Sunday, July 30, 2023
Sermon Text for July 30, 2023 - "God Alone"
“God Alone”
July 30, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
We probably take it for granted, but we really are in a special place. One of the wonderful things about our small village and area is that, even in such a place like ours, we have a large number of organizations, clubs, and businesses, all of which make up the unique fabric of our town and surrounding area, and which help make our community the truly special place it is. And, each organization and business helps provide something our community needs in order to thrive and keep going. We have the stop-and-go to keep all the vehicles going through town, and any extra needed things, even for people just passing through; the Café, Village Inn, Jerry’s, and Charlie’s to provide us with food and drink; the insurance office to make sure our buildings and houses are covered; Greg’s and Tony’s to keep our cars and trucks in good repair; Mug and Brush and Robin’s to help our hair look good; Brubaker’s to provide us with things for our fields, animals, and gardens; the Hardware Store for all kinds of things for our houses, buildings, and gardens; our counselors to provide extra support, a listening ear, and a helping hand; and we even have our local bank, horse carriage shop, sign maker, carpenters, graphic design business, deer processor, ironworkers, trailer sales, tax preparer, and many, many others. Also, among our organizations, CAMP gives out food and other needed items to those who lack anything in our area; our Community Garden provides a place for us to grow a lot of things together; our sports leagues give our kids fun games and healthy competition for everyone, both players and spectators; our Historical Society helps preserve important items from our heritage, and helps remind us of our town’s rich history; our Farm Bureau helps cover our farms and give other benefits to its members; our park and pool gives us a fun place to play, relax, walk, and explore, while our Community Center provides a place for special gatherings; our Police and Fire Departments help keep us safe, secure, protected, at peace, and assisted in crisis; the school Booster Clubs, Masons, Rotary, and FABA provide monetary and material assistance in all kinds of ways, and also, through special fundraiser events, give us and our community opportunities to get together to have fun, food, and entertainment; our schools provide education for our children and all kinds of other activities for students and all of us; and, last but certainly not least, our Village Council and Township Trustees help make sure our area infrastructure keeps running smoothly. I also apologize if I’ve forgotten anyone, and, please do tell me if there’s anyone else I need to highlight; because, again, the point is, we have a lot of people who provide all kinds of things we need right here just in our small area. But we also have to remember that we, our church family, is still just as much a special part of the mosaic of everything that makes our community the special place it is – we can’t leave ourselves out, or discount ourselves and the special role we play. The reason is because we can offer something that no one else can. We exist for something more than just to make people better, give things out, or even provide a simple service: we are here to bring people to a healing, life-changing, and ultimately life-saving relationship with God. And that, in the long run, is what is most important.
The reality is, our community couldn’t exist, thrive, or be what it is without God. And, the God we worship is the only true God. Only God made the universe and this world, only He saved us by His death and resurrection, only He is keeping us sustained, and only He will make everything perfect at the end of time as we know it. As God, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading says, “There is no other Rock; I know not one.” He alone is who we rely on in times of trouble; He alone is the source of all of our blessings; He alone is who we worship and call on in prayer; and it is only His Word which we rely on for guidance and answers. And this is something which we alone can provide: only we can bring people to a relationship with God, because only we can offer God. Only we can make special promises, speaking for God. Only we, as God’s family, the church, can pray for people and let them know, either in our words or actions, that God is with them and He loves them. And, only we, the church, can offer salvation, a way to be saved for eternal life with God, which is only through believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. People need Jesus. And only we can provide Jesus.
And that means something for us as much as it does for everyone else: we come to church each week to get back to the most important thing for us: our relationship with Jesus. God also encourages us, “Do not tremble, do not be afraid.”: even though we may think God is someone to be afraid of, or it might be what we’ve been taught at some point, God isn’t someone for us to be afraid of: He is someone who we can come to at any time, who really and truly loves us, is sympathetic to us, and is always on our side. As Paul reminds us in our Second Reading, when we don’t know the words the pray, the Holy Spirit actually verbalizes what is in our hearts, and brings all our prayers, even our unspoken ones, to God. We may not realize it, but we are the only religion that believes God actually prays for us even when we can’t pray ourselves. This is especially comforting, because it means even when we’re in such trouble, or so frustrated or down that we don’t know how to express ourselves, God still hears and answers us. This is also something we can offer other people. So, we can’t just keep what we have to ourselves: we have what we have in order to share it with everyone else. This is what it means when God calls us His witnesses: to tell others about Him and what He does.
