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Sunday, March 29, 2009
Every fifth Sunday our congregation has Youth Sunday. On that day the youth lead the service. On this particular Sunday three baptisms were scheduled, one youth and two adults. In light of the special occasion the entire service was dedicated to the theme of Baptism. Scriptures related to baptism were read, confessions were heard, and each candidate went into the watery grave of baptism. The youth gathered the offering and served communion. At the end of the service various young people shared their own remembrances of their baptism.
None of the lections were used in the worship service, but in order to maintain the devotional theme of the lectionary in this blog I submit my brief reflections on the Lectionary Scriptures using the title "New!" For the full benefit of this entry, first read the passage and then my brief comments.
JEREMIAH 31:31-34 A new covenant is promised to the exiled children of Israel, a covenant written in the heart, not on stone tablets, internal, not external, freely received, not imposed—offering intimacy with God, not obligation.
HEBREWS 5:5-10 A new priesthood is introduced in Christ pre-dating the priesthood of Aaron, by God’s appointment, after the order of Melchizedek. [Read Genesis 14:18-24.]
JOHN 12:20-33 People outside Israel inquire of Jesus. (Later Jesus tells his disciples to take the gospel to all nations!) As a grain seed dies a crop is produced, so the death of Jesus produces a new community following in his ways.
PSALM 51:1-12 A plea for mercy after intentional sin.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Fourth Sunday in Lent ~ March 22, 2009
SERMON: Dead?
FIRST READING Ephesians 2:1-10
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
SECOND READING Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this--
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
INTRODUCTION DEAD?
When I read the scriptures to begin preparing for the next sermon I usually start out with the NRSV or the NIV. Then after I have studied one of these translations for a while I will read it in The Message to see if that gives me any additional insight into the passage. Today’s sermon focus will be on the New Testament passages, especially the passage in Ephesians.
Reading from The Message: It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world which doesn’t know the first thing about living tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.
Dead! Did you say DEAD?
Yes, [God] took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ! He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Wow! That’s us now!
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and the saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
HEART
When we read this passage from the KJV or from the NIV we recognize that Paul is writing to a culture that holds a worldview that is different from our understanding of the world in the 21st century—a worldview that is difficult for some of us in this modern age to even think about. Paul’s readers in the first century believed that there were spiritual forces at work in the world. (I will add a parenthesis here: Many cultures around the globe still hold the view that there are spirits at work in the world—that there is a spiritual realm just as there is a material realm—and one can influence the other. It just so happens that most of us were born into a culture that was influenced by the Renaissance which gave birth to the modern era when a scientific world view began to develop with an emphasis on logic and proof. In this new world view the material realm took priority and the spiritual realm was ignored or denied and in many circles completely forgotten because it could not be proved by the scientific method. With this new cultural development in thinking, faith began to be expressed in less spiritual terms. In saying that I am not denying the value of the scientific world view, but I do insist that as Christians we have to reconcile the two. How do we develop and nurture faith, a spiritual exercise, while living in the scientific age that more or less denies the spiritual because it cannot be proved? The two can be reconciled because there are leading scientists who are Christians but that has been the ongoing challenge of our modern age.)
The tradition of Christian faith that my mother and grandmother embraced valued logic and debate and denied or ignored the spiritual aspects of life, contrary to the prevailing worldview in the scriptures which accepted that spiritual forces were at work, influencing lives. We expected to live the Christian life in our own strength. Sometimes as a child I wondered how all of that ‘spirit stuff’ fit into today’s thinking, but most of the time I just ignored it, saying, that was then—this is now.
I had been a Christian about 10 years when I began to question whether we could cope with life in this world in our own strength alone. That was the year I discovered the Holy Spirit! Up to that point I had been taught that the Holy Spirit worked in the first century and inspired the scriptures, but when the Bible was written the work of the Holy Spirit ceased. That was what I accepted and believed until I was a young mother—then I came into a distressing situation—a situation that Thomas and I could not handle in our own strength—so we cried out to the Lord. And we did what we had been taught to do—we began to search the Scriptures! And in that study we discovered that the Holy Spirit was still at work in the world today! Contrary to all that we had been taught in our formative years, spiritual help was promised and available to us! We did not have to function in our own strength! That which was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost was a gift promised to all who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior! That which empowered Jesus for ministry, coming at his baptism, also empowered the early church—and that which empowered the early church would empower the church of all ages! That which broke down barriers of social status, race and culture in the first century would be doing the same thing today! Jews and Gentiles—slave and free—male and female —all stood together in Christ empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit! Thomas and I began to see the world in a new light.
Acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit had far reaching implications for me, personally. Up to that point I thought I had to earn God’s approval by my obedience and in my own strength. I had to earn God’s approval by doing everything right—by understanding exactly what God wanted and doing it exactly the way God wanted me to do it. Then God was obliged to accept me. And up to that point I sincerely believed that I had done that. I had earned God’s favor—and now God was obligated to respond by saving me. And I will admit that looking at salvation in that light puts a lot of stress on a person. You always wonder if you’ve overlooked something—if maybe you’ve misunderstood one of the scriptures—and that innocent oversight will send you directly to hell. So coming to the realization that God does it all and that I receive it as a gift was really good news! God is still at work in the world! The words of Paul took on a very personal meaning for me. EPH8 … by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
[In The Message] Saving is all God’s idea and all God’s work.
We can not be good enough—give enough—have enough knowledge about God or do enough good works to restor our relationship with God.
All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. Its’ God’s gift from start to finish!
Can you imagine what good news that was to my obedient but guilt-ridden mind? See, when you are trying to earn your salvation you always wonder if you are good enough. You always wonder if you’ve done everything that needs to be done to earn God’s favor. You always wonder if God really approves of you. But when you realize that forgiveness is God’s gift it takes a load off your mind—it takes a weight off your heart—and it releases you to be the person God created you to be! And that is good news.
CONCLUSION
Then the light comes on and we better understand our relationship to our Creator: Eph 2:10 10 For we are God's workmanship… God has given us new life in Christ Jesus—we’ve been born from above for a purpose—created in Christ Jesus to do good works… I can almost insert an exclamation point there! I’m still doing good works—but those good works are not to earn God’s approval—I already have that in Christ. These good works are out of gratitude to God for all God has done and continues to do!
Then I read to the end of that sentence and am filled with awe! These good works have been prepared by God in advance for us to do. In other words, we move back into the Garden of Eden relationship with our Creator and pick up the work he had for us from the beginning—to walk with our Creator in the garden in the cool of the evening—to converse with God—to tend the earth—to be in holy relationship with a suitable companion—to display with our lives God’s kindness and grace.
But in order to do that we must realize that we were dead in our sins…Dead? Yes, 2:4b-5a but God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins.
Receive the good news and let it change your life.
FIRST READING Ephesians 2:1-10
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
SECOND READING Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this--
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
INTRODUCTION DEAD?
