniversary, but there is only one, and it is one-way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Let me suggest that when God pours Himself into your life your
week is going to more than terrific, it is going to be spectacular. That is
precisely what happened on Pentecost in Jerusalem.<span> </span>What Jesus had promised happened. They had
waited, as Jesus told them, and the Paraclete, counselor, comforter, God’s
advocate was present with them, upon them, and within them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Former Chaplain of the Senate and Pastor at Hollywood Pres., Lloyd
Ogilvie wrote, “The greatest need in the church today is for contemporary
Pentecost (Ogilvie 56).” That was his conclusion after taking a year to
discover the great need people had for a sense of power in their lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
At 67 I find myself wishing I this or that ability I had when I
was 40. In transitioning from a home to assisted living I hear the pain caused
by losing control of their lives, their future. It is <i>very obvious </i>with
this pandemic how many of us want things to go back to being normal and we
chafe under the thought that things may never be ‘<i>normal</i>’ again. When
the world is shifting all around us it becomes difficult to find an anchor on
which we can depend. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
As hard as it is to ‘trust God’ in such times, the answer to our
lack of control is found in Christ and his presence and power—in Pentecost. In
the matter of a few minutes, the lives of 120 people were uprooted by God. A
weird sound and a strange sight moved 120 people from a room into the streets.
It made fishermen apostles, it made shopkeepers into evangelists, it took women
and caused their voices to shout God’s praise to the street in languages they
may have never heard. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Together Before</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="Sermon">
A keyword used to describe those people is “together”. <i>“When
the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place”</i> v2. They
were together because that’s what Jesus had told them to do, back in 1:4-5 <i>“he
ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the
Father, …but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days
from now.”</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Together, describes these people, before and after the Holy
Spirit comes. Before, they were <i>together</i> waiting. After, they were <i>together</i>
as a force. Before, they were <i>together</i> but powerless. After, thousands
wanted to be <i>together</i> with them. This wasn’t mass hysteria but a God
thing. They ran into the street among the gathering crowd together but not the
same. In an instant, the Holy Spirit delivered them from “the limitations of
their Galilean speech (Peterson 134) so that those who had gathered at the
sound were hearing God being praised in their own languages. “It was not simply
a miracle of hearing: it was a miracle of speech (Peterson 134)” because they
were enabled <i>“as the Spirit gave them utterance”</i> v4. This is what the
Holy Spirit does with gifts, 1 Co 12:11 <i>“All these are empowered by one and
the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as <b>he</b> [Holy
Spirit] wills”.</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>Together After</i></span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div class="Sermon">
After some 3,000 people respond to Peter’s sermon, ‘together’
is used three times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“All the believers were <b>together</b> and had everything
in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
Every day they continued to meet <b>together</b> in the temple courts. They
broke bread in their homes and ate <b>together</b> with glad and sincere
hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:44-47
NIV </blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote">
The ESV uses ‘together’ twice. It describes their meeting in
the temple and breaking bread in v. 46. Either way, they were supporting and
caring for one another in a way that was unique, even in a culture that honored
hospitality. Read through Acts 2-6 and you’ll see successes and tensions to
this togetherness. Yet, God continually brings his people together. So much so,
the summary for chapter 2 that <i>“the Lord continued to add to their number
daily those who were being saved”</i> (v. 47).</div>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b>Together Today</b></i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="Sermon">
How can we live a <i>together</i> style life today? Above
everything else, it comes from, is powered by, and brings glory and honor to God
and God alone. Look back at verse 47, <i>“The<b> LORD continued to add</b>…” </i>their
cleverness didn’t work, nor does our nifty programs. <i>“The <b>LORD continued
to add</b>…”</i> it wasn’t their keeping the rules of the law, and it doesn’t
happen because we are polite and don’t wear a hat in worship. The rich guy in
Mark 10 asks what it takes to be saved and Jesus said you know the
commandments. His response was, <i>“Teacher, all these I have kept from my
youth”</i>. Yet he walks away unsaved. Why? Because it isn’t our good deeds
that brings about salvation, it is God and God alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
To be together today demands a humble spirit, to see us as God
sees us. There is a story about Teddy Roosevelt that comes from a traveling
companion and friend, William Beebe. He wrote, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 6pt 0.85in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
After an evening of talk...we
would go out on the lawn, where we took turns at an amusing little astronomical
rite. We searched until we found, with or without glasses, the faint heavenly
spot of light-mist beyond the lower left-hand corner of the Great Square of Pegasus,
when one or the other of us would recite:<br /><span style="font-style: normal;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->That is the Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda.<br /> <span style="font-style: normal;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is as large as our Milky Way.<br /> <span style="font-style: normal;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is one of a hundred million galaxies.<br /> <span style="font-style: normal;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It is 750,000 light-years away.<br /><span style="font-style: normal;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It consists of one billion suns, each larger
than our sun."<br />After an interval, Colonel Roosevelt would grin at me and
say: "Now I think we are small enough! Let's go to bed (Beebe 234)." </blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 0.85in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 0.85in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 0.85in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 0in 0.85in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="margin: 0in 0.6in 6pt 0.85in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Beebe concludes, “We must have repeated this salutary ceremony
forty of fifty times in the course of years, and it never palled (ibid.).” Their
simple recitation gave them a humble perspective on life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Does it excite you that God, who created that spiral galaxy
some 750,000 light-years away, sent Jesus to die for us? Do we grasp that this
same God, who sent Jesus to die, insists we do the seemingly impossible? <i>What
is so impossible about telling others about Jesus, healing the sick, feeding
the hungry, clothing the naked, and loving the unlovable? <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Together today must be kindled by the Holy Spirit and cause a
growth in our spiritual vitality and power. Only then can the <i>seemingly</i>
impossible be accomplished. Forget about the source of this power; grow weak;
distant from others, or be forgetful about the things of God and we find
ourselves alone, with no means of support, or compassion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
I was in Hawthorne Nevada for six years, two election cycles.
In each of those years, one of the county commissioners made a Sunday appearance
at worship. He was a good person. I think his name was Lyberger but it doesn’t
matter because he was <i>never</i> together with the followers of Jesus. He was
a good county commissioner. He seemed to be a moral and good person. But the
proof he was <i>not </i>together with us came during a graveside service one
afternoon.<span> </span>Harry Kumler, the funeral
director in Hawthorne and a faithful member and deacon asked, what church he attended.
He told Harry, “I’m a Presbyterian.” To which Harry simply said, “Funny, I’ve
never seen you there.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
God’s love, God’s Holy Spirit will continue to challenge us to
be <i>together</i> with-others even as he moves us out into the streets and smack-dab-in-the-middle
of messy lives and messy situations. He will call on us to remain together even
as we stand apart from the world taking unpopular stands. The awe and wonder of
it all is that God actually likes using us to do this work. Let’s pray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Works Cited</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beebe, William. The Book of Naturalists. Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1988. Print 234.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lloyd J. Ogilvie Acts.<span>
</span>Volume 28 : The Preacher's Commentary series (Nashville, Tennessee:
Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 56.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids,
MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. Print.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bibliography</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Batterson, Mark. Whisper. Portland: Multnomah, 2017. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Beebe, William. The Book of Naturalists. Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1988. Print 234.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Brown, David, A. R. Fausset, and Robert Jamieson. A
Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New
Testaments: Acts–Revelation. VI. London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, &
Company, Limited, Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English
lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996 : V 1, p 637
Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Marshall, ‘Significance’, 355. Cf. G. Delling, TDNT
6:128–31, 283–98; Turner, Power, 165–69. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Lloyd J. Ogilvie Acts.<span>
</span>Volume 28 : The Preacher's Commentary series (Nashville, Tennessee:
Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 56.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids,
MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. Print.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Polhill, John B. Acts. Vol. 26. Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Salmond, Roy and Mulder, Mike "Bear the Burden".
Stumbling Heavenward, 1979, LP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Wilson, Andrew. "Paul Says To ‘Be Filled with The
Spirit.’ How Do We Obey A Passive Verb?." ChristianityToday.com. 2019.
Web. 27 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-44455285267692267102020-05-24T17:32:00.001-07:002020-05-24T17:32:24.371-07:00Perception, Power, Purpose<br />
<div class="SermonBody">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk41160019"></a>A great deal on engineering goes
into creating a roadway. Planning, drawings, surveys, planning, GANT charts, and
the rest. There is equipment work, bedding to compact roadway to lay with
expansion joints, decisions about the camber of the road etc. It still can’t be
safely driven on until the asphalt is laid and the markings, signs, lights, and
the rest are in place. Let me suggest that Christ Jesus—firstborn from the
dead—has built a wonderful way to venture home to where we belong. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
In His Ascension, Jesus gives us and His disciples some key
information about our trip home. Until the Holy Spirit came there were no signs
marking lanes, or where the shoulder runs off into the dirt. There was no
signage for what was off the various exits, These safeguards and directional
signs is the work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus (Ac 16:7; Phi 1:19),
as we seek to be obedient to the call of Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
This is a great place to be this week because next Sunday
is Pentecost so preaching about the Holy Spirit is timely. Yet, for some a week
or two about the Holy Spirit is more than enough and the reason for that lack
of trust, faith in, and reliance upon the Spirit of Jesus comes out of the
problems we have with perspective, power, and purpose. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Problem of Perspective</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
I can’t draw worth beans and one reason is I don’t
understand ‘perspective’. But the problem of perspective is more than an issue
for artists. It is something that affects every man, woman, and child. Our
ability to perceive properly is directly related to our human sin. In Romans 1
Paul talks about how humans devolved into lawlessness and in 1:22-3 he says, <i>“<sup>22
</sup>Claiming to be wise, they became fools, <sup>23</sup> and exchanged the
glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and
animals and creeping things" </i>ESV. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
Today there are hundreds, if not thousands, of gods
worshiped by people some not even realizing they are doing it. Many of <i>our</i>
gods, the ones which we unknowingly pay homage too are positive. Jobs,
families, vacation, even health can be an unrealized idol we worship. Our
failed perception labels it ‘the great American Dream’; being loving, or some
other label. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<b><span style="color: #1f3864; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE</span></b><span style="color: #1f3864; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> </span>is the correcting influence
of Christ on our lives. The disciples go into this time with their Lord asking,
<i>"Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to
Israel?"</i> v4. They show their fallen perspective with their immediate,
wish-fulfillment, sin based--even our noblest gestures are touched, and “bent”.
A term used by C.S. Lewis to describe the complete and utter failure which
occurred at the Fall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
We are concerned with the <i>“now”,</i> but God’s
perspective is eternal, long-range and not dependent on any “if/then scenarios”.
Yet, His detailed attention is down to the smallest atom. Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie
wrote of Jesus, “He knew that the new kingdom people had to be those who could
wait for the Lord’s best, and on His time schedule (Ogilvie 37).” He called
this time the “period between the lightning and the thunder (ibid). Do we trust
God’s perspective? Are we okay with not knowing? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
That is God’s design for us and we do well to remember that
God is always is <i>on time, and in time—never late, never early</i> (ibid). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Problem of Power</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
Our culture celebrates power, grabs power, seeks power, and
abuses power. And that is our human experience since creation. Jesus’ closest
friends were seemingly unable to keep their eyes off the new Davidic kingdom.