When I read the scriptures to begin preparing for the next sermon I usually start out with the NRSV or the NIV. Then after I have studied one of these translations for a while I will read it in The Message to see if that gives me any additional insight into the passage. Today’s sermon focus will be on the New Testament passages, especially the passage in Ephesians.
Reading from The Message: It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world which doesn’t know the first thing about living tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.
Dead! Did you say DEAD?
Yes, [God] took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ! He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Wow! That’s us now!
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and the saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
HEART
When we read this passage from the KJV or from the NIV we recognize that Paul is writing to a culture that holds a worldview that is different from our understanding of the world in the 21st century—a worldview that is difficult for some of us in this modern age to even think about. Paul’s readers in the first century believed that there were spiritual forces at work in the world. (I will add a parenthesis here: Many cultures around the globe still hold the view that there are spirits at work in the world—that there is a spiritual realm just as there is a material realm—and one can influence the other. It just so happens that most of us were born into a culture that was influenced by the Renaissance which gave birth to the modern era when a scientific world view began to develop with an emphasis on logic and proof. In this new world view the material realm took priority and the spiritual realm was ignored or denied and in many circles completely forgotten because it could not be proved by the scientific method. With this new cultural development in thinking, faith began to be expressed in less spiritual terms. In saying that I am not denying the value of the scientific world view, but I do insist that as Christians we have to reconcile the two. How do we develop and nurture faith, a spiritual exercise, while living in the scientific age that more or less denies the spiritual because it cannot be proved? The two can be reconciled because there are leading scientists who are Christians but that has been the ongoing challenge of our modern age.)
The tradition of Christian faith that my mother and grandmother embraced valued logic and debate and denied or ignored the spiritual aspects of life, contrary to the prevailing worldview in the scriptures which accepted that spiritual forces were at work, influencing lives. We expected to live the Christian life in our own strength. Sometimes as a child I wondered how all of that ‘spirit stuff’ fit into today’s thinking, but most of the time I just ignored it, saying, that was then—this is now.
I had been a Christian about 10 years when I began to question whether we could cope with life in this world in our own strength alone. That was the year I discovered the Holy Spirit! Up to that point I had been taught that the Holy Spirit worked in the first century and inspired the scriptures, but when the Bible was written the work of the Holy Spirit ceased. That was what I accepted and believed until I was a young mother—then I came into a distressing situation—a situation that Thomas and I could not handle in our own strength—so we cried out to the Lord. And we did what we had been taught to do—we began to search the Scriptures! And in that study we discovered that the Holy Spirit was still at work in the world today! Contrary to all that we had been taught in our formative years, spiritual help was promised and available to us! We did not have to function in our own strength! That which was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost was a gift promised to all who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior! That which empowered Jesus for ministry, coming at his baptism, also empowered the early church—and that which empowered the early church would empower the church of all ages! That which broke down barriers of social status, race and culture in the first century would be doing the same thing today! Jews and Gentiles—slave and free—male and female —all stood together in Christ empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit! Thomas and I began to see the world in a new light.
Acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit had far reaching implications for me, personally. Up to that point I thought I had to earn God’s approval by my obedience and in my own strength. I had to earn God’s approval by doing everything right—by understanding exactly what God wanted and doing it exactly the way God wanted me to do it. Then God was obliged to accept me. And up to that point I sincerely believed that I had done that. I had earned God’s favor—and now God was obligated to respond by saving me. And I will admit that looking at salvation in that light puts a lot of stress on a person. You always wonder if you’ve overlooked something—if maybe you’ve misunderstood one of the scriptures—and that innocent oversight will send you directly to hell. So coming to the realization that God does it all and that I receive it as a gift was really good news! God is still at work in the world! The words of Paul took on a very personal meaning for me. EPH8 … by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
[In The Message] Saving is all God’s idea and all God’s work.
We can not be good enough—give enough—have enough knowledge about God or do enough good works to restor our relationship with God.
All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. Its’ God’s gift from start to finish!
Can you imagine what good news that was to my obedient but guilt-ridden mind? See, when you are trying to earn your salvation you always wonder if you are good enough. You always wonder if you’ve done everything that needs to be done to earn God’s favor. You always wonder if God really approves of you. But when you realize that forgiveness is God’s gift it takes a load off your mind—it takes a weight off your heart—and it releases you to be the person God created you to be! And that is good news.
CONCLUSION
Then the light comes on and we better understand our relationship to our Creator: Eph 2:10 10 For we are God's workmanship… God has given us new life in Christ Jesus—we’ve been born from above for a purpose—created in Christ Jesus to do good works… I can almost insert an exclamation point there! I’m still doing good works—but those good works are not to earn God’s approval—I already have that in Christ. These good works are out of gratitude to God for all God has done and continues to do!
Then I read to the end of that sentence and am filled with awe! These good works have been prepared by God in advance for us to do. In other words, we move back into the Garden of Eden relationship with our Creator and pick up the work he had for us from the beginning—to walk with our Creator in the garden in the cool of the evening—to converse with God—to tend the earth—to be in holy relationship with a suitable companion—to display with our lives God’s kindness and grace.
But in order to do that we must realize that we were dead in our sins…Dead? Yes, 2:4b-5a but God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins.
Receive the good news and let it change your life.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Third Sunday in Lent ~ March 15, 2009
SERMON: Zealous?
FIRST READING John 2:13-22
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
SECOND READING Psalm 19:1-6
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
COMMUNION MEDITATION 1Corinthians 1:18, 23-25
18 … the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 23We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
PLAY: God’s Own Fool by Michael Card
INTRODUCTION
SING: Open Our Eyes Lord…
Did you read and meditate on the four scriptures for this week? Do you realize that we worship a jealous God—one who loves us and desires our undivided devotion—one who wants the best for us, but gives us the freedom to reject him? This jealous God allows the effects of our sins to ripple on from generation to generation—up to the third and fourth generation of those who reject God—and continue to reject God.
But the steadfast love of the Lord also permeates the generations of those who love God …to the 1,000th generation. Exodus 20:6 NRSV When we love God and keep God’s commands God’s love far outweighs the ripple effect of sin. And sin and the effect of sin is broken when someone turns back to the Lord. Then begins the effect of love into the 1,000th generation.
HEART
Let’s look at these scriptures like we would look at a treasured quilt that our grandmother made for us. And this is such a quilt. Many of the squares are from the scraps left over from Mother’s sewing. Mother had a dress made out of this. And I had pajamas made from this material. And these four scriptures are like that. Each scripture comes from a time in Israel’s history and they bring back memories of God’s interaction with the people of God. Today we can still benefit from that collective preserved memory.