Israel would be free and powerful. “Restore” is to bring back something into
its original state of existence. To "reestablish, restore; cure, make
well; send or bring back (Newman)” is another stab at explaining the varied
meaning of this word. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<b><span style="color: #1f3864; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">KINGDOM POWER</span></b><span style="color: #1f3864; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> </span>is God’s earth-shattering
take on a redefinition of what power is and how it is used. This power is given
not grabbed. It is poured out freely upon the undeserving. It is immensely
expensive and yet freely given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can’t
be paid back for it is an act of Grace. God’s love demonstrated to us and
through us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
A month earlier, Jesus had demonstrated what Kingdom power
looked like when he washed the disciple’s feet during dinner. John recalls the
post-meal discussion <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="quote--Sermon">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“Do you understand what I have done to you? <sup>13 </sup>You
call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am <sup>14</sup> If I
then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another's feet. <sup>15</sup> For I have given you an example, that you also
should do just as I have done to you. <sup>16</sup> Truly, truly, I say to you,
a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the
one who sent him. <sup>16</sup> If you know these things, blessed are you if
you do them.”</i></blockquote>
<div class="quote--Sermon">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="quote--Sermon">
As the “<i>rich young </i>ruler” walks away, Jesus teaches us
that, as impossible, as it seems, God is a God of the impossible. Peter asks, <i>“we
have left everything and followed You. What then will we have?”</i> Mt. 19:26-27
to which Jesus concludes His teaching in v. 30, <i>“but many who are first will
be last and the last first”</i>. </div>
<div class="quote--Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
The Kingdom of God turns the world upside down in every
way. It changes hearts and governments. It shakes up families and politics. It
confronts individual, cultural, governmental, and every other place where sin
is found. It comforts all in need, builds up those torn down, and is the reality of
God’s presence in our lives and the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
One way in which Kingdom Power has touched and transformed
lives and neighborhoods is by investment in families. Lake Pointe Church in
Dallas invested $27K. A church in Wyoming, Michigan spent $18K and a Los Angeles
church last Christmas surprised the congregation by spending $53K. Their total
investment paid off just shy of 10 million dollars of medical expenses for
those in their community where they are crushed under that load. One pastor
commented that such debt made their lives impossible, “Most of these folks are
in poverty levels or below poverty levels and there’s no way that it can be
repaid, but they feel the creditor banging on their doors (Allen).” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Problem of Purpose</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
A 2016 survey of 18-24-year-olds found they reported “that
having a clear purpose in life is a big part of being a "real" adult.
The problem is, most young people don't feel like they've found that sense of
purpose (Whelan).” I hate to burst their bubble, but many 50-70-year-olds don’t
know what their purpose in life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
John Shedd commented that “A ship in harbor is safe, but
that is not what ships were built for.” They were meant for the ocean and seas,
to go where it can be dangerous and where disaster might strike at any moment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
You’ll hear a lot of ideas spouted by those in our world
about one’s purpose. Washington Irving said, “Great minds have purposes; others
have wishes” and when someone shouts out just “Follow your dreams” I cannot
help but think of some of the nightmare scenarios I faced in my dreams. One
author, when asked ‘What is the meaning of life?’ wrote, “it has none. Your
life may feel like a big deal to you, but it’s actually a random blip of matter
and energy in an uncaring and impersonal universe (Lawton).” What a horrid
reality and if true then we are the biggest fools in the universe because we
claim there is a spiritual reality in which we fit perfectly for we have been
designed by a loving creator.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<b><span style="color: #1f3864; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">KINGDOM PURPOSE</span></b><span style="color: #1f3864; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> </span>puts us out to sea; takes us
to a strange new land; moves us to embrace a new identity, to become adopted by
God. Then, as all this is happening God tosses water onto a grease fire and
spreads us out as promised here and in Matthew 28. Verse 8 says, <i>“and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth." </i>It also sets forth the way in which Acts is organized. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
The way God moved His people off of dead center takes
place in Acts 6 when Stephen, a deacon is grabbed by other Jews on charges of
blaspheme. He is stoned and Acts 8:1 says, <i>“And there arose on that day a
great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all
scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”</i>.
Remember in Acts 1:8 Jesus’ imparts to us His purpose for our lives… <i>“you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth." </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
When Jesus calls us ‘witnesses’ what does He mean? He means
where are to share ‘History’ with the world—not history but His story. This
year we lost a wonderful evangelist, preacher, and thinker Ravi Zacharias.
Beginning with him there was a new approach to sharing God’s word to an
uncaring world. In 1983 he was tagged by Billy Graham to address the first <i>International
Conference for Itinerant Evangelists</i> in Amsterdam. He decried the tendency
to seek to “humiliate someone of a different worldview that we think unless we
destroy everything, he holds valuable, we cannot preach to him the gospel of
Christ (Fearon).” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
That was not Ravi’s style. He engaged a person in life and
earned the right to speak into their life the news of Jesus. An attendee at
that conference said.+<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“He saw the objections and questions of others not as
something to be rebuffed, but as a cry of the heart that had to be answered.
People weren’t logical problems waiting to be solved; they were people who
needed the person of Christ.” No one was reaching out to the thinker, to the
questioner (Fearon).”</blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote">
The way any and all of it takes place is through Jesus the
Christ and our believing and trusting in Him. Let’s pray.</div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<v:line from="40.45pt,10.55pt" id="Straight_x0020_Connector_x0020_2" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF
dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ
gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI
+gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb
mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu
ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y
ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx
jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5
8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj
MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEAn60Vc+EBAACGBAAA
HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVNuO2yAUfK/Uf0C8dx1bSZpa6+xD
2t2XXlZN+wEI4xgVDhawXufvezDEsayoUtsXCw4zc2a4+P5h0Ir0wjppoKL53YoSAdzUEk4V/fnj
8d2OEucZ1EwZEBU9C0cf9m/f3LPyZFnXSk5QAVzJKtp635VZ5ngrNHN3phOAa42xmnmc2lNWW/aK
ylplxWq1zTSTQPdXqY/MM/Ji5T9IKcN/ifrAoGcOJRUv55XkUfH/V2Yl9E+2O3bPNjjnX/tnS2Rd
Udw5YBq3iGZpIcFwmi1Yp6vA0Fgd8KZpyDCqnMN31BCDJzwW+bXK2283sLz9dAONjWMDHMya8gGO
XegK/SEMl1mKS5ajt0yeWk8OBkBwbywppnyJesk3U3JJcREuXxe7PN9QgmGK7Yfd+80i6Hq33W7X
uJNT3CkAKzvr/JMwmoRBRZUEMV4e1n92Ppq4QEI0BeQV22zWq9UIc0bJ+lEqFRbHOyoOypKeqYr6
oRgx6kV/MXWsoTlkRt0JPh7lTAntKYjFFNn5sxKx/3fR4M3A88ujgfAurj0Z5wJ8njooQHSgNehw
IibnfyImfKCKpsEj+hvyxBg7G7iStQRjb9n2w8VyE/ExfUyN25GuVrZ4gSMq/THCM5/P978BAAD/
/wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54
bWzsWUtvGzcQvhfof1jsvbFkvWIjcmDJctzEL0RKihwpidplzF0uSMqObkVy6qVAgbTooQF666Eo
GqABGvTSH2PAQZv+iA65L1Ki4gdcIChsAcbu7DfD4czszOzwzt1nEfWOMReExW2/eqviezgesTGJ
g7b/aLD92W3fExLFY0RZjNv+DAv/7sann9xB6yNKkiFDfDwIcYQ9EBSLddT2QymT9ZUVMQIyErdY
gmN4NmE8QhJuebAy5ugEFojoymql0lyJEIn9DZAolaAehX+xFIoworyvxGAvRhGsfjCZkBHW2PFR
VSHETHQp944Rbfsgc8xOBviZ9D2KhIQHbb+i//yVjTsraD1jonIJr8G3rf8yvoxhfLSq1+TBsFi0
Xm/Um5uFfA2gchHXa/WavWYhTwPQaAQ7TXWxZbZWu/UMa4DSS4fsrdZWrWrhDfm1BZ03G+pn4TUo
lV9fwG9vd8GKFl6DUnxjAd/orHW2bPkalOKbC/hWZXOr3rLka1BISXy0gK40mrVuvtsCMmF0xwlf
a9S3W6uZ8BIF0VBEl1piwmK5LNYi9JTxbQAoIEWSxJ6cJXiCRhCTXUTJkBNvlwQhBF6CYiaAXFmt
bFdq8F/96vpKexStY2RwK71AE7FAUvp4YsRJItv+fZDqG5Czt29Pn785ff776YsXp89/zdbWoiy+
HRQHJt/7n77559WX3t+//fj+5bfp0vN4YeLf/fLVuz/+/JB42HFpirPvXr978/rs+6//+vmlQ/om
R0MTPiARFt4+PvEesgg26NAfD/nlOAYhIibHZhwIFCO1ikN+T4YWen+GKHLgOti242MOqcYFvDd9
aincD/lUEofEB2FkAfcYox3GnVZ4oNYyzDyYxoF7cT41cQ8ROnat3UWx5eXeNIEcS1wiuyG21Dyk
KJYowDGWnnrGjjB27O4JIZZd98iIM8Em0ntCvA4iTpMMyNCKppJph0Tgl5lLQfC3ZZu9x16HUdeu
t/CxjYR3A1GH8gNMLTPeQ1OJIpfIAYqoafBdJEOXkv0ZH5m4npDg6QBT5vXGWAgXzwGH/RpOfwBp
xu32PTqLbCSX5MglcxcxZiK32FE3RFHiwvZJHJrYz8URhCjyDpl0wfeY/Yaoe/ADipe6+zHBlrvP
zwaPIMOaKpUBop5MucOX9zCz4rc/oxOEXalmk0dWit3kxBkdnWlghfYuxhSdoDHG3qPPHRp0WGLZ
vFT6fghZZQe7Aus+smNV3cdYYE83N4t5cpcIK2T7OGBL9NmbzSWeGYojxJdJ3gevmzbvQamLXAFw
QEdHJnCfQL8H8eI0yoEAGUZwL5V6GCKrgKl74Y7XGbf8d5F3DN7Lp5YaF3gvgQdfmgcSu8nzQdsM
ELUWKANmgKDLcKVbYLHcX7Ko4qrZpk6+if3Slm6A7shqeiISn9sBzfU+jf+u94EO4+yHV46X7Xr6
HbdgK1ldstNZlkx25vqbZbj5rqbL+Jh8/E3NFprGhxjqyGLGuulpbnoa/3/f0yx7n286mWX9xk0n
40OHcdPJZMOV6+lkyuYF+ho18EgHPXrsEy2d+kwIpX05o3hX6MGPgO+Z8TYQFZ+ebuJiCpiEcKnK
HCxg4QKONI/HmfyCyLAfogSmQ1VfCQlEJjoQXsIEDI002Slb4ek02mPjdNhZrarBZlpZBZIlvdIo
6DCokim62SoHeIV4rW2gB625Aor3MkoYi9lK1BxKtHKiMpIe64LRHEronV2LFmsOLW4r8bmrFrQA
1QqvwAe3B5/pbb9RBxZggnkcNOdj5afU1bl3tTOv09PLjGlFADTYeQSUnl5Tui7dntpdGmoX8LSl
hBFuthLaMrrBEyF8BmfRqagXUeOyvl4rXWqpp0yh14PQKtVo3f6QFlf1NfDN5wYam5mCxt5J22/W
GhAyI5S0/QkMjeEySiB2hPrmQjSA45aR5OkLf5XMknAht5AIU4PrpJNmg4hIzD1Koravtl+4gcY6
h2jdqquQED5a5dYgrXxsyoHTbSfjyQSPpOl2g6Isnd5Chk9zhfOpZr86WHGyKbi7H45PvCGd8ocI
QqzRqioDjomAs4Nqas0xgcOwIpGV8TdXmLK0a55G6RhK6YgmIcoqipnMU7hO5YU6+q6wgXGX7RkM
apgkK4TDQBVY06hWNS2qRqrD0qp7PpOynJE0y5ppZRVVNd1ZzFohLwNztrxakTe0yk0MOc2s8Gnq
nk+5a3mum+sTiioBBi/s56i6FygIhmrlYpZqSuPFNKxydka1a0e+wXNUu0iRMLJ+Mxc7Z7eiRjiX
A+KVKj/wzUctkCZ5X6kt7TrY3kOJNwyqbR8Ol2E4+Ayu4HjaB9qqoq0qGlzBmTOUi/SguO1nFzkF
nqeUAlPLKbUcU88p9ZzSyCmNnNLMKU3f0yeqcIqvDlN9Lz8whRqWHbBmvYV9+r/xLwAAAP//AwBQ
SwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAJxmRkG7AAAAJAEAACoAAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJh
d2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHOEj80KwjAQhO+C7xD2btJ6EJEmvYjQq9QHCMk2LTY/JFHs2xvoRUHwsjCz
7DezTfuyM3liTJN3HGpaAUGnvJ6c4XDrL7sjkJSl03L2DjksmKAV201zxVnmcpTGKSRSKC5xGHMO
J8aSGtHKRH1AVzaDj1bmIqNhQaq7NMj2VXVg8ZMB4otJOs0hdroG0i+hJP9n+2GYFJ69elh0+UcE
y6UXFqCMBjMHSldnnTUtXYGJhn39Jt4AAAD//wMAUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhALvlSJQFAQAAHgIA
ABMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFtDb250ZW50X1R5cGVzXS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEArTA/
8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA2AQAAX3JlbHMvLnJlbHNQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAn60V
c+EBAACGBAAAHwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgAgAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnht
bFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCSfYfgHQcAAEkgAAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD4EAABjbGlwYm9hcmQv
dGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnhtbFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AJMLAABjbGlwYm9hcmQvZHJhd2luZ3MvX3JlbHMvZHJhd2luZzEueG1sLnJlbHNQSwUGAAAAAAUA
BQBnAQAAlgwAAAAA
" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" strokecolor="#323e4f [2415]" strokeweight="2pt" style="mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; z-index: 251659264;" to="423.65pt,10.55pt">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
</v:stroke></v:line><o:p> </o:p></div>
<br clear="ALL" style="mso-ignore: vglayout;" />
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Works Cited</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Allen, Karma. "Michigan Church Says It Paid Off Medical
Debt for Nearly 2,000 Families." ABC News. 2020. Web. 19 May 2020<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Fearon, Matthew. "Obituary: Ravi Zacharias."
Rzim.org. 2020. Web. 20 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Johnson, Lauren M. "A Los Angeles Church Is Paying Off
$5.3 Million Of Medical Debt in Its Community." CNN. 2019. Web. 19 May
2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Lawton, Graham. “What is the Meaning of Life?” New Scientist
(9-3-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Newman, Barclay M., Jr. A Concise Greek-English dictionary
of the New Testament. 1993: Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Ogilvie, Lloyd J. Acts. Vol. 28. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson Inc, 1983. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sarkar, Riddhi. "Texas Church Uses Donations to Pay Off
$2.6M In Medical Debt for Families." ABC News. 2019. Web. 19 May
2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Whelan, Christine B. "Seek Your Purpose Before Your
Paycheck," Acculturated blog (5-23-16)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Works Consulted</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk41159954"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Allen, Karma. "Michigan Church
Says It Paid Off Medical Debt For Nearly 2,000 Families." ABC News. 2020.
Web. 19 May 2020.</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Brown, David, A. R. Fausset, and Robert Jamieson. A
Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New
Testaments: Acts–Revelation. VI. London; Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, &
Company, Limited, n.d. Print.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway
Bibles, 2008. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Fearon, Matthew. "Obituary: Ravi Zacharias."
Rzim.org. 2020. Web. 20 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Hughes, Philip Edgcumbe. “Reason, History, and Biblical
Authenticity.” Christianity Today 1969 : 3–6. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Johnson, Lauren M. "A Los Angeles Church Is Paying Off
$5.3 Million Of Medical Debt In Its Community." CNN. 2019. Web. 19 May
2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Ed.
Donald A. Hagner. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Lawton, Graham. “What is the Meaning of Life?” New Scientist
(9-3-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">McDormand, Thomas B. “Church and Government.” Christianity
Today 1965 : 14–15. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Newman, Barclay M., Jr. A Concise Greek-English dictionary
of the New Testament. 1993: Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Patowary, Kaushik. "Before the Internet, What People
Asked New York Public Library's Librarians?" Amusing Planet. 2018. Web. 19
May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Ogilvie, Lloyd J. Acts. Vol. 28. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson Inc, 1983. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sarkar, Riddhi. "Texas Church Uses Donations to Pay Off
$2.6M In Medical Debt For Families." ABC News. 2019. Web. 19 May
2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Whelan, Christine B. "Seek Your Purpose Before Your
Paycheck," Acculturated blog (5-23-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Witherington, Ben, III. The Acts of the Apostles: A
Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
1998. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
(London: Marshall Morgan Scott; repr. 1981), pp. 137–39.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-34685103824763180012020-05-16T08:58:00.003-07:002020-05-16T08:58:57.071-07:00Spoiler Alert! He's Here!<h3 data-pm-slice="0 0 []" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<strong>Thursday morning, unable to sleep, I flipped between the overnight news on CBS and ABC. Coronavirus was the major story with some very sobering statistics offered. </strong></h3>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<b>Perhaps 40% unemployment for those making under $40K. Bright, the former top U.S. vaccine official, stated that the U.S. may face the “darkest winter in modern history” if there is not a coordinated response to this virus. President Trump’s dismissal of Dr. Fauci reluctance to reopen schools, “not an acceptable answer” seemed to bode ill for his tenure. Then there’s the specter of this recent “systemic inflammatory syndrome” that strikes children. </b></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
With all of this, and various sized asteroids buzzing by Earth my thoughts went to Revelation and the return of Christ. I do not think that this pandemic marks the breaking of the fourth seal in Revelation 6:7. But, what I do know is that His return is closer today than it was yesterday, and tomorrow it will be closer still. I also know that God’s Word offers hope and certainty even when our hearts, spirits, and lives are uncertain and doubtful because Christ is <strong><em>already with us</em></strong>. </div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
This hope is found in today’s passage in John. The night Jesus is about to be arrested, he takes pains to make certain his disciples, and we, know we are not left alone. </div>
<h1 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">More than a Helper</span> </strong></h1>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Jesus promises <em>“another </em><strong><em>paraclete</em></strong><em>”</em> whom He identifies as the <em>“Spirit of truth”</em> who <em>“dwells with you and will be in you”</em> v 17. Many versions use the word ‘Helper’ for paraclete but that is a word that smacks of being subordinate or inferior on one’s ability. I see Tonto or Robin, a ‘side-kick’, who ‘lends a hand’ when you need it. </div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
I know too many of you and others who are quick to say, “I don’t need any help” and I don’t want us thinking of the Holy Spirit in this way. Another word used is Counselor. This is okay if we think of it in terms of attorney and not a camp or marriage counselor (Carson 499) who gives advice we can take or ignore, and comforter sounds like a quilt or a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. </div>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
“We have no single word in our language that can express the rich, powerful meaning of “Paraclete,” the English translation of the unique title John uses for this Holy Companion. Para in the Greek means “alongside,” and the root of kletos is ‘to call’ (Fredrikson and Ogilvie 223).”</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Just as Christ is sent into our world so the Holy Spirit, this paraclete, comes to those who believe in Christ. The world at large has no inkling of who the Holy Spirit is or what His role. “The Paraclete is not given to the world which neither sees nor knows Him. As it has been blind and deaf to Jesus, so the world does not know the Paraclete has come (Fredrikson and Ogilvie 224)."</div>
<h1 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming of Jesus</span></h1>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Of all the various discussions about verses 17-18, it seems apparent to me that Jesus is telling His disciples about the coming Easter Sunday. The world, those who cannot believe doesn’t see Jesus’ resurrection. Paul calls Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection <em>“the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men”</em> 1Co 1:24-25. </div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
If the resurrection is false Paul says <em>“your faith is in vain, futile, you are still in your sins”</em>; we <em>“misrepresent God”</em>; <em>“the dead are not raised” </em>and <em>“we are of all people most to be pitied”</em> 2Co 15:14-19. But Paul all but shouts verse 20 when he writes <strong><em>“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”</em></strong></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<strong><em><br /></em></strong></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
When Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples after Easter, they “see him with eyes of faith” (Beasley-Murray 258). Their lives are transformed, expanded, completely opened to God’s reality of eternity. They will, <em>“on that day”, </em>“the relation of Jesus to the Father… will become luminously clear” and “they will then understand that a new union with their risen Lord has become possible, (Beasley-Murray 258)."</div>
<h1 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Keeping Jesus’ Commandments</span></h1>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
All of this teaching is contained within verbal bookends. The bookends are <em>“keep my commands”</em> in verse 15 and <em>“commandments and keeps them”</em> in verse 21. We use the Greek term inclusio to describe such passages. Once you start to look for them, you’ll find they stand out like a haiku or Shakespearean Sonnet</div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
What does it mean to “keep” Jesus’ “commandments” and how does it demonstrate “love”? Keep and obey may seem synonymous but to keep involves observing and paying attention to what we keep. There is a sense in which one protects or guards the object they keep. As if they “keep it in custody, keep back, reserve, maintain, keep firm (Newman).”</div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
If…then is called a conditional statement such as <em>if you mow the lawn then I will let you play</em>, a conditional statement drilled into my skull growing up. But don’t think that we initiate this promise. We don’t demonstrate obedience and watch God and Christ respond to our actions (Carson 503). 1 John 4:19 says, <em>“We love because he first loved us”</em>, I’ll come back to that passage in a moment. <em>“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”</em> John writes in 1 John 5:2. </div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Dr. Bruce Metzger describes the ‘keeping’ as future rather than imperative, meaning that “Jesus neither assumes that his followers love him, nor assumes that they do not… but projects a condition and stipulates its entailment: they will obey (Metzger 245).” Did your parents ever ask you a question like, “You were going to clean your room today? Right.” It isn’t a question but an action you just have not yet completed. It wasn’t debatable, it was a fact.</div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
What commands are we to ‘safeguard’ and ‘attend to’? Dr. Carson wrote,</div>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
"What the one who loves Jesus will observe is not simply an array of discrete ethical injunctions, but the entire revelation from the Father, revelation holistically conceived (Carson 498)." </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Yet the most direct context is the <em>new</em> ‘commandment’ which Jesus gives us in John 13:34-35, <em>34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”</em> Back in 1 John 4:19ff we read, </div>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
“19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
If you expect the Body of Christ, God’s People, the Church to have any impact on the spiritually blinded world around us it will come only as we love one another. </div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
In <em>Today’s Christian Woman</em> a mom told of her daughter, Beverly, who needed to change a dirty shirt in which she was playing. After calling two times with no response, her mother gave her the full three-name call: “'Beverly Elizabeth Provost, did you hear me?' Beverly answered, 'Yes, Mama. My ears did, but my legs didn't' (Provost)."</div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
How you love one another is different for everyone because each of us has a way in which we receive love best. In <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y7qe7gpy"><em>The 5 Love Languages</em></a>, Dr. Gay Chapman speaks of five ways in which we express and receive love they are: </div>
<ul data-rte-list="default">
<li><div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Words of Affirmation </div>
</li>
<li><div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Quality Time</div>
</li>
<li><div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Receiving gifts</div>
</li>
<li><div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Physical Touch</div>
</li>
<li><div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Acts of Service</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
The book is worth reading but I mention it so that we realize we need to be aware of the ways in which our sisters and brothers receive our love when offered. Kenton has a future involved with <em>loving</em> others because Christ has loved us. Let’s keep true to that calling as we pray. </div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div>
<h1 style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Works Cited</span></h1>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Beasley-Murray, George R. John. Vol. 36. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1999. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.</span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.</span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chapman, Gary D. The 5 Love Languages. Chicago: Northfield Pub., 2015. Print.</span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Fredrikson, Roger L., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. John. Vol. 27. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985. Print. The Preacher’s Commentary Series.</span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Metzger, Bruce M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. UBS, 1971. Print. 245</span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Newman, Barclay M., Jr. A Concise Greek-English dictionary of the New Testament. 1993: Print.</span></div>
<div class="" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-74818765934883671532020-05-10T09:00:00.004-07:002020-05-13T14:44:16.382-07:00Finding Your Way Through the Haze<div style="line-height: 1.15;">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" style="line-height: 1.15;" vspace="0">
<tbody style="line-height: 1.15;"><tr style="line-height: 1.15;">
<td align="left" style="line-height: 1.15; padding: 0in;" valign="top">
<p class="SermonBody" style="break-after: avoid; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><b style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">File this under ‘you learn something new every day’.
Discovered a strange genetic anomaly called DTD. Developmental topographical
disorientation occurs in people with no brain injury, lesions, or tumors and it
causes them to be unable to form any sort of mental map. </b><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Mary recounts when
she was 13 years old she was a few blocks from where she was dog-sitting a
friends’ pet. She said, “I had no idea where I was, and my surroundings looked
completely unfamiliar. It was as though I’d been dropped into the middle of a
foreign land (McLaurine).”</span></div></b></div>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">We’ve all heard stories about GPS messing up a trip.