Turn to Exodus 20:1 and look at a scrap in the quilt of scripture. Our life choices should be based on our understanding of God—at least that seems to be the way God sees it. Vs 1-6 is a self-introduction of God. God tells us who he is—what he has done—and assumes this reminder is enough to ask God’s people for a singular devotion and reverence—even down to taking a day off! We take a day of rest because God took a day of rest (vs 8-11).
The two sections of the Ten Commandments clearly reflect our entire being —our spiritual need to be in relationship with God and our physical/social need for community, for living with others. Our devotion to God is demonstrated in our relationship to our neighbor. Loyalty to God has an effect on how we respond to our social responsibilities. Every social setting must have defined boundaries to maintain order and civility. God’s love for us is expressed in “do’s” & “don’t’s.”
Turn to Psalm 19. In the first six verses the psalmist calls the people of God to worship. He reminds us that all of creation declares the glory of God, v3-4, and creation does it without making a sound! Without making a sound the message of the existence of a Creator goes out to the ends of the earth. That is what seminary professors call Natural Revelation—the revelation of creation. But next the psalmist focuses in on the people of God—those who received the commandments on the mountain—the people of Israel who are in covenant with God—those who have Special Revelation—God’s law to guide. Look how the psalmist describes this special revelation, beginning in v7. “The law of the Lord is perfect…” The following verses were probably a reading used in the public worship—a reminder that the Lord’s commands were beneficial—not a burden to be obeyed, but a joy to be celebrated. And when God’s rule was received in the proper attitude it was precious, desirable, and sweet. Let’s read these verses together & treasure the truth of the psalmist’s poetry.
PS 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
PS 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
PS 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
PS 19:10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
These scraps of scripture call for reverence before the Lord.
Turn to John 2:13. Jesus comes, revealing a reverence for God. He reveres the Father and, at the same time, reveals the Father’s love. In this passage from the gospel of John Jesus zealously demonstrates God’s jealous love as the moneychangers are driven out of the temple in Jerusalem. Those merchants were there for selfish reasons, to make money.They were not there out of reverence for God. And Jesus knew a lack of reverence displeased the Father. Jesus also knew people were being hurt because of greed and usury.
There is, in the heart of God an impassioned eagerness that desires our devotion and our faithfulness, and Jesus indicates by his actions here that all else should be driven out! Sometimes in our enlightened wisdom we fail to show reverence to an invisible, mysterious Creator-Redeemer. We fail to nurture within our hearts the respect and the honor that is due God.
People today, in general, fail to appreciate the complexity of God’s nature—the progressive revelation that comes down to us through the centuries—the unfolding understanding of God that comes as we worship and devote ourselves to the Lord and the study of his word. We fail to appreciate the proclamation of creation that the psalmist celebrates. We fail to learn from the mistakes of God’s people in ages past. And in all probability we can lay this relaxed, half-hearted attitude at the feet of GOD’S GRACE—as crazy as that may sound! God’s grace is so generously poured out upon us in Jesus Christ that we fail to give our Creator -Redeemer proper respect and allegiance!
Responding to this attitude the Apostle Paul asks the question: Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Shall we fail to nurture our relationship with God just because God is gracious to us? Shall we have divided devotion to God with one foot in the world and one foot hopping along with God? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. Romans 6:1-2 KJV.
The Lord wants our undivided devotion. If Jesus came into a place of worship today—here or to any of the congregations in this town, what would he find? What would he overturn and drive out from the hearts of the worshippers? How zealous are we for the things of God?
CONCLUSION
There is a subtle thread in John’s gospel that I don’t want us to miss. In his zeal Jesus removed what did not belong in the temple and, in the process, declared his own body to be the true temple! Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days! John 2:19 Of course, we know he didn’t mean the literal temple. He meant the dwelling place of God was being changed—from the building in Jerusalem to his own body, filled with the Holy Spirit.
Later the Apostle Paul took this understanding of God one step further—and this has implications for us—today! Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
Let the implications of that statement filter into you mind and change your thinking about yourself. Now hear the rest of Paul’s statement in v17: If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. That is what Jesus demonstrated in his zealous outburst. Keep God’s dwelling clean, dedicated to God’s purposes. That is also what the psalmist is telling us—God’s revelation revives the soul—God’s rule guides us—God’s just demands delight us—God’s clear commands sharpen our vision—God’s faultless decrees stand forever—and God’s righteous judgments are eternally true.[1]
In other words, we must allow God’s revelation to bring light into our life. Jesus summed up the entirety of the law with two simple commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength—and love your neighbor as yourself.
It is difficult for us in the 21st century to devote ourselves to an invisible God.
In an age of instant messages, texting, and advanced technology it is difficult for us to wait on the Lord—to devote ourselves to study—to give ourselves to God without reservation.
Our enlightened mind sometimes questions God’s logic God’s wisdom. We look at the brutal crucifixion and say, ‘God, what are you thinking?’ But then we see the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ and know this reveals both the wisdom and the power of God.
We worship a god who is willing to go to any length to demonstrate his love for us—to provide atonement for our sins by shedding his own blood on our behalf.
This foolish message reveals the wisdom of God!
A crucified Messiah reveals the strength God!
The resurrected Lord demonstrates the power of God!
Doesn’t our Creator–Redeemer deserve our complete devotion?
[1] Feasting on the Word. Eds. D. L. Bartlett & B. B. Taylor. Year B, Volume 2, pages 74-97; in particular page 83.
FIRST READING John 2:13-22
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
SECOND READING Psalm 19:1-6
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
COMMUNION MEDITATION 1Corinthians 1:18, 23-25
18 … the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 23We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
PLAY: God’s Own Fool by Michael Card
INTRODUCTION
SING: Open Our Eyes Lord…
Did you read and meditate on the four scriptures for this week? Do you realize that we worship a jealous God—one who loves us and desires our undivided devotion—one who wants the best for us, but gives us the freedom to reject him? This jealous God allows the effects of our sins to ripple on from generation to generation—up to the third and fourth generation of those who reject God—and continue to reject God.
But the steadfast love of the Lord also permeates the generations of those who love God …to the 1,000th generation. Exodus 20:6 NRSV When we love God and keep God’s commands God’s love far outweighs the ripple effect of sin. And sin and the effect of sin is broken when someone turns back to the Lord. Then begins the effect of love into the 1,000th generation.
HEART
Let’s look at these scriptures like we would look at a treasured quilt that our grandmother made for us. And this is such a quilt. Many of the squares are from the scraps left over from Mother’s sewing. Mother had a dress made out of this. And I had pajamas made from this material. And these four scriptures are like that. Each scripture comes from a time in Israel’s history and they bring back memories of God’s interaction with the people of God. Today we can still benefit from that collective preserved memory.
Turn to Exodus 20:1 and look at a scrap in the quilt of scripture. Our life choices should be based on our understanding of God—at least that seems to be the way God sees it. Vs 1-6 is a self-introduction of God. God tells us who he is—what he has done—and assumes this reminder is enough to ask God’s people for a singular devotion and reverence—even down to taking a day off! We take a day of rest because God took a day of rest (vs 8-11).