Sometimes they are funny but some end in tragedy and death. Do you recall back
in 2007 the family “stuck in the snow for nine days with few supplies (Neelmann)”
down in Southern Oregon. The father, James Kim tried to walk out and was found
dead trying to get help. Finding one’s way is a serious endeavor. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Unlike the other three gospels, John doesn’t share a lot of
parables or pithy sayings. “In John the style of Jesus’ teaching is that of
long discourses (Ladd 251).” Chapter 14 is part of Jesus’ last night with his
disciples. Matthew and the others don’t share Jesus’ teaching during this time.
But John has taken the time to do it for us. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="Style2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font style="line-height: 1.15;"><font color="#b51200" face="georgia" size="4" style="line-height: 1.15;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;">Who is in Charge?</b></font><font size="2"><o:p></o:p></font></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At the deepest point of one’s life, the key to believing or
not believing is the issue of who is in charge. Jesus claims he is the way, the
truth, and the life, but the emphasis lands on the first of those three. He is
the way because He and the Father are one. He is the way because eternal life
resides in Him and Him alone. Throughout John, Jesus is “God’s gracious
self-disclosure (Carson 491)” the expression of Life not just existence—<span style="font-family: bwgrkl; line-height: 1.15;">zoh, </span>the root for zoology vs. <span style="font-family: bwgrkl; line-height: 1.15;">bio.s</span> from which we get biology. Life that
goes beyond existence to a life worth living. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">We have the Lord of Heaven and Earth stepping down among us
as one of us, to die for us, so we can live with Him. Jesus, who is the Way,
harkens back to Jesus’ statement in v.4 <i style="line-height: 1.15;">“And you know the way to where I am
going”.</i> To which Thomas says, <i style="line-height: 1.15;">“Lord, we do not know where you are
going. How can we know the way?”<o:p></o:p></i></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">When Jesus says, <i style="line-height: 1.15;">“I am the way…” </i>he isn’t cutting a
pathway through the jungle of life and hollering at us to follow and keep up.
He’s not some model of virtue by which we judge our competence in attaining
perfection and love. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="Style1" style="line-height: 1.15;"></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">“He is himself the savior, the lamb of God, the one who so speaks
that those who are in the graves hear his voice and come forth…the one who
alone can say ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’ (Carson 491).”</font></blockquote><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><o:p></o:p></font><p></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">At Amazon’s annual shareholder meeting CEO Jeff Bezos was
taking questions from the shareholders when a lady asked for help returning a
package. Bezos comment, <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="Style1" style="line-height: 1.15;"></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.15;"><p class="Style1" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">“’Yeah, sure we’ll help you with that right after the meeting. Bezos
apologized to the woman for having to ask him for help at the meeting. ‘My
apologies that you had to use this unusual venue to accomplish what should have
been a much simpler task. ‘We’ll also look into the root cause of why that
happened’ (Joyce).” <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">If it is newsworthy that the richest person in the world
should stop to return a package, how much more newsworthy is it that </font></p></blockquote><p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;"><i style="line-height: 1.15;">“The Word
became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood”</i> (MSG). </font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Style2"><font color="#b51200" size="4"><b>Who has our best interest at heart?</b></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">Jesus’ primary purpose here isn’t to teach theology but to
comfort his friends. Consider the night they have had. One of them has left to
betray him while another has been told he would deny Jesus three times. There was
an argument before the meal over who was the greatest. Jesus washed each of their
feet causing confusion. There’s was talk of arrest and death. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">We face a similar unsettling, fearful, and even
overwhelming world, much like the disciple that night. And Jesus’ words to us
are the same, <i style="line-height: 1.15;">“Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God and believe
also in me.” </i>He commands them to "stop allowing their hearts to be in
turmoil". Instead, they are to believe and to continue to believe in God
and in himself. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">That seems to be a good word for us, today? Is your heart
troubled by this 125 nm, a microscopic virus has changed our planet? Maybe not.
Maybe you’re totally at peace because you are used to staying home, not
working, and love spending time by yourself or with loved ones. But for some
this has been a very troubling time. They or a loved one are in the ‘high
risk’ categories. Financially they have fallen on hard times as hours have been
cut or jobs just disappear. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">My life has been upended by this. I was cut and then given
too many hours at Staples. I’ve learned more about video broadcast, production,
and the rest than I ever really needed to know. And I’ve had to put them to
use.<span style="line-height: 1.15;"> </span>Guess what? I haven’t a clue as to what
the answer is except, I know Christ is Lord and God is on the throne. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">The early church faced persecution for <i style="line-height: 1.15;">not</i> believing
in the various gods and idols. They were seen as week and stupid when they were
merciful and caring. Yet Peter reminds us that we have become a people and have
received mercy because we have built our lives on the ‘cornerstone’ of Jesus
Christ. It has changed our identity. It has secured our future. It secures a
future in which our trust in Christ is honored even as others continually take
offense at Christ.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">So, recklessly go back to the ‘normal’ of January 2020 and
face a new round of infections or stay isolated and locked down for months
really doesn’t matter, or shouldn’t to one who trusts that Christ is <i style="line-height: 1.15;">“the
way, the truth and the life”</i>. <span style="line-height: 1.15;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="SermonBody" style="line-height: 1.15;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 1.15;">The centuries haven’t changed Jesus’ promises. Our life
situations haven’t changed Jesus’ promises. Even our response to what is going
on doesn’t change Jesus’ promise. Because he is the Alpha and the Omega who was
and is and is to come. Uncertain of what life holds? Take heart and be certain
that Jesus is the way. Uncertain in the midst of the changing situations all
around us? Take heart and be certain that Jesus is the Way and the truth.
Uncertain in the midst of the possibility of illness or death? Take heart and
be certain that Jesus is <i style="line-height: 1.15;">“the way, the truth, and the life”</i> Can you be
certain in uncertain times? You can if your certainty rests in Christ. Let’s pray.</font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><b><font color="#b51200" face="georgia" size="4">Works Cited</font></b></p><p class="SermonBody"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1">Joyce, Kathleen. "Amazon Customer Asks Jeff Bezos
During Shareholder Meeting for Help Returning Package: Report." Fox
Business. 2019. Web. 7 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1">Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Ed.
Donald A. Hagner. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1">McLaurine, Mary. "I Can't Follow A Map Or Directions,
And At 61 I Still Get Lost And Frightened," Washington Post 2017. Web. 7
May 2020.<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="1">Neelmann, Sol. "The Kim Family's Tragic Journey."
oregonlive. 2007. Web. 7 May 202</font>0.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="SermonBody"><b><font color="#b51200" face="georgia" size="4">Bibliography </font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Beasley-Murray, George R. John. Vol. 36. Dallas: Word,
Incorporated, 1999. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">"Donaldina Cameron House." Flickr. 2014. Web. 6 May
2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Fitzpatrick, Elyse M. Because He Loves Me. Wheaton: Good News
Publishers/Crossway Books, 2009. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Hengel, Martin. “Raising the Bar: A Daring Proposal for the
Future of Evangelical New Testament Scholarship.” Christianity Today 2001 :
77–79. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Kauffman, Richard. "Reflections: Cross and
Resurrection." Christianity Today 2003: Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Joyce, Kathleen. "Amazon Customer Asks Jeff Bezos During
Shareholder Meeting For Help Returning Package: Report." Fox Business.
2019. Web. 7 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">King, John. "Plain Church Amid the Pagodas." SF
Gate 2009. Web. 6 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Ed.
Donald A. Hagner. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Liddell, H.G. A lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s
Greek-English lexicon 1996 Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Lust, Johan, Erik Eynikel, and Katrin Hauspie. A
Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint : Revised Edition 2003 Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Lowe, Janet. Oprah Winfrey Speaks. Wiley, 1998. Print. 122<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">McLaurine, Mary. "I Can't Follow A Map Or Directions,
And At 61 I Still Get Lost And Frightened," Washington Post 2017. Web. 7
May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Neelmann, Sol. "The Kim Family's Tragic Journey."
oregonlive. 2007. Web. 7 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Newman, Barclay M., Jr. A Concise Greek-English dictionary of
the New Testament. 1993 : 7. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Newman, Barclay Moon, and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on
the Gospel of John. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993. Print. UBS Handbook
Series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Snibbe, Kurt. "Coronavirus: Here’s How Small the Enemy
is and How it Attacks – Orange County Register." Ocregister.com. N.p.,
2020. Web. 7 May 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Thielicke, Helmut. Christ and the Meaning of Life.
Lutterworth Press, 1988. Print.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0Portland, OR 97217, USA45.590873400000007 -122.693169817.280639563821161 -157.84941980000002 73.901107236178859 -87.5369198tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-24793127805029000242020-05-02T17:57:00.000-07:002020-05-02T17:57:03.531-07:00Living LIfe to the Fullest<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YlI5iD56xc/Xqt0tdMjG7I/AAAAAAADbhg/pYIx9cZBWeknGfPX55tVzAV2QN5fWXdgwCEwYBhgL/s1600/sunset_19879cp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YlI5iD56xc/Xqt0tdMjG7I/AAAAAAADbhg/pYIx9cZBWeknGfPX55tVzAV2QN5fWXdgwCEwYBhgL/s200/sunset_19879cp.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<span style="background-color: white;">You are rightfully hearing about those on the front lines of
this COVID-19. There is one group that is on the front line but hasn’t been as
busy as usual and those are the men and women who work in ‘search and rescue’. There
was some fisherman pulled off a boat by the Coast Guard in January (Fields) and
they also pulled a couple and a dog off a boat, and three hikers found by
Tillamook County who arrested two of them (Ryan). </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon0">
Each county has men and women volunteers trained to go out and
find the lost. Washington County primary SAR team is Explorer Post 877 (Search
and Rescue) and overall since 1993 the Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue
“have responded to nearly 1,000 missions (PNW SAR). These are people you do <i>not</i>
want to need but they are people who you <i>desperately</i> desire if you or
someone you know is lost. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="sermon0">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></b></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="color: #7f6000;">We get lost</span></b></h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
Sheep are not totally helpless just almost totally helpless. They
run away from a threat and then gather as a flock and stare at the threat. As a
rule, sheep don’t have a good long-term memory. Is it no wonder that God says, <i>“All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way”</i> (Is
53:6).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
Because we, like sheep, are vulnerable we need a shepherd to
protect us. We need a shepherd who puts himself between us and the threats that
seek to destroy us. We need a shepherd to lead us, supervise us, and guide us
moment-by-moment. The second part of Isaiah 53:6 says, <i>“and the LORD has
laid on him the iniquity of us all.” </i>On course the Him is Jesus, God’s
beloved Son.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;">We are kept safe</span></b></div>
<div class="sermon0">
In the ANE (ancient near east) a sheep pen was a communal area surrounded by walls
or created with brambles and such which wouldn’t allow a predator easy access. There
would be a break or doorway in the wall that let the sheep enter and leave. In
the open, with no proper door, a shepherd would sleep across the entrance. They
would be able to tell if a sheep tried to leave or something or someone tried
to escape, or a predator came to attack the flock. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon0">
Just like we’ve been told with this COVID-19 containment equals
safety. We contain the virus by living in containment—<b> “Stay Home—Stay Safe”</b>. The
difference is that Jesus tells us <i>“anyone enters by me they will be saved
and will go in and out and find pasture”</i> (v9). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">To be able to come and go unmolested was the Jewish way of describing
a life that is absolutely secure and safe. When people can go in and out
without fear, it means that their country is at peace, that the forces of law
and order are supreme, and that they enjoy perfect security (Barclay 68)."</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="Style1">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style1">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon0">
We can’t enter by morality, claiming we’re as nice as other
people. We can’t claim that we have a right to enter because our dear sainted
grandmother was inside the fold. We can’t gain entrance just because we’re a
part of a congregation, even if we’re active in a congregation (Butterworth).
That was what the Jewish leaders believed. No, salvation is “not a human right
but a gift of God’s grace…we are not saved because we admire Jesus but because
we repent of our sins and trust Him and him alone as our Lord and Savior
(Wiersbe 55).”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon0">
This isn’t saying that we can do what we want when we want.
It is telling us that the freedom we have to do what we desire, to enter and
leave, is only because the shepherd provides safety and peace. Left to
ourselves, we breed chaos. Under Christ’s Lordship, we find His peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<b><span style="color: #7f6000;"><br /></span></b></div>
<h2>
<b><span style="color: #7f6000;">Shepherds are different than Rabbis</span></b></h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
We read Psalm 23 and about shepherds in the New Testament and
have a pretty good view of them but “no position in the world was so despised
as that of the shepherd (Jeremias V 6, p 489).” According to a teaching of the
Pharisees were "like the publicans and tax-gatherers they were
deprived of civil rights, i.e., they could not fulfill a judicial office or be
admitted in court as witnesses (Jeremias V 6, p 489).”</div>
<div class="Style2">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
How strange it is that Jesus in this allegory references those
who would “<i>steal and kill and destroy” </i>(v10) to be the Pharisees and
those who attacked the man whom Jesus had just healed in chapter nine. Jesus is
the one who protects His people from those who seek to destroy them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon0">
He does that because we listen and know His voice. Isaac
Hoopii was with the Pentagon Police on 9/11. After the crash, he immediately
helped those around him. One account says that he started to go into the
building with no mask or protective gear and shouted, “We gotta get people.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Suffocating on smoke, Hoopii heard the building
cracking. He called out, "Is anybody in here? Anybody here?"</span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wayne Sinclair and five coworkers were crawling through
rubble and had lost all sense of direction when they heard Hoopii's voice. They
cried out, and Hoopii responded. "Head toward my voice. Head toward my
voice." Following his voice, Sinclair and the others soon made their way
out of the crumbling building (Kelly).</span></i></blockquote>
There are a lot of voices that lead us into danger not away from it, I know those voices well. The most well-meaning voice can lead us to death if we do not hear and heed the voice of our Lord and Savior. <div class="quote--Sermon">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="quote--Sermon">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #7f6000;">Jesus provides the Ultimate SAR</span></h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
I’m not talking about the joke about trusting Jesus to save
you when two boats and a helicopter offer to save you from danger. I’m talking
about the means of salvation which is eternally serious. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon0">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
Jesus proclaims his purpose is to come and “give life and that
abundantly”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One study bible describes
this as a life that is, “rich, full, joyful life, one overflowing with
meaningful activities under the personal favor and blessing of God and in
continual fellowship with his people (Crossway Bibles)." “It is an
overflowing measure (Hendriksen V2, p110).”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
The New Testament uses this word, almost always as a
description of a “fullness present and proclaimed in the age of salvation
(Hauck V6. P59) thus eschatological or dealing with the fullness of God’s
Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon">
At the end of the Passover seder, those gather and sing “<i>Next Year
in Jerusalem</i>”. It has been a prayer and hope since at least the 15<sup>th</sup>
century ("L'shana Haba'ah").” I would suggest we change it to our
situation. Since we would usually celebrate Communion now and it is something we do <i>together</i>
as the Body of Christ. Perhaps we should start saying, “Next month together in
worship.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the meantime, give yourself over to Christ and let Him lead and
direct you because only in that way, can the promise of Christ be fulfilled
through us as his sheep. Peace. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">Works Cited</span></h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Barclay, William. The Gospel of John. Vol. 2. Louisville,
KY: Edinburgh, 2001. Print. The New Daily Study Bible.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Borchert, Gerald L. John 1–11. Vol. 25A. Nashville: Broadman
& Holman Publishers, 1996. Print. The New American Commentary.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Butterworth, Isaac.
"Sermon: You Gotta Come in Through the Door - Shared By Isaac
Butterworth". http://www.sermoncentral.com. 2011. Web. 8 Feb. 2017.<br /><o:p> </o:p>Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway
Bibles, 2008. Print.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Fields, Asia. "3
Fishermen Rescued After Capsized Boat Found Off Oregon Coast." The Seattle
Times 2020: Print.<br /><o:p> </o:p>Hauck, Friedrich. “Περισσεύω,
Ὑπερπερισσεύω, Περισσός, Ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ, Ὑπερεκπερισσῶς, Περισσεία,
Περίσσευμα.” Ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich.
Theological dictionary of the New Testament 1964– : 58–63. Print.<br /><o:p> </o:p>Hendriksen, William, and Simon J. Kistemaker. Exposition of
the Gospel According to John. Vol. 1–2. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1953–2001. Print. New Testament Commentary.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Jeremias, Joachim. “Ποιμήν, Ἀρχιποίμην, Ποιμαίνω, Ποίμνη,
Ποίμνιον.” Ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich.
Theological dictionary of the New Testament 1964– : 485–502. Print.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Kelly, Brian. "Come Toward My Voice." U.S. News
& World Report 2001: 24-32. Print.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />"L'shana Haba'ah." En.wikipedia.org. Web. 30 Apr. 2020.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />"Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue." Pnwsar.org.
2020. Web. 30 Apr. 2020.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Ryan, Jim. "Hikers Make Call for Help from Coast Range
-- But End Up in Cuffs." Oregonian 2020. Web. 30 Apr. 2020.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />"Search and Rescue." Co.washington.or.us. 2020.
Web. 30 Apr. 2020.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Wiersbe, Warren W. Jesus in the Present Tense. 1st ed.
Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2011. Print.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-12036236543094361882020-04-18T14:55:00.002-07:002020-04-18T19:06:50.132-07:00Believing is Seeing<br />
<div class="sermon">
<b>Some Bible stories have been given the wrong titles over the
centuries. The Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is about the Faithful Father who from a
distance “<i>saw him and he had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed
him” </i>Lk 15:20. In all three synoptic gospels, you have the story of the
“Rich Young Ruler” but nowhere do the stories tell us his age and only Luke
(18:18) uses the word archon which can mean ruler, official, or chieftain. </b>We
know for certain is that he was rich. Doubting Thomas is another misnamed
person. He may have been slow on the uptake of what Jesus was planning. He may
not have accepted his fellow disciple’s story of Easter, but he doesn’t doubt
Jesus. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Nature of Belief</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2">
<br />
We need to have evidence if we’re going to believe. Missouri
has been known as <i>The Show Me State </i>flowing from Congressman’s
Vandiver’s comment, “frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am
from Missouri. You have got to show me (Ashcroft)." One of our annual
Christmas movies is <i>The Santa Clause</i>. At the North Pole Tim Allen’s
character, Scott Calvin is trying to wrap his head around things as he talks to
Judy an elf. He asks, “Is that a polar bear directing traffic down there? I—I
see it, but I don’t believe it (Pasquin).” Judy tells him he’s missing the
point and says, “Seeing isn't believing: believing is seeing. Kids don't have
to see this place to know that it's here. They just… know (Pasquin).”</div>
<div class="sermon">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon">
The strength of one’s belief is directly tied to the importance
of that in which we believe and put our trust. I can ‘believe’ or ‘not believe’
something I hear on the news. But the amount of energy with which I believe, my
passion, will depend on the importance I attach to the object. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon">
Eric Liddell an Olympian runner for Britain refused to run in a
race in the Paris games in 1924 because the race was on Sunday, the Sabbath.
Sally Magnusson reports that he was called before members of Britain’s
Olympic Association and is accused of being impertinent by Lord Cadogan the
chairman. Eric turns the tables on Cadogan and says, “The impertinence lies,
sir, with those who seek to influence a man to deny his beliefs!" <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon">
Cadogan replied, "In my day it was King first and God
after." To which the Duke of Sutherland says, “Yes, and the 'war to end
wars' bitterly proved your point!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
There was no question mark in Thomas’ mind about Jesus. Look
back at John 11. Here, Jesus is forced to plainly tell his disciples that
Lazarus had died, and he was going to go to Bethany. Jesus had just risked
being stoned in that area and now he is returning. It is Thomas, not John,
James, or Peter who says, <i>“to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we
may die with him”</i> (11:16). Thomas is so passionate about God and Christ’s
mission that he is ready and willing to head off and die with Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon">
In John 20 we have a grief-stricken Thomas lashing out at the
other disciples as if they’d lost their minds. It was as if Charlie Brown’s
teacher was saying her Blah, Blah, Blah. He must have felt about their story
the way the disciples felt about the women’s story in Luke 24:11, <i>“they did
not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”</i>
The word for nonsense is that of birds chirping and chattering away in the
brush. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Power of Belief</b></span></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br />
Keep in mind that John is <i>not</i> trying to replicate the
stories in the other three gospels. He doesn’t refer to Jesus’ birth. He has no
‘Sermon on the Mount’ and no parables. But John goes into depth about the last
night with Jesus in the upper room including chapters 13-18:12. Only John gives
us this interaction between Thomas, the other disciples, and Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="sermon">
Thomas is not convinced that the first Easter evening. A week later
when Jesus returns our Lord’s first action is to greet them with peace and turn
toward Thomas to offer him the proof he desired. Thomas doesn’t touch Jesus'
scars. Thomas doesn’t put his fist in Jesus’ side. He simply answers, <i>“My
Lord and my God”</i>. "The personal pronoun is of vital importance 'my
Lord, and my God.' He confesses to the risen Jesus that he belongs to him as
his willing subject; he adores him and henceforth will serve him as he deserves
(Beasley-Murray 386)."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
When confronted with the presence of Jesus, Thomas proclaims a
personal trust, faith, and belief in Jesus and His identity—<i>"<b>my </b>Lord
and <b>my</b> God”. </i>When Jesus responds with “<i>blessed are those who have
not seen and yet have believed</i>” in verse 29 he’s not rebuking Thomas. He is
thinking of his prayer in John 17:20 <i>“I do not ask for these only, but also
for those who will believe in me through their word”.</i> These have seen,
they’ve received God’s word, and are tasked with telling others of God’s love
in Christ. Thus, there will also be people blessed who never see Jesus—who
walked with him in the flesh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Challenge of Belief</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br />
I believe there is subtle disbelief about Jesus’
resurrection. I know of a preacher who not only renounced any belief in God but
who actively seeks to bait others into arguing with him about it. We believe,
but do we believe like Thomas believed. Are we willing to follow Jesus to
Jerusalem so we can die with him?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
Is Jesus <i>“Our Lord and Our God”</i> to the extent that we
would liquidate everything we own in order to follow Him or to purchase a
seemingly worthless piece of land because of the treasure buried beneath it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
Maybe our belief in Jesus is really a crossed finger wish that
God will just make everything nice. You know, calm, collected, neat—like we
want it to be. I know I have wished for that from time-to-time. But God kills
off the firstborn of an entire generation in Egypt. God creates, judges, and
calls sinful humans to return and he does this, as Hebrews 1:1-2 say, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style1">
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our
fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his
Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the
world..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
We are reminded that the outcome of Jesus is “the salvation of
our souls” because we are part of those who have <b>not</b> seen him. Peter
writes, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now
see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can Thomas and the others so readily
follow this Messiah, this Christ? It is because Jesus is <b>NOT</b> an idea,
concept, philosophical construct, worldview, theology, force, or one of many
divine guides. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
No, He is God, made flesh, fully human/fully divine. He is the
exact likeness of the invisible God and if you can't get your mind around
that--join the crowd. Jesus was arrested, tortured, mocked, executed and raised
to life and exalted to the right hand of God the Father. And he did it so you
and I; we, can receive eternal life, and be brought back into the fold of God. Grasp
this fact and we too should be confessing to Jesus,<i> <b>“My Lord and My God. </b></i>Let’s
pray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="sermon">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Work’s Cited</b></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Beasley-Murray, George R. John.
Vol. 36. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1999. Print. Word Biblical Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Magnusson, Sally (1981). The
Flying Scotsman, A Biography. New York, NY: Quartet Books Inc.. p. 160-170
quoted in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Liddell accessed April 7,
2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Pasquin, John. The Santa Clause.
USA/Canada: Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Outlaw Productions, 1994.
DVD.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Style2">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Bibliography </span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Ashcroft, John R. "Show Me
State." Sos.mo.gov. Web. 16 Apr. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Beasley-Murray,
George R. John. Vol. 36. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1999. Print. Word Biblical
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk37956162;"></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Bruce, F. F. The Gospel of John.
3rd ed. Eerdmans, 1994. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Buchanan, Mark. “The Benefit of
the Doubt.” Christianity Today 2000 : 62–67. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Burge, Gary M. John. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print. The NIV Application
Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Carson, D. A. The Gospel
According to John. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
W.B. Eerdmans, 1991. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Fredrikson, Roger L., and Lloyd
J. Ogilvie. John. Vol. 27. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985. Print. The
Preacher’s Commentary Series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Goodykoontz, Emily. "Amanda
Wasn’t about to be Fooled by a Text Scam. But this Time, it Really was a
Portland Police Officer." The Oregonian 2019. Web. 15 Apr. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Magnusson, Sally (1981). The
Flying Scotsman, A Biography. New York, NY: Quartet Books Inc.. p. 160-170
quoted in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Liddell accessed April 7,
2010<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">McGrath, Stephen. "Romanian
Court Gives Dead Man His Life Back." The Times.co.uk. 2018. Web. 15 Apr.