The two sections of the Ten Commandments clearly reflect our entire being —our spiritual need to be in relationship with God and our physical/social need for community, for living with others. Our devotion to God is demonstrated in our relationship to our neighbor. Loyalty to God has an effect on how we respond to our social responsibilities. Every social setting must have defined boundaries to maintain order and civility. God’s love for us is expressed in “do’s” & “don’t’s.”
Turn to Psalm 19. In the first six verses the psalmist calls the people of God to worship. He reminds us that all of creation declares the glory of God, v3-4, and creation does it without making a sound! Without making a sound the message of the existence of a Creator goes out to the ends of the earth. That is what seminary professors call Natural Revelation—the revelation of creation. But next the psalmist focuses in on the people of God—those who received the commandments on the mountain—the people of Israel who are in covenant with God—those who have Special Revelation—God’s law to guide. Look how the psalmist describes this special revelation, beginning in v7. “The law of the Lord is perfect…” The following verses were probably a reading used in the public worship—a reminder that the Lord’s commands were beneficial—not a burden to be obeyed, but a joy to be celebrated. And when God’s rule was received in the proper attitude it was precious, desirable, and sweet. Let’s read these verses together & treasure the truth of the psalmist’s poetry.
PS 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
PS 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
PS 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
PS 19:10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
These scraps of scripture call for reverence before the Lord.
Turn to John 2:13. Jesus comes, revealing a reverence for God. He reveres the Father and, at the same time, reveals the Father’s love. In this passage from the gospel of John Jesus zealously demonstrates God’s jealous love as the moneychangers are driven out of the temple in Jerusalem. Those merchants were there for selfish reasons, to make money.They were not there out of reverence for God. And Jesus knew a lack of reverence displeased the Father. Jesus also knew people were being hurt because of greed and usury.
There is, in the heart of God an impassioned eagerness that desires our devotion and our faithfulness, and Jesus indicates by his actions here that all else should be driven out! Sometimes in our enlightened wisdom we fail to show reverence to an invisible, mysterious Creator-Redeemer. We fail to nurture within our hearts the respect and the honor that is due God.
People today, in general, fail to appreciate the complexity of God’s nature—the progressive revelation that comes down to us through the centuries—the unfolding understanding of God that comes as we worship and devote ourselves to the Lord and the study of his word. We fail to appreciate the proclamation of creation that the psalmist celebrates. We fail to learn from the mistakes of God’s people in ages past. And in all probability we can lay this relaxed, half-hearted attitude at the feet of GOD’S GRACE—as crazy as that may sound! God’s grace is so generously poured out upon us in Jesus Christ that we fail to give our Creator -Redeemer proper respect and allegiance!
Responding to this attitude the Apostle Paul asks the question: Shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Shall we fail to nurture our relationship with God just because God is gracious to us? Shall we have divided devotion to God with one foot in the world and one foot hopping along with God? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. Romans 6:1-2 KJV.
The Lord wants our undivided devotion. If Jesus came into a place of worship today—here or to any of the congregations in this town, what would he find? What would he overturn and drive out from the hearts of the worshippers? How zealous are we for the things of God?
CONCLUSION
There is a subtle thread in John’s gospel that I don’t want us to miss. In his zeal Jesus removed what did not belong in the temple and, in the process, declared his own body to be the true temple! Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days! John 2:19 Of course, we know he didn’t mean the literal temple. He meant the dwelling place of God was being changed—from the building in Jerusalem to his own body, filled with the Holy Spirit.
Later the Apostle Paul took this understanding of God one step further—and this has implications for us—today! Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
Let the implications of that statement filter into you mind and change your thinking about yourself. Now hear the rest of Paul’s statement in v17: If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. That is what Jesus demonstrated in his zealous outburst. Keep God’s dwelling clean, dedicated to God’s purposes. That is also what the psalmist is telling us—God’s revelation revives the soul—God’s rule guides us—God’s just demands delight us—God’s clear commands sharpen our vision—God’s faultless decrees stand forever—and God’s righteous judgments are eternally true.[1]
In other words, we must allow God’s revelation to bring light into our life. Jesus summed up the entirety of the law with two simple commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength—and love your neighbor as yourself.
It is difficult for us in the 21st century to devote ourselves to an invisible God.
In an age of instant messages, texting, and advanced technology it is difficult for us to wait on the Lord—to devote ourselves to study—to give ourselves to God without reservation.
Our enlightened mind sometimes questions God’s logic God’s wisdom. We look at the brutal crucifixion and say, ‘God, what are you thinking?’ But then we see the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ and know this reveals both the wisdom and the power of God.
We worship a god who is willing to go to any length to demonstrate his love for us—to provide atonement for our sins by shedding his own blood on our behalf.
This foolish message reveals the wisdom of God!
A crucified Messiah reveals the strength God!
The resurrected Lord demonstrates the power of God!
Doesn’t our Creator–Redeemer deserve our complete devotion?
[1] Feasting on the Word. Eds. D. L. Bartlett & B. B. Taylor. Year B, Volume 2, pages 74-97; in particular page 83.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Second Sunday in Lent ~ March 8, 2009
SERMON: Rejected?
FIRST READING Mark 8:27-30
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
SECOND READING Mark 8:31-38
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
COMMUNION MEDITATION
To follow Jesus we are called to give ourselves whole-heartedly and unashamedly to the spreading of a particular message: God’s love is revealed in Jesus Christ. But Jesus makes it clear that there is danger in following him—rejection and suffering. On the night he was betrayed, knowing that suffering and rejection lay ahead of him in the next few hours, Jesus took bread from the common meal—blessed it—broke it and said, “This is my body given for you.” Those words must have echoed in the minds of his disciples when they saw Jesus on the cross. After the meal Jesus took the cup, saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” As we receive this bread and this cup let us remember the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SERMON: Rejected?
INTRODUCTION
SING: Open Our Eyes Lord…
What does it mean to be a faithful disciple or follower of Jesus? Some of the “Health & Wealth” preachers tell us that following Jesus will make us wealthy and healthy. They take a few scriptures out of context and say that following Jesus will be a life of ease and prosperity. But Jesus says otherwise!
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself [put God first] & take up his cross [be willing to die] & follow me. Mark 8:34b Jesus also talked about loosing your life for his sake.
HEART
Sometimes a different translation of scripture will give us insight into a passage. The Message reads this way: Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You are not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all.
Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. Mark 8:34-35 TM
Have you decided to follow Jesus? He is an honest salesman—he tells you what to expect. Let’s declare our faith with the words of this song.
SING: I have decided to follow Jesus… …no turning back, no turning back.
Jesus says: “Don’t run from suffering [because of me; but rather] embrace it.