2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Pasquin, John. The Santa Clause.
USA/Canada: Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Outlaw Productions, 1994.
DVD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Pfeil, Richard. "Doubting
Thomas." Sermon Central. 2005. Web. 14 Apr. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sowards, Jack B. “Where Silence
Has Lease” Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 2, Episode 2 (11-28-88)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Walker, Shaun. "Romanian
Court Tells Man He Is Not Alive." the Guardian. 2018. Web. 15 Apr. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Weihenmayer, Erik.
"Tenacious E." Outside 2001: 55. Web. 15 Apr. 2020.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-86823750408883693602020-04-05T08:00:00.000-07:002020-04-05T08:00:06.463-07:00Risky Investing During Unsettled Times April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday<br />
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
Here is a statement from 1997 about ‘risk avoidance’ He said, “I’m
afraid we may well miss the next great advancement. We’re so afraid of failure
that we may not pursue that next step (Stealth).” He was talking about stealth aircraft and his point was, that too much energy
goes into avoiding the risk that we may miss out on the next advancement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
For the last few weeks ‘risk avoidance’ has been the
centerpiece of life in the US. As I write this sermon there are five states
that do not have lockdowns in place. What has shaken us to our roots started
140 days ago in China with a man who got sick. Right now, John Hopkins’ display
shows 98k confirmed cases, 50k deaths, and 204k recovery. All but essential businesses
are closed. 6.6 million people applied for unemployment the past week and the
Dow went from 28k to a low of 18.5 and is rebounded bit as of today.<o:p></o:p></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Reality of Fear</span></b></h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
In 140 days, this virus has shaken us, has shaken the whole
world, to its core. It took a decade<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>to shake Naomi, Ruth, and Orpha to
their core but it did happen. These three women are left as widows in a country
that God had not given to His people. In Deuteronomy God gives his people a
promise and a warning. The promise is simple. This promised land has what you
need “as long as you obey (Campbell)? <o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that
it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the
God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey”
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A3&version=ESV" target="_blank">(Dt 6:3</a>)</i></blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: justify;">
When Naomi’s family heads off to Moab it is to save themselves
from a famine. Who can blame them, right? It makes sense. Where is God in this
famine? A man has to do what a man has to do. All thoughts and questions
weren’t just asked by Elimelech. At the very heart of “<i>Becoming More than
Survivors</i>” is the issue of control and has the authority to make our
choices.</div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
Naomi, Ruth, and Orpha reap what Naomi’s husband did. Not only
are they living in this place, but Their two boys marry Moabite women. The rule
against this needs no interpretation. Once more Dt 7:3-4 reads,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"You shall not
intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their
daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following
me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against
you, and he would destroy you quickly." <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+7%3A3-4&version=ESV" target="_blank">Dt 7:3-4</a></i></blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Fear versus Faith</h2>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: justify;">
Fear is real. Until we are in Christ’s kingdom it will remain
real. But, it doesn’t have to be a controlling factor in our life. Fear alerts us
to danger. Fear keeps us safe. Fear may
also give us an opportunity to <i>prove</i> our faith in God when we react to it
in accordance with our faith in Christ.</div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
Ruth becomes a stranger in a strange land as she leaves Moab.
Her social, cultural, spiritual, and relational norms were behind her. Her
fellow daughter-in-law returned after being convinced by Naomi. But Ruth
knows that is she stays with her <i>family</i> they might be blessed by her
family. So, Ruth leaves all she has known for a mother-in-law whom she believed
in and trusted. Ruth’s fears were substantial, but her faith was grand enough to
allow her to risk the uncertainty of the future they face as they leave and
travel to Bethlehem. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
When Naomi returns home “<i>the whole town is stirred”</i>
(19). She was home, among ‘her’ people and once there she takes on a new name
for herself—Mara for which she blames God <i>“for the Almighty has dealt very
bitterly with me”</i> (1:20) she tells her neighbors. Yet the bitterness in
Naomi’s heart doesn’t turn Ruth’s heart bitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
I want to take you down a rabbit-trail for a bit. It’s about
changing names. God is the one who changes names because He and He alone is the
only one who knows who we really are. Thus, Abram and Sari become Abraham and
Sarah. Jacob becomes Israel, and Cephas is called Petros. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
The Prophet Isaiah writes of the completion of God’s salvation
in chapter 62 in which he says:<o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<i>The nations shall see your righteousness,<br /> and all the kings your glory,<br />and you shall be called by a new name<br /> that the
mouth of the Lord will give</i><span style="background: white;"><i>.</i> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+62%3A2&version=ESV" target="_blank"><i>Is 62:2</i></a></span></blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
And when Jesus returns. Jesus warns and promises the church in
Pergamum <o:p></o:p></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><sup>16</sup>Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you
soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.<sup> 17</sup> He who has
an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who
conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white
stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one
who receives it.’" (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.+2%3A16-17&version=ESV" target="_blank">Rev. 2:16-17</a>) </i></blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.+3%3A12&version=ESV" target="_blank">Revelation 3:12</a> Jesus promises those in Philadelphia that
for those who <i>“hold fast”</i> “<i>will write on him the name of my God, and
the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God
out of heaven, and my own new name</i>”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon" style="text-align: justify;">
The issue of naming is crucial to understand if we are to
become more than survivors in 2020 and beyond. Don’t accept the names with
which the world labels you. Don’t bow to those names that would cheapen the
mercy and grace of Jesus’ death for all our sins. Don’t accept the names you’ve
called yourself in the past. Only listen for God’s name for you—beloved, heir
of the Kingdom, loved of God, redeemed by the blood of the lamb and others<o:p></o:p></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Wading Through Fear into Faith</span></h2>
<div class="Style2" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Style2" style="text-align: justify;">
God has a strange sense of humor for he calls all of us who
name Jesus as God and Lord to a “Ruth-like risky-ness”. For the sake of a
grieving mother-in-law, Ruth risks being noticed by a distant relative of
Naomi’s and takes pain to make sure she is remembered by him. She risked being
shunned, cheated, or even putting Naomi at risk but, she believed that the God
whom she dedicated herself too would prevail.</div>
<div class="Style2" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus, coming into Jerusalem in the midst of the
celebration and pageantry wasn’t much different. He’d told the disciples he was
going to Jerusalem to die and Thomas announced,<i> “Let us also go, that
we may die with him” </i>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+11%3A16&version=ESV" target="_blank">Jn. 11:16)</a>. Fear was real and Jesus waded through it
as he did the crowd. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
Confronted by religious leaders who wanted him to silence
his followers he reminded them the stones themselves would praise God as he
entered. He taught, He demonstrated God’s power, shared Passover with the
disciples, was arrested and executed knowing it was God’s will. He strode forth
in the certainty that his trust in his Father was well placed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
This Sunday we would usually celebrate that ‘Last Supper’
as we take the bread and cup and trust God to meet us, spiritually nourish us,
and remind us of His love for us. We’re going to forgo that, in order that when
we gather again around Christ’s table we do so with a faith that doesn’t simply
take it for granted. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
Let us pray… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Works Cited</h2>
<div class="Style2" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Campbell, Phil. "The Danger of Do-It-Yourself."
Sermon Central. 2002. Web. 1 Apr. 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Stealth Technology." Modern Marvels. History
Channel. 16 February 1997. Television.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="SermonBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-71151206791458031062020-03-29T07:21:00.000-07:002020-03-29T07:23:34.784-07:00What's Really Important?<br />
<div style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
<br />
I<span style="font-size: 14pt;">n the back of our lot was an old tree. It held the remnants of
past platforms among the branches. I discovered it was a plum tree only after building
a treehouse in it. To build this playhouse a lot of dead wood had to be
cleared out of the tree. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Most of the
dead wood was twigs and small branches and the task was more tedious than
difficult. The dead wood impacted the tree by keeping it from doing what it was
meant to do, namely bear plums. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Building
this treehouse forced me to remove dead wood but we undergo experiences that
cause us to take stock of our lives. And these events may well offer us the
chance to ax the excess—rid our lives of the dead wood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know
some of you have had a doctor mention 'cancer' and you were forced to make
changes and even move your life in new directions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your company goes belly-up, there are layoffs,
a child, friend or other person makes horrible choices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps
the issue is a pandemic that threatens our health, jobs, social life and even
our spiritual health. Let me say that COVID-19 is more of an opportunity than
it is a hindrance to the Gospel—<b>if we ax the excess and seek God’s direction at this time.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This week
I read of a preacher in Louisiana who not only gathered for worship but also
had members shake hands because as he said, "We are raising up Revivalists
not Pansies (Palmer)". Pope Francis told Catholics that if you can’t make
it to confession “you can go to God directly, be specific about their sins,
request pardon and experience God’s loving forgiveness (Wooden)."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am
impressed with Ed Stetzer, in the most recent issue of <i>Christianity Today</i>
who wrote: "THIS is not the crisis. And it is not. This is the calm before
the storm, and we pastor, and church leaders need a change in mentality
(Stetzer and Laxton)." I've posted links to his articles at the bottom of </span><a href="https://www.kentonchurch.org/"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kenton's website</span></i></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> on the<i> COVID-19 & Kenton</i> page<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The crisis, for those who know Christ, is not making use of our
world situation to reevaluate our lives and direction. To miss out tearing the
‘dead wood’, the excess from our lives. As a pastor, let me tell you that one is
overwhelmed with calls to help, mission opportunities, books to read,
ministries of which to be a part, and a million other things. I can’t help but
resonate with Stetzer’s comment "that the coronavirus crisis will be the
most significant historical event of our lifetime. It will be bigger than
9/11(Stetzer and Laxton)." </span></span></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Daniel and his friends chose to ax<b> </b>the excess in their lives in
order to live for God. It begins with a simple choice to <i>not</i> eat the
food which King Nebuchadnezzar offered to his slaves. He might well have gone
along with things, after all, he was a slave. He didn’t know if the food was
kosher or if it had been offered to an idol. Besides, he knew how cruel Babylon
could be, as he witnessed Jerusalem destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first three years of these men’s training occur in chapter 1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Why not eat?</span></b></h3>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They chose not to eat the food in order to combat Babylon’s desire
to acclimate them into their new home. The food, their training, and even the
names they were given were designed to destroy their dedication to YHWH and
change their loyalty and lifestyle. They gave them a Babylonian education,
Babylonian names, and a Babylonian lifestyle but they didn’t bite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When I order my soft drinks with no ice so it doesn't get watered
down. That was the threat for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. All four
of these men had names that reminded them of YWHW. Two of them contained <i>‘yah</i>
and the other to <i>‘el</i> a shortened version of Elohim. Nebuchadnezzar meant
for their future to be with Babylon. So, Daniel--<i>"God is my judge"
</i>becomes the treasure of Bel" a Babylonian god. <i>'The Lord is
gracious' </i>which is Hananiah's given name becomes "Command of Aku"
(moon god). Mishael or '<i>Who is like God' </i>finds his new identity links
him to the same moon god Aku as it means "Who is what Aku." and
Azariah meaning <i>'The Lord helps</i>' becomes 'servant of Nego (god of art
and vegetation). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you haven’t noticed our world desires to water down if not
destroy our faith. The world forces upon us new names that correspond to their
reality and not God's. We are tattooed with names like judgmental, angry,
haters, stupid, simple-minded, bigots and many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our world seeks to train, teach, or indoctrinate us into their
vision of reality. Thus, we are seen as idiots and against science when we
question one or another discovery or breakthrough. The change in our lifestyle
the world demands is so great it would be impossible to list the changes we are
expected to approve of and make. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember the names God has given you. We are in Christ’s, child of
God, heirs of the kingdom, a peculiar people, God's own and more. Keep on
challenging the world’s teaching and hold fast to God’s word. Don’t be a jerk
but seek out the truth in good sources. One of the worst things we can do,
sadly we do it too often, is to act in such a way that we reinforce the world's
judgment of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">The Opportunity</span></b></h3>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">COVID-19 offers the people of God is a great opportunity to share
our hope with a world that grows apathetic and/or desperate. Christians like
the unsaved find they are stuck at home, not working, and living unsettled
lives. For us, such uncertainty are not something to dread but something to
celebrate for we know who is in charge of all that is happening. The
opportunity before us allows us to demonstrate to a frightened and uncertain
world the love of God and the kindness of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This happens, not with the latest and greatest program, gadgets,
or apps but with a humble willingness to serve and love like Jesus did. What
keeps us from that? One thing is to make mandatory what we already were
doing--“social distancing”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stay away from people we don’t know. Don’t meet our neighbors.