I will show you how. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
Do you still want to follow Jesus? Will you turn your back on the world and follow Jesus, regardless of the consequences?
SING: v. 2 The world behind me, the cross before me… no turning back…
Then Jesus says, “I will be rejected.” Mark 8:38 NIV
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, [I] will be ashamed of him when [I] come in [my] Father's glory with the holy angels.
SING: v3 Tho none go with me still will I follow… …not turning back…
Every one of us at one time or another has been rejected for one reason or another. And we all know how painful it is to be rejected. I remember in middle school that awful feeling when I was always the last one to be chosen to on a team. But that rejection was not because I followed Jesus—it was because I wasn’t a good athlete!
And an even more painful memory of rejection was back when I was about 15 or 16 years old—I had just started dating and my mother’s best friend had a nephew visiting from Louisiana. So the two of them arranged for the nephew, Johnny, to call me for a date. I was elated because he was very handsome and he had his driver’s license.
Johnny took me to a movie during Thanksgiving while he was visiting family in central Texas. Then he and I exchanged addresses and wrote letters between Thanksgiving and Christmas—when he would be back to TX to visit his grandparents again. He and I had an enjoyable time together on our date and the letter exchanges were very positive. [This is before emails or texting—and it took a week for snail mail to be delivered from one place to another.] But we exchanged several letters between Thanksgiving and Christmas. All of this made me expect another date with him during the Christmas holidays. So Johnny came into town as scheduled, but he never called me! I waited and waited—but nothing. I was disappointed and confused and wondered what happened.
Later I learned from his Aunt Mary that he had met another girl in town and had dated her during his Christmas visit. At that point I was devastated and cried for days. That rejection made me feel terrible but he didn’t reject me because of my faith.
What I felt in the core of my being was that I was not good enough for Johnny. The reality of the situation, I realize now, is that his rejection of me didn’t have anything to do with me as a person. Johnny’s choices showed that he was a fickle guy who valued relationship with the influential in the community. I was a country girl, the daughter of a black land farmer, who lived several miles out of town. The girl he chose for that Christmas fling came from a family who held a more important position in our town. Her home was in the nicer section of town. She moved in a different social set than I did. I was rejected, but not because of my faith.
Jesus was rejected—because he was a threat to the people in power. Rejection says more about the people who reject than it does about the person who is rejected. Why was Jesus rejected? Read through the gospel of Mark and sort out the motives of the elders, the chief priests and the scribes. Jesus came determined to reveal God’s love to the people of God—set apart and empowered for that purpose. And it was the common folk who wanted to better understand Jesus. They were amazed at his teachings and his boldness. The men of power and influence were threatened. Early on in his ministry Jesus ignored the traditions of the elders and began to redefine what was acceptable and unacceptable to God.
I could have told Jesus that you don’t mess with tradition! “We’ve always done it that way.” That sentence means this is a tradition. And it is heard in all the churches even to this day! But Jesus would come into any congregations in this town today—ours included—and not hesitate to break our traditions. And when Jesus violated one of our traditions, we would, in all likelihood, reject him—or at least he would be rejected by those who held the particular tradition dear to their hearts.[1]
The temple authorities—the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law—began to question the authority of Jesus. What right did he have to change tradition? After all he was only a carpenter from Galilee—a self-proclaimed teacher—a man of questionable reputation because he touched lepers and ate with sinners.[2] Who is he to challenge our traditions?
Another time Jesus saw the corruption in the Temple in Jerusalem and took steps to get rid of it. Jesus upset the status quo when he upset the tables of the greedy merchants who had set up shop in the temple courts and were taking advantage of the worshippers who bought their sacrifices from them. Jesus would confront the status quo today—on Wall Street—in Washington DC—and here in El Dorado Springs. He would stand up for the weak and the powerless and he would confront those in power and call them to account for their actions—just as he did when he walked this earth. (And if I’m reading the scriptures correctly, his followers are supposed to be doing that today!)
When the chief priests heard that Jesus was chasing the merchants out of the temple they began to make plans to stop Jesus—to crush his influence—and to put an end to this troublemaker.[3]
Jesus knew his faithfulness to the Father would continue to bring him into conflict with the powerful and the influential—but Jesus was determined to demonstrate the Father’s priorities and to be faithful to the leading of the Holy Spirit—regardless of the consequences. …no turning back.
Jesus also knew that this dynamic of conflict between light and darkness would not be his battle alone. He knew his followers would also need that faithful determination to be willing to die for the sake of demonstrating God’s love. To follow Jesus we are called to give ourselves whole-hearted and unashamed to a particular message regardless of the consequences. That message is this: God’s love is revealed in Jesus Christ.
I pray that our actions and our priorities as a congregation continue to reveal God’s love to this community. I pray that even in the middle of these difficult times that our country is experiencing, our relationship with the Lord continues to become dearer to us, regardless of the consequences.
[1] Mark 7:3-5
[2] Mark 11:27
[3] Mark 11:18
FIRST READING Mark 8:27-30
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ. "
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
SECOND READING Mark 8:31-38
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
COMMUNION MEDITATION
To follow Jesus we are called to give ourselves whole-heartedly and unashamedly to the spreading of a particular message: God’s love is revealed in Jesus Christ. But Jesus makes it clear that there is danger in following him—rejection and suffering. On the night he was betrayed, knowing that suffering and rejection lay ahead of him in the next few hours, Jesus took bread from the common meal—blessed it—broke it and said, “This is my body given for you.” Those words must have echoed in the minds of his disciples when they saw Jesus on the cross. After the meal Jesus took the cup, saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” As we receive this bread and this cup let us remember the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SERMON: Rejected?
INTRODUCTION
SING: Open Our Eyes Lord…
What does it mean to be a faithful disciple or follower of Jesus? Some of the “Health & Wealth” preachers tell us that following Jesus will make us wealthy and healthy. They take a few scriptures out of context and say that following Jesus will be a life of ease and prosperity. But Jesus says otherwise!
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself [put God first] & take up his cross [be willing to die] & follow me. Mark 8:34b Jesus also talked about loosing your life for his sake.
HEART
Sometimes a different translation of scripture will give us insight into a passage. The Message reads this way: Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You are not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all.
Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. Mark 8:34-35 TM
Have you decided to follow Jesus? He is an honest salesman—he tells you what to expect. Let’s declare our faith with the words of this song.
SING: I have decided to follow Jesus… …no turning back, no turning back.
Jesus says: “Don’t run from suffering [because of me; but rather] embrace it.
I will show you how. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
Do you still want to follow Jesus? Will you turn your back on the world and follow Jesus, regardless of the consequences?
SING: v. 2 The world behind me, the cross before me… no turning back…
Then Jesus says, “I will be rejected.” Mark 8:38 NIV
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, [I] will be ashamed of him when [I] come in [my] Father's glory with the holy angels.