Don’t talk to strangers. Please hear this: "Social distancing is
necessary. Relational distancing is not (Stetzer).” Axing the excess gives us
the time and focus to seek out Look for relational opportunities. We can check
on our neighbors. We can ask those with whom we come across how we can pray for
them. Have you considered that the lack of people who are out and about is
God’s way of giving us a chance to meet new people? Build a bridge to the
world, communities, groups who care for others, stand in stark contrast in a world,
communities, leaders, and other fear mongers who are busy digging a moat around
our society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The apostle Paul ran into this question among those Christians who
lived in Corinth. Two times in his first letter he tells those churches that
even though things may be allowable they still may not be the best choice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In your Adult journal on page 57 there are suggestions as to how
you might “Axe the Excess”. Take a stab at unplugging in some area of your life
this week, if you have any of your life plugged in anymore. See if it doesn’t
make a difference. Sometimes we’re so involved in things that we don’t even see
the danger clearly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #20124d;">The Testing</span></h3>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew 25 tells a parable of preparedness and reckless living. Some
of these women were sold on seeking, searching, and staring out into the
darkness waiting for God. The others were busy with ‘things.’ Scripture doesn’t
tell us what they were doing but that whatever it was wasted the oil they were
to use for the bridegroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stay aware of the world around you and the problems and
opportunities it offers you. Here is how one lady was brought up short in the
midst of our pandemic by her children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sheletta Brundidge, a comic, podcaster, and fellow follower of
Jesus, posted a video of her six-year-old daughter, Cameron, helping her
seven-year-old brother Brandon deal with his fear over the corona virus. She
took his hands and had him pray after her, 2 Timothy 1:7 <i>"</i></span><b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for God gave us a spirit not of fear
but of power and love and self-control" </span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sheletta explains how fear leads to 'dead wood' as she writes, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"While the world is stocking up on toilet paper and mayonnaise, jars of pickles and bottled water, she realized - at 6 years old - that it was only [Brandon's] faith that was going to get him through this," she says. "Just from the mouth of a child to another child, it transformed the way I looked at it. We don't have to be afraid of this. There's been worse. We just have to rely on our faith, take the precautions we need to take and continue to live our lives (Forster)."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jesus uses some shocking stories to get His point across. Who are those we need to be involved with—our neighbors? The great commandment is to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. When asked about this, Jesus tells the Jewish attorney about a Samaritan who binds up a beaten Jew and takes care of him. Caring for the vulnerable, the "least of these" (Matthew 25).</span><br />
<div class="SermonQuote">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Later in Matthew 25 Jesus give us the criteria whereby we are
judged. <i>“‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.’” </i>Matthew 24:40. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you recall God’s word you may find a lot of things pulling you
this and that way. What is it that captures your attention, imagination, and
heart? In the <i>Line of Fire</i>, Clint Eastwood is asked, “What do you see in
the dark when the demons come (Petersen and Maguire).” Maybe we can rephrase it
as “What do you see in God’s light when the Spirit comes. When you sense that
pursue it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Axing the excess is not easy and it is never over. But if we
consistently test our hearts by recalling Jesus’ teaching, <i>“Where your
treasure there your heart will be also. </i>(Matthew 6:21).” Take stock of what
you treasure and humbly realize that all too often it is something or someone
other than the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t let the world water down your trust in Christ. Seek God’s
place of fire and transformation in the very midst of this COVID-19. And remain
rooted in God’s promises and love. Let’s pray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Works Cited</span></h3>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">
</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 244.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 468pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:/Users/alanw/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.emz">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span>Forsberg, Alyssa. "Girl Helps Brother Recite Bible
Verse On Fear To Help During Coronavirus & We All Need To Hear
It." GodUpdates.com. 2020. Web. 26 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Palmer, Ewan. "Conservative Pastor Says His Church
'Will Never Close' Because Of Coronavirus: 'We're Raising Up Revivalists, not
Pansies'." Newsweek 2020: Print.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Petersen, Wolfgang, and Jeff Maguire. In the Line of Fire.
USA: Columbia Pictures & Castle Rock Entertainment, 1993. DVD.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stetzer, Ed. "Removing The Coronavirus Mask."
USAToday.com. 2020. Web. 25 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stetzer, Ed, and Josh Laxton. "This is Not The Crisis,
But it is Just a Few Weeks Away." Christianity Today 2020. Web. 25 Mar.
2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Why Did Nebuchadnezzar Change Daniel’s Name to
Belteshazzar?." GotQuestions.org. Web. 26 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wooden, Cindy. "If You Can’t Go to Confession, Take
Your Sorrow Directly to God, Pope Says." <i><span style="background: white; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Cruxnow.com</span></i>. 2020. Web.
25 Mar. 2020</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<h3>
<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Bibliography</span></b></h3>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. Coming Crisis. 2020.
Web. 24 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carroll, Nicole. "The Backstory: Coronavirus Facts
Don't Incite Panic. Just the Opposite. Facts Fight Fear." USAToday.com.
2020. Web. 25 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Forsberg, Alyssa. "Girl Helps Brother Recite Bible
Verse On Fear To Help During Coronavirus & We All Need To Hear
It." GodUpdates.com. 2020. Web. 26 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Palmer, Ewan. "Conservative Pastor Says His Church
'Will Never Close' Because Of Coronavirus: 'We're Raising Up Revivalists, not
Pansies'." Newsweek 2020: Print.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Petersen, Wolfgang, and Jeff Maguire. In the Line of Fire.
USA: Columbia Pictures & Castle Rock Entertainment, 1993. DVD.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stetzer, Ed. "Removing The Coronavirus Mask."
USAToday.com. 2020. Web. 25 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stetzer, Ed, and Josh Laxton. "This is Not The Crisis,
But it is Just a Few Weeks Away." Christianity Today 2020. Web. 25 Mar.
2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Why Did Nebuchadnezzar Change Daniel’s Name to
Belteshazzar?." GotQuestions.org. Web. 26 Mar. 2020.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wooden, Cindy. "If You Can’t Go to Confession, Take
Your Sorrow Directly to God, Pope Says." <i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Cruxnow.com</span></i>. 2020. Web.
25 Mar. 2020</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="SermonBody">
<br /></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-76405103584181636682020-03-23T07:30:00.001-07:002020-03-23T07:46:36.595-07:00Do We Hear what the world hears? Fourth Sunday of Lent<br />
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the early 1940s, a Baptist church in a Chicago
suburb had a new pastor by the name of Billy Graham. He believed he was meant
to be an evangelist but decided to give the pastorate a fair try. Within
several months, the church was growing, and so was his popularity. A popular
Christian radio broadcast heard in several states called “Songs in the Night”
approached the rookie pastor about becoming their weekly speaker. Sensing the
hand of God in this invitation, he agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #666666;">The program increased its listeners and being a secular station, Billy knew there were unbelievers listening. He engaged the wide spectrum of listeners by making sure that they referenced the culture. Let me quote from his autobiography, Just as I Am:<br />“I built my radio talks around the events of the day. Keeping up with current events through newspapers and radio news programs, I began each message with a reference to something people would have been hearing and talking about that very day. Then I moved into a biblical message, showing that God and the Scriptures are relevant to every problem… (Graham)”</span></blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The popularity of this broadcast flowed from this unique
approach to sharing God’s word used by Billy Graham. At a Billy Graham School
of Evangelism in Orlando, Dr. Graham spoke to us pastors about the difficulty
of coming up with new sermons every week. He told us he had six sermons and he
just changed the illustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He engaged his community by referencing things they
experienced and saw in their day-to-day life. The reason the “Salvation Army”
have so many brass bands is because in the 1870s brass bands were popular in
England. Although some believed these “Salvationists” had sold out to the world
but William Booth new Acts 17 and its purpose. Paul connected with his
community when in Athens and it is no wonder that Jesus himself drew on
everyday actions in his teaching and preaching—from spreading seed to praying
in the temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What does it mean to ‘connect with the world’? It
means to do so with <i><b>purpose, discernment, and intentionality</b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<h2>
Connect with a Purpose:</h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are seeking to connect with our world for the sake
of Christ and His mission. This isn’t about the survival or future of Kenton.
It isn’t even about our own spiritual health. We want to cultivate a desire to
connect with the unbelievers, the non-churched; those who live next door to us,
because Christ told us to into the world and make disciples. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This isn’t easy. A 2018/19 survey by <i>Pew Research</i>
found that “65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked
about their religion (Smith et al.)”. Whereas this was a 12% drop over the
decade the number of those “who describe their religious identity as atheist,
agnostic or ‘nothing in particular,’ now stands at 26% (ibid.)” a 17% increase
since 2009. Oregon is 31% with no religious affiliation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the very core of connecting must lie a love of
Jesus and His words. <i>“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
mind, soul and strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself”</i> (Lk
10:27). Or as referenced earlier, the Great Commission (Mt 28:16-20). If we
hold on to <i>our</i> perception rather than God’s any claim we have to knowing
God is wrong. Here’s what I mean,</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="text-indent: 0.4in;">"Let
me introduce you to Rick, he’s a big Laker's fan."</span><span style="text-indent: 0.4in;">"Actually, I’m a Trailblazer fan."</span><span style="text-indent: 0.4in;">"Well
I prefer to think of you as a Laker fan".</span><span style="text-indent: 0.4in;">"Okay, but you’re never
really going to know me!</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yet, the most loyal follower of Jesus will from-time-to-time find us believing something about God that isn’t true. We form God into our image instead of letting Christ form us into His image. We combat this by regularly looking at our lives in terms of how we carry out the ‘Great Callings of Christ’s command and commission as individuals and a congregation.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="Sermon">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul lived a life dedicated to connecting to the world
in which he moved. We heard in 1 Cor 9, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #666666;">“To the Jews I became like
a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the … so
as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one
not having the law … so as to win those not having the law. … I have become all
things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (1 Cor 9:20-22).</span></span></blockquote>
<h2>
<b>Connect with Discernment:</b></h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am not urging us to go expose ourselves to whatever
we find. We connect with a spiritual discernment about what is and isn’t OK.
Paul wasn’t tempted to worship idols as he saw in Athens. He knew what and,
more importantly, who he believed. And though the various idols angered and
distressed him greatly he was able to see the city through Jesus’ eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember asking Christ to keep us
attuned to seeing what he had for us to see in a previous adventure? Paul’s speech
is the outcome of a first-century God sighting. He was tuned into God so
strongly that he was able to see how even this horrible idolatry could be
touched with Jesus’ mercy. Did you hear how Paul starts out his sermon?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #666666;">“Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very
religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of
worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now
what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. (Acts 17:
22-23)”</span></blockquote>
<div class="SermonQuote">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul’s ability to tie in his presentation of the
gospel to a Roman altar didn’t just happen. It was a lesson cultivated in his
soul as he spent hours listening to God in prayer and exploring God’s word. And
that’s true for us too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s a homework assignment for us—How does this
pandemic allow us to connect with our culture and community? Where is God at
work in the midst of this horror? Do you wonder if the Church asked this same
question when a plague or Holocaust confronted them? Some did, I’m sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
Connect with Intentionality:</h2>
<div class="Style2">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul is extremely intentional when he speaks to these
men. He quotes Greek poets whom the Athenians such as Epimenides credited with
writing, “In him, we live and move and have our being.” He seems to know Aratus,
a contemporary of Alexander the Great, who wrote, “We are his offspring.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul may or may not have learned of these in his
schooling as a Pharisee. Either way, he is aware of what ‘secular’ or ‘worldly’
people did and believed. He also seemed to take great pain to make sure they
were applicable to the message of Jesus. This isn’t the only comment. In
1<sup> </sup>Corinthians 15:33) he references Menander when he writes, <i>“bad company corrupts
good character”</i>. And in Titus 1:12 he quotes Epimenides, <i>“Even one of
their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy
gluttons.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul gives us three guides in connecting with
community and world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be Attentive</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—don’t just go through life but do it
with intentionality and prayer asking God to show us how we can connect with
our world. Make an effort to learn about the world around you—even those things
you think are stupid, useless, or horrible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know nothing of Rick and Morty except it deals with
a crazy grandpa and his grandson. I do know a bit about the world of retail
sales and print and marketing. In what do you need to invest some
attention—sports, cartoons, movies, contemporary music/TV?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be attentive, guided by God and do it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be Positive</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">— It’s easy to be against something
than for something. I have to catch myself from immediately seeing the <i>problem</i>
in what someone is saying. Like the guy who walks into a church meeting as a
vote is taken and quickly says, “Nay”. When asked about the vote he said, “I
don’t know but I know I’m against it.” This is the attitude that colors ALL of
our politics in the US and we, as followers of Jesus Christ may NOT do this. We
don’t have the luxury of assuming our view of the political landscape is the
god-given one. Only when others see you are serious about hearing them out and
giving them the benefit of the doubt can you hope to engage with them in such a
way that we earn the right to speak into their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be Bold</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—there is nothing apologetic about
Paul’s response. He doesn’t say “You’re right, there are other ways to Heaven.”
He proclaims Jesus as the ‘unknown God’ who they need to know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two challenges for you this week. <b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">First, write
down a list of the non-Christians who populate your life</span></i></b>—family, neighbors,
co-workers, other club members, quilters, people in recovery with you. When you
have a list start asking God how you can connect and impact this shared space
for the purpose of the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Second, and part of the discernment, list what do you
have in common with these people?</span></i></b> What knits you together? What is your common
experience? Maybe you married into a family or you root for the same teams.
Perhaps you’ve worked in the same industry. Ask God to show you who and what
you need to know. Then, and only then, seek God’s timing for when you can
introduce <i>YOUR faith story</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The very real practical outcome of this will be part
of what allows Kenton Church to survive. I am retiring soon and if God is going
to preserve our voice for Christ in this neighborhood it will be through the
individuals with whom <i>you</i> connect and show Christ’s love and those whom <i>you</i>
are integral in the discipleship making commanded by our Lord. Let us pray?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="left" class="SermonBody" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Works Cited</span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Bootsma,
Dave. "The God You're Looking For." Sermon Central. 2006. Web. 17
Mar. 2020<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Graham,
Billy. Just as I Am. New York: Harper Collins, 1997. Print.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Smith,
Gregory A., Alan Cooperman, et al. "In U.S., Decline of Christianity
Continues at Rapid Pace." Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life
Project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2019. Web. 21 Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
"The Unaffiliated
- Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics."
Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Web. 21 Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bibliography</span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Blumberg,
Antonia. "How the ‘Nones’ can find a sense of community outside of religion."
Huffpost.com. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Bootsma,
Dave. "The God You're Looking For." Sermon Central. 2006. Web. 17
Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Burton, Tara
Isabella. "Why We Should Stop Using the Term Religious 'Nones'."
Religion News Service. 2018. Web. 21 Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Gilson, Tom.
"The Misunderstood Church" The Stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2018. Web. 19 Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Graham,
Billy. Just as I Am. New York: Harper Collins, 1997. Print.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Jacobs, Alan.
How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds. Currency, 2017. Print.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
Smith,
Gregory A., Alan Cooperman, et al. "In U.S., Decline of Christianity
Continues at Rapid Pace." Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life
Project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2019. Web. 21 Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 2.0pt;">
"The
Unaffiliated - Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and
Statistics." Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project.
Web. 21 Mar. 2020.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-15267526453770656732018-08-31T22:37:00.001-07:002018-08-31T22:37:32.011-07:00God’s Fruit Basket <h4>
<b>The next few weeks I want to touch on a series of characteristics which might be considered the trademark that we are followers of Jesus. There are countless posters, wall hangings and do-dads with the “Fruit of the Spirit” printed on them. We are going to look at each of these characteristics and look for practical ways we will see them work in our lives as we follow Jesus. </b></h4>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Our passage in Galatians 5:16 starts off with a seemingly simple truth “<i>But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh</i>”. The command to ‘walk’ doesn’t suddenly appear. We are created for the purpose of doing good works which God has prepared so we should “<i>walk in them</i>” (2:10) and he urges us in 4:1 “<i>walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called</i>”. Instead of walking as those who don’t know God, Gentiles--who “<i>walk… in the futility of their minds</i>”. “<i>We are to walk as children of light</i>” (5:8).</div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
When the Bible, in particular, the New Testament, uses the term ‘walk’ to refer to a particular lifestyle, a way of life, to which we are called and consistently practicing. Usually, it is a command, an imperative and it is directed particularly here to a group of churches who had decided to walk a different direction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Galatians 5 contrasts ‘works of the flesh’ with ‘fruit of the Spirit’. but this isn’t the only place this occurs. In Romans 7 and 8, the term ‘flesh’ is used 17 times and many in contrast to living in the Spirit. In 8:4ff we see that the reason Jesus was born human (flesh) was, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-left: .5in;">
…in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. <sup>5 </sup>For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.</div>
<h3>
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Setting</span></b></h3>
<div class="Headomgsermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
This letter was not written to one congregation but to many churches in the region of Galatia. Galatia’s historic borders today, reside within Turkey and the capital of ancient Galatia is Ankara the same as it’s ancient one. Paul’s letter to Galatia is the <i>only</i> one that does not start off praising God’s people for a job well done. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Paul gives thanks for the churches in 1 Corinth, Rome, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Not so in Galatians. Instead, he begins in verse 6, “<i>I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel</i>.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
The different gospel to which Paul refers is a two-fold enemy of the true gospel as revealed to Paul by Jesus and which has been affirmed by the Apostles. First is a proto-gnostic philosophy and the second is a Christian cult” which we call Judaizers. The first group proclaimed salvation was only for ‘the few’—those who understood the deep spiritual truth. “They were not interested in salvation for everybody. On the contrary, they regarded salvation as something only for the ‘Spiritual elite’ (Kruger).” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
The idea was that many of the old testament law was expected and enforceable still for the followers of Christ. A full-fledged version of this heresy emerged in the second century but its roots were much earlier. The other group who dogged Paul’s footsteps were Jewish people who accepted Jesus was the Son of God but also expected various aspects of the Jewish dietary and other laws maintained. They seemingly believed in the circumcision of those who were saved and likewise eating and <i>not </i>eating certain foods.</div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: red;">Issues</span></h3>
<div class="Headomgsermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Headomgsermon2018">
The current situation for God’s people today, in the United States and around the globe, are these same two issues. There are those who want to see the <i>real</i> gospel explained in the mystic, hard to reach Godhead. For such folks’ secret handshakes, codewords, and prescribed behaviors are required before hoping to enter into the presence of God.</div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Then there are those well-meaning souls who want to add to Christ’s work on the cross to make one a ‘better’ Christian. Both promise the end to the struggle which Paul puts forth so well in Romans 7:7-25 that spells out the battle Paul and we, that I, suffer. A battle between doing what the Spirit tells us and giving into the flesh and fulfilling our perceived needs under our own power. This is a "religious tendency which aims at the control of both social and individual life by legalism, making the law the supreme norm (<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Lauterback and Kohler)."</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Carl Sandberg, the biographer of Abraham Lincoln said: <span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud (Papathanassiou).” Paul addresses the continual battle before us by using the present tense in describing flesh and spirit and their hatred for one another (Longenecker 245).”</span></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="color: red;">Response</span></b></h3>
<div class="Headomgsermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -4.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Sermon2018Char"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For Paul, the decision seems straightforward. Walk in the Spirit. Our problem is that it’s not always as clear or easily followed as Paul seems to make it. There was a story out of the old Christian Reader magazine in which a mom wrote</span></span>:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: -4.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
My five-year-old daughter, Barbara, had disobeyed me and had been sent to her room. After a few minutes, I went in to talk with her about what she had done. Teary-eyed, she asked, "Why do we do wrong things, Mommy?"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
"Sometimes the devil tells us to do something wrong," I replied, "and we listen to him. We need to listen to God instead."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
To which she sobbed, "But God doesn't talk loud enough (Rowell 459)!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Here are just a couple of things that will help you ‘walk’ in and with God’s Holy Spirit. <b>First</b>, understand that walking with and by the Holy Spirit is an exercise in the freedom which Jesus purchased on the cross. And the reason we’ve been given such ‘freedom’ we read back in 5:13-14, “<i>For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another</i>. <i>For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”</i> Loving others is a key test to whether we are walking in and by the power of the Spirit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<b>Secondly</b>, realize that the same two issues and groups which sought to derail the church in Galatia are at work today in Portland as well as the rest of the world. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone ask, “how can there be only <i>one</i> way to god when there are so many religions in the world.” </div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
You may also hear some TV preacher tell you that it is God's will to support them alone. A Bible teacher says that to be <i>really Christian</i> you have to keep of rules along with believing in Jesus. Or, to be a better Christian than your neighbors, or church leaders or even your preacher all you have to do is follow his or her three, eight, or ten steps to spiritual perfection. </div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
Root out places in which we are tempted to listen and follow a gospel other than that of Christ. Hold fast to God's love and the power of the Holy Spirit as you live for him. And remember God is in charge. Let’s pray<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
<div class="Headomgsermon2018">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Works Cited</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Lauterbach, Jacob Zallel, and Kaufmann Kohler. "NOMISM - Jewishencyclopedia.com." Jewishencyclopedia.com. Web. 22 Aug. 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Kruger, Michael J. "Five Myths About the Ancient Heresy of Gnosticism." Canon Fodder. Web. 24 Aug. 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Longenecker, Richard N. <i>Galatians, Volume 41</i>. Dallas Tx: Zondervan, 2015. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Papathanassiou, Manolis. "Character Quotes." <i>Best-quotations.com</i>. Web. 22 Aug. 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Rowell, Edward K. <i>1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers</i>. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2004. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Headomgsermon2018">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Bibliography</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Arichea, Daniel C, and Eugene A Nida. <i>A Handbook on Paul's Letter to the Galatians</i>. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Lauterbach, Jacob Zallel, and Kaufmann Kohler. "NOMISM - Jewishencyclopedia.com." <i>Jewishencyclopedia.com</i>. Web. 22 Aug. 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Kruger, Michael J. "Five Myths About the Ancient Heresy of Gnosticism." <i>Canon Fodder</i>. Web. 24 Aug. 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Lenski, R. C. H. <i>The Interpretation of St. Paul's Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the Philippians</i>. Columbus, Ohio: Wartburg Press, 1946. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Longenecker, Richard N. <i>Galatians, Volume 41</i>. Dallas Tx: Zondervan, 2015. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Muck, Terry. "Hearing God's Voice and Obeying His Word." <i>Leadership Journal</i>1982: 16. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Papathanassiou, Manolis. "Character Quotes." <i>Best-quotations.com</i>. Web. 22 Aug. 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Rowell, Edward K. <i>1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories for Preachers, Teachers, and Writers</i>. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2004. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Witherington, Ben. <i>Grace in Galatia</i>. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1998. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Sermon2018">
<br /></div>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15058530.post-65564334996658477792016-09-22T09:34:00.001-07:002016-09-22T09:34:09.857-07:00"The best laid plans of mice and men..." <span style="font-size: large;">My apologies to Robert Burns for the use of his line but it seemed fitting concerning my <i>desire</i> to post weekly and the <i>lack</i> thereof. Computers are heinous creatures with a mind of their own. Mine decided to die a couple of weeks ago. I finally got a newer desktop and have <i>most</i> of my programs up and running.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Logos takes a fair amount of time to index the library and is doing so as I type. I also am not preaching this coming Sunday. Instead, we are having a Gideon bring a 'message' from God's Word. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I look forward to hearing how God's Word is changing lives, around the world, as it distributed through these faithful men. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will post again especially as we come to World Communion Sunday on October 2. So begin to prepare yourself to come to our Lord's table even today. Until then...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Shalom</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Alan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10554060906003832006noreply@blogger.com0