SING: v3 Tho none go with me still will I follow… …not turning back…
Every one of us at one time or another has been rejected for one reason or another. And we all know how painful it is to be rejected. I remember in middle school that awful feeling when I was always the last one to be chosen to on a team. But that rejection was not because I followed Jesus—it was because I wasn’t a good athlete!
And an even more painful memory of rejection was back when I was about 15 or 16 years old—I had just started dating and my mother’s best friend had a nephew visiting from Louisiana. So the two of them arranged for the nephew, Johnny, to call me for a date. I was elated because he was very handsome and he had his driver’s license.
Johnny took me to a movie during Thanksgiving while he was visiting family in central Texas. Then he and I exchanged addresses and wrote letters between Thanksgiving and Christmas—when he would be back to TX to visit his grandparents again. He and I had an enjoyable time together on our date and the letter exchanges were very positive. [This is before emails or texting—and it took a week for snail mail to be delivered from one place to another.] But we exchanged several letters between Thanksgiving and Christmas. All of this made me expect another date with him during the Christmas holidays. So Johnny came into town as scheduled, but he never called me! I waited and waited—but nothing. I was disappointed and confused and wondered what happened.
Later I learned from his Aunt Mary that he had met another girl in town and had dated her during his Christmas visit. At that point I was devastated and cried for days. That rejection made me feel terrible but he didn’t reject me because of my faith.
What I felt in the core of my being was that I was not good enough for Johnny. The reality of the situation, I realize now, is that his rejection of me didn’t have anything to do with me as a person. Johnny’s choices showed that he was a fickle guy who valued relationship with the influential in the community. I was a country girl, the daughter of a black land farmer, who lived several miles out of town. The girl he chose for that Christmas fling came from a family who held a more important position in our town. Her home was in the nicer section of town. She moved in a different social set than I did. I was rejected, but not because of my faith.
Jesus was rejected—because he was a threat to the people in power. Rejection says more about the people who reject than it does about the person who is rejected. Why was Jesus rejected? Read through the gospel of Mark and sort out the motives of the elders, the chief priests and the scribes. Jesus came determined to reveal God’s love to the people of God—set apart and empowered for that purpose. And it was the common folk who wanted to better understand Jesus. They were amazed at his teachings and his boldness. The men of power and influence were threatened. Early on in his ministry Jesus ignored the traditions of the elders and began to redefine what was acceptable and unacceptable to God.
I could have told Jesus that you don’t mess with tradition! “We’ve always done it that way.” That sentence means this is a tradition. And it is heard in all the churches even to this day! But Jesus would come into any congregations in this town today—ours included—and not hesitate to break our traditions. And when Jesus violated one of our traditions, we would, in all likelihood, reject him—or at least he would be rejected by those who held the particular tradition dear to their hearts.[1]
The temple authorities—the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law—began to question the authority of Jesus. What right did he have to change tradition? After all he was only a carpenter from Galilee—a self-proclaimed teacher—a man of questionable reputation because he touched lepers and ate with sinners.[2] Who is he to challenge our traditions?
Another time Jesus saw the corruption in the Temple in Jerusalem and took steps to get rid of it. Jesus upset the status quo when he upset the tables of the greedy merchants who had set up shop in the temple courts and were taking advantage of the worshippers who bought their sacrifices from them. Jesus would confront the status quo today—on Wall Street—in Washington DC—and here in El Dorado Springs. He would stand up for the weak and the powerless and he would confront those in power and call them to account for their actions—just as he did when he walked this earth. (And if I’m reading the scriptures correctly, his followers are supposed to be doing that today!)
When the chief priests heard that Jesus was chasing the merchants out of the temple they began to make plans to stop Jesus—to crush his influence—and to put an end to this troublemaker.[3]
Jesus knew his faithfulness to the Father would continue to bring him into conflict with the powerful and the influential—but Jesus was determined to demonstrate the Father’s priorities and to be faithful to the leading of the Holy Spirit—regardless of the consequences. …no turning back.
Jesus also knew that this dynamic of conflict between light and darkness would not be his battle alone. He knew his followers would also need that faithful determination to be willing to die for the sake of demonstrating God’s love. To follow Jesus we are called to give ourselves whole-hearted and unashamed to a particular message regardless of the consequences. That message is this: God’s love is revealed in Jesus Christ.
I pray that our actions and our priorities as a congregation continue to reveal God’s love to this community. I pray that even in the middle of these difficult times that our country is experiencing, our relationship with the Lord continues to become dearer to us, regardless of the consequences.
[1] Mark 7:3-5
[2] Mark 11:27
[3] Mark 11:18
Friday, March 13, 2009
First Sunday in Lent : TEMPTED?
March 1, 2009 ~ First Sunday in Lent
LENTEN SERIES: The Road to the Cross
SERMON: Tempted?
FIRST READING Mark 1:9-15
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
SECOND READING Psalm 25:1-5
PS 25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
PS 25:2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
PS 25:3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
PS 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
PS 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
SERMON: Tempted?
INTRODUCTION
Mark is the briefest of the gospels in reporting the events of the 40 days that follow Jesus’ baptism. To get a fuller account of those days, go to the gospels of Matthew and Luke. But our focus today is Mark’s report. After a very public act of commitment Jesus had a deep and meaningful spiritual experience. He became aware of God’s love and approval. He heard God say—“You are my son…” Jesus felt the empowering Holy Spirit fall upon him and move him to a place of solitude. [Jesus] was in the desert forty days… And in this time of solitude Jesus realized his utter dependence upon God—because during these 40 days Jesus was …being tempted by Satan. The very one who enticed the first people in the Garden now approaches Jesus in this arid dry wasteland of the desert.
Mark tells us precious little, but the fact that Jesus was tempted and resisted the temptation was important to the early church. And in the early centuries of the church (in the 400s) historians tell us that 40 days were set aside for Christians to reflect on their own vulnerability and be strengthened to resist temptation. During these 40 days they also learned from Jesus how to live in this world—how to glorify the Father who is in heaven. These 40 days were the weeks before the annual celebration of the resurrection. But this period of time, these 40 days called Lent, were regularly interrupted with a weekly celebration of the resurrection each Sunday. Sundays are not counted as a part of the 40 days.
To set these Sundays in Lent apart and to consecrate our hearts and our minds to the Lord we will begin each sermon with a chorus: Open Our Eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus...
HEART
Sometimes we put Jesus on such a high pedestal as “Son of God” that we have difficulty imagining that he could be tempted to fall short of God’s expectations.
But we know that he was tempted. Heb 4:15 says the one who intercedes for us
(that is, Jesus) has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Temptation is NOT SIN. We sin when we give in to temptation—when we settle for less than God’s best—when we fail to live up to God’s expectations—when we compromise God’s purposes. Reading from Hebrews 2:18 Because [Jesus] suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
That is a good scripture to memorize so that when we are tempted, we can boldly call upon the Lord, knowing he understands and is able to help. Scripture says that temptation is common to all people. Our hearts are fickle. Created as companions to the Creator, created in the very image of God, we ought to learn from the sins of previous generations so we don’t have to repeat the same sins. 1 Cor 10:11-13 preserves examples of unacceptable behavior from Israel’s history. These are warnings to us of the consequences of misguided devotion and poor choices. Then in v12 we are encouraged to take our human frailty seriously. ...if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
Don’t try to live in your own strength. Temptation comes. This world deceives our hearts and blinds our minds. We can easily be lured away from the purposes God intended for us. But rest assured v13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to [other human beings.] And God is faithful; [God] will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, [God] will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God gives us opportunity to escape temptation but we must accept what God offers. This reminds me of the story of the man stranded on the roof of his house after a flood, with the flood waters still rising. A boat comes and attempts to rescue him but he turned them away saying, “No, the Lord will save me.” This happened two more times and each time the man on the roof repeats the same bold statement of faith. “No, thank you, the Lord will save me.” Eventually the man grows weary, looses his grasp, falls off the roof and drowns. In heaven he asked God, “I had such great faith. Why didn’t you save me?” God replied, “I sent three boats and you refused each one of them.”
The point is, God provides a way for us to resist temptation—to flee the Tempter—to overcome the Deceiver—to defy the Lie. BUT we must be discerning enough to know this is God’s provision. We must receive God’s help and climb off the roof and into the boat.
God offers us an opportunity to stop fantasizing about that Eye Candy. We
say, No thank you, I'll cling to this roof a little longer.
When we repeat the Lord's prayer our conscience reminds us to give up the bitterness and revenge we are harboring in our heart. And we say, No, thank you. I'll cling to this roof a little longer.
The Lord's prayer reminds us of God's daily provision, but we cling to that worry about tomorrow's provision as if our worry could make a difference.
Many of us are more self-conscious than we are God-conscious and the Lord says to us, 'I created you to be in relationship with me—not to worry about what others are thinking about you.' And we say, No thank you, Lord. I'll cling to this old image of myself—and remain paralyzed with my self-consciousness.'
God provides a way out of temptation but we must accept it and thank God for it. One step in overcoming temptation is to be spiritually discerning, KNOW who you are and know whose you are. Jesus had just heard the voice from heaven say: “You are my son, my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus knew he belonged to the Father and that the Father loved him. To overcome temptation we must understand the spiritual authority we have in Christ. We must let the reality of our new spiritual position permeate our hearts and our minds—our emotions & our intellect—just like Jesus did in that desolate place.
Look at Colossians 3:1-3 1Since… you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above… Your affection and devotion belongs to another realm …where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
In our relationship with Christ we devote our hearts and our minds to spiritual matters. Of course we live in this world—in this world but not 'of this world.’ In Christ we have a new priority—we have set our minds on things above—and when we adjust our focus, we want to make God’s way our way. Our cravings, our desires, our emotions, thoughts of revenge, that streak of greed and stinginess, our worry about tomorrow—all these thoughts are less tempting. 3 For you died... You were buried with him in baptism! ...and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Life is redefined--and now all of life is lived from a different perspective.
KNOW who you are in Christ—and know what God thinks of you. You are a child of God—loved and empowered to live a righteous life. We know from Matthew and Luke that Jesus resisted temptation. He resisted the deception of the Evil One by quoting scripture, by knowing God’s heart better than the Deceiver did.
The psalmist knew the importance of LEARNing from the Lord. He wrote in Psalm 25:5 ... guide me in your truth and teach me... We are equipped to resist temptation when we have a heart yielded to the Lord and are open to learn from him.
In 1 John 2:27 it says the Holy Spirit teaches us today. As we go about life the Spirit will nudge us—bring a scripture to our mind—open our mind to a new understanding—point us in a different direction. With the Spirit teaching us, we can make the words of the psalmist our personal prayer—guide me... and teach me. But this prayer implys that we are willing to submit to the Lord and FOLLOW his leading.
CONCLUSION
Finally, regardless of the circumstances—we resist temptation when we remain true to what we KNOW about God and what we know about who we are in Christ.
We overcome temptation when we continue to LEARN from the Lord, when we continue to be
pliable in the Lord's hands, expecting the Spirit to teach us and guide us.
We turn our back on temptation when we FOLLOW the Lord's leading. We actually get off the roof and into the boat—and I suggest you take the first boat that comes along because it is only grace if more than one way of escape is offered!
But regardless of the circumstances Mark tells us that HELP is provided. Even when we feel deserted—alone—tempted—surrounded by danger—whatever the circumstance—spiritual help is provided. Jesus was in physical danger [wild animals surrounded him], but God's messengers, angels, attended to him. (Mark 1:13)
Are you tempted to settle for less than God's best? Of course you are.
Does God provide a way out? Of course God does. So get off the roof and accept God's provision that is in Christ Jesus.
If you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, take care of that today.
Make a public confession and prepare for baptism. If you are a Christian, but don't have a church family, come join us.We need you and you need a church family. There is strength in fellowship. This is the time to renew your commitment to the Lord and to the church.
Stand and sing two verses of the hymn of invitation. This is a good day to make a new beginning.
HYMN: Yield Not to Temptation ~ two verses.
LENTEN SERIES: The Road to the Cross
SERMON: Tempted?
FIRST READING Mark 1:9-15
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
SECOND READING Psalm 25:1-5
PS 25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
PS 25:2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
PS 25:3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
PS 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
PS 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
SERMON: Tempted?
INTRODUCTION
Mark is the briefest of the gospels in reporting the events of the 40 days that follow Jesus’ baptism. To get a fuller account of those days, go to the gospels of Matthew and Luke. But our focus today is Mark’s report. After a very public act of commitment Jesus had a deep and meaningful spiritual experience. He became aware of God’s love and approval. He heard God say—“You are my son…” Jesus felt the empowering Holy Spirit fall upon him and move him to a place of solitude. [Jesus] was in the desert forty days… And in this time of solitude Jesus realized his utter dependence upon God—because during these 40 days Jesus was …being tempted by Satan. The very one who enticed the first people in the Garden now approaches Jesus in this arid dry wasteland of the desert.
Mark tells us precious little, but the fact that Jesus was tempted and resisted the temptation was important to the early church. And in the early centuries of the church (in the 400s) historians tell us that 40 days were set aside for Christians to reflect on their own vulnerability and be strengthened to resist temptation. During these 40 days they also learned from Jesus how to live in this world—how to glorify the Father who is in heaven. These 40 days were the weeks before the annual celebration of the resurrection. But this period of time, these 40 days called Lent, were regularly interrupted with a weekly celebration of the resurrection each Sunday. Sundays are not counted as a part of the 40 days.
To set these Sundays in Lent apart and to consecrate our hearts and our minds to the Lord we will begin each sermon with a chorus: Open Our Eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus...
HEART
Sometimes we put Jesus on such a high pedestal as “Son of God” that we have difficulty imagining that he could be tempted to fall short of God’s expectations.
But we know that he was tempted. Heb 4:15 says the one who intercedes for us
(that is, Jesus) has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Temptation is NOT SIN. We sin when we give in to temptation—when we settle for less than God’s best—when we fail to live up to God’s expectations—when we compromise God’s purposes. Reading from Hebrews 2:18 Because [Jesus] suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
That is a good scripture to memorize so that when we are tempted, we can boldly call upon the Lord, knowing he understands and is able to help. Scripture says that temptation is common to all people. Our hearts are fickle. Created as companions to the Creator, created in the very image of God, we ought to learn from the sins of previous generations so we don’t have to repeat the same sins. 1 Cor 10:11-13 preserves examples of unacceptable behavior from Israel’s history. These are warnings to us of the consequences of misguided devotion and poor choices. Then in v12 we are encouraged to take our human frailty seriously. ...if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
Don’t try to live in your own strength. Temptation comes. This world deceives our hearts and blinds our minds. We can easily be lured away from the purposes God intended for us. But rest assured v13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to [other human beings.] And God is faithful; [God] will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, [God] will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God gives us opportunity to escape temptation but we must accept what God offers. This reminds me of the story of the man stranded on the roof of his house after a flood, with the flood waters still rising. A boat comes and attempts to rescue him but he turned them away saying, “No, the Lord will save me.” This happened two more times and each time the man on the roof repeats the same bold statement of faith. “No, thank you, the Lord will save me.” Eventually the man grows weary, looses his grasp, falls off the roof and drowns. In heaven he asked God, “I had such great faith. Why didn’t you save me?” God replied, “I sent three boats and you refused each one of them.”
The point is, God provides a way for us to resist temptation—to flee the Tempter—to overcome the Deceiver—to defy the Lie. BUT we must be discerning enough to know this is God’s provision. We must receive God’s help and climb off the roof and into the boat.
God offers us an opportunity to stop fantasizing about that Eye Candy. We
say, No thank you, I'll cling to this roof a little longer.
When we repeat the Lord's prayer our conscience reminds us to give up the bitterness and revenge we are harboring in our heart. And we say, No, thank you. I'll cling to this roof a little longer.
The Lord's prayer reminds us of God's daily provision, but we cling to that worry about tomorrow's provision as if our worry could make a difference.
Many of us are more self-conscious than we are God-conscious and the Lord says to us, 'I created you to be in relationship with me—not to worry about what others are thinking about you.' And we say, No thank you, Lord. I'll cling to this old image of myself—and remain paralyzed with my self-consciousness.'
God provides a way out of temptation but we must accept it and thank God for it. One step in overcoming temptation is to be spiritually discerning, KNOW who you are and know whose you are. Jesus had just heard the voice from heaven say: “You are my son, my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus knew he belonged to the Father and that the Father loved him. To overcome temptation we must understand the spiritual authority we have in Christ. We must let the reality of our new spiritual position permeate our hearts and our minds—our emotions & our intellect—just like Jesus did in that desolate place.
Look at Colossians 3:1-3 1Since… you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above… Your affection and devotion belongs to another realm …where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
In our relationship with Christ we devote our hearts and our minds to spiritual matters. Of course we live in this world—in this world but not 'of this world.’ In Christ we have a new priority—we have set our minds on things above—and when we adjust our focus, we want to make God’s way our way. Our cravings, our desires, our emotions, thoughts of revenge, that streak of greed and stinginess, our worry about tomorrow—all these thoughts are less tempting. 3 For you died... You were buried with him in baptism! ...and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Life is redefined--and now all of life is lived from a different perspective.
KNOW who you are in Christ—and know what God thinks of you. You are a child of God—loved and empowered to live a righteous life. We know from Matthew and Luke that Jesus resisted temptation. He resisted the deception of the Evil One by quoting scripture, by knowing God’s heart better than the Deceiver did.
The psalmist knew the importance of LEARNing from the Lord. He wrote in Psalm 25:5 ... guide me in your truth and teach me... We are equipped to resist temptation when we have a heart yielded to the Lord and are open to learn from him.
In 1 John 2:27 it says the Holy Spirit teaches us today. As we go about life the Spirit will nudge us—bring a scripture to our mind—open our mind to a new understanding—point us in a different direction. With the Spirit teaching us, we can make the words of the psalmist our personal prayer—guide me... and teach me. But this prayer implys that we are willing to submit to the Lord and FOLLOW his leading.
CONCLUSION
Finally, regardless of the circumstances—we resist temptation when we remain true to what we KNOW about God and what we know about who we are in Christ.
We overcome temptation when we continue to LEARN from the Lord, when we continue to be
pliable in the Lord's hands, expecting the Spirit to teach us and guide us.
We turn our back on temptation when we FOLLOW the Lord's leading. We actually get off the roof and into the boat—and I suggest you take the first boat that comes along because it is only grace if more than one way of escape is offered!
But regardless of the circumstances Mark tells us that HELP is provided. Even when we feel deserted—alone—tempted—surrounded by danger—whatever the circumstance—spiritual help is provided. Jesus was in physical danger [wild animals surrounded him], but God's messengers, angels, attended to him. (Mark 1:13)
Are you tempted to settle for less than God's best? Of course you are.
Does God provide a way out? Of course God does. So get off the roof and accept God's provision that is in Christ Jesus.
If you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, take care of that today.
Make a public confession and prepare for baptism. If you are a Christian, but don't have a church family, come join us.We need you and you need a church family. There is strength in fellowship. This is the time to renew your commitment to the Lord and to the church.
Stand and sing two verses of the hymn of invitation. This is a good day to make a new beginning.
HYMN: Yield Not to Temptation ~ two verses.
The Purpose and Intent
I have started this blog to provide a space for my sermons to be accessible to the congregation. I will put Sunday's sermon on line the following Monday, Lord willing. Comments can be made, but I will put a delay on the publication of the comments and will reserve the right to decide on whether a comment needs to be public or not. Signed comments will be more readily published; anonymous comments, less likely. Since I am fairly new to blogging I will be learning as I go--and that gives my readers the opportunity to exercise grace toward the pastor.
My intention is to begin this series with my Lenten sermons, but since we are now in the third week of Lent I may find it difficult. I will attempt to postdate sermons that were presented on March 1 and March 8. If all goes as planned the sermon I preach on March 15 will be entered on March 16. Now, let's see how this works.
My intention is to begin this series with my Lenten sermons, but since we are now in the third week of Lent I may find it difficult. I will attempt to postdate sermons that were presented on March 1 and March 8. If all goes as planned the sermon I preach on March 15 will be entered on March 16. Now, let's see how this works.
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