Today, Jesus reminds us that this world is moving towards a final harvest. Someday, He will return, and will take everyone who believes in Him to live with Him in His Kingdom. Even as the crops are growing in the fields right now ready to be harvested, there are many people who are searching for something other than just living life and going through the motions of day-to-day existence. There are people who are looking for a relationship with someone greater than themselves, who they know will always be there for them at every moment – and that is God. There are people who are looking for connection with other people, fellowship, belonging, and needing to find a place where they are accepted, loved, and welcomed. There are people who are looking for a purpose and meaning for life, and who can find it in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There are also people who are looking to make a difference and be a blessing to others. There is a harvest waiting here in Farmersville and beyond. The fact that houses around here are usually sold faster than they can even be listed on the market shows how more and more desirable our village is to live in – but it’s also a sign that we have an outreach, a mission field, to get back into.
When I lived in Southern California before coming here, whenever I was invited to supply preach at another church, I would remind everyone about their mission, to keep planting seeds, seeds of faith, love, and hope wherever they were; and to keep focused on what God wanted for them: to bring people to Him. And now, it’s time for us to hear that same message. Especially as we start winding up the summer break and heading into the fall, we can be looking forward to opportunities God is giving us to reach out and bring people in. Events like our Ice Cream Social and Fall Dinner, just to name a few, can be opportunities not only to raise funds to keep our church family going, but to reach out to invite and welcome. There are many, probably more than we realize, who are looking for something which we, by being our own unique selves, can offer, and satisfy a need – a need which can be satisfied by Jesus.
Actually, a way to think about what we are all about is not that our church has a mission. Yes, we are who we are, but our mission is not our mission exclusively. As Alan Hirsch says,
“It’s not so much that the church has a mission, it’s that the mission of God has a church.” Everything we do, we actually do not only on behalf of St. Andrew, or even LCMC, but on behalf of God. It is His mission, His will, His power we are carrying out. We do nothing only for ourselves: it is all for God, and what He wants for other people.
Think about it as us having a packet of seeds each, or a plant in a pot. Now, think of us as having a spot in our yards or gardens which is bare, and in need of something to be planted, which will blossom or bear fruit and add something unique to our garden. Think of the places we live, as being like our yard or garden. What spots can we think of that need something planted there? Or, another way to think of it, who needs Who is someone we know, maybe someone next door, on the next block, or across town, we can be praying for? Who needs to experience healing, especially while going through a crisis, trauma, or major life change? Who needs to be shown love, especially while feeling lonely, excluded, cast out, or ignored? Who is someone who needs something we might have extra of, or don’t need any more? Who needs us to show them a special kindness? The seeds we plant with other people, especially seeds of love, kindness, and hope, are the ones which will bear fruit, help touch and change people’s lives in special ways, and, most of all, help them experience God and want to believe in Him; and be part of the coming harvest. As part of our community, and the communities in which we live, by the power of God, we can help make a positive change in our community. We can be a community church again. We can bring the healing and comfort from God someone needs, if we are open and willing to doing so. And, most importantly, when someone comes to visit us, we all can help them feel welcome and accepted. And, this is also a mission we share with all the other churches. We will especially be able to see this next week for our Community Worship Service, when we will all be coming together to be reminded that we all, whatever building we may happen to be gathered in the rest of the year, have been given seeds and plants to plant where we live. This is how we can be God’s witnesses, and be who we really are, who we are meant to be.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Thank You!
Sermon Text for July 23, 2023 - "Waiting for Growth"
“Waiting for Growth”
July 23, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Okay, I’ll admit it: this weather has been all over the place. We’ve gone from hot to thunderstorms, and earlier this year, we went from warm to cold and back again a lot. However, especially if you’ve been driving around a lot in the last couple of weeks, you’ve probably noticed one benefit of this going from hot to rainy weather: the corn has been growing pretty fast. As at least a few people have pointed out lately, we say we want the corn to be “knee high by the Fourth of July.” Well, the corn was not only knee high, I guarantee it was about as tall as my neck in places. And only a week or two ago, it started tasseling already. From what I know of corn, if it keeps growing the way it’s growing, that means the farmers are hopefully going to have an early harvest with a high yield, to get everything in and sold. Even the beans in the fields are looking nice, fluffy, and green. So, I definitely encourage all of us to pray for continued good weather for the crops in the fields; to keep the weather from getting too hot for too long, like it’s supposed to be the rest of this week; to protect them from bugs or disease; to keep them safe from any more hail like we had recently; and even to protect them from getting eaten by other critters. During this growing season, we look forward to what God is doing to help the crops around here blossom and yield much fruit; and, we also pray for Him to bring us growth in our hearts, faith, personal lives, and in our church family. Even though we went through a time of uncertainty, hardship, challenge, conflict, during covid and for a year or two afterwards, God is causing growth to happen again. Perhaps not in numbers yet, but He definitely has been showing us a few things, even challenging ones, to help us be able to move forward, grow, get back to where we need to be, and start blooming again. He has been tending us His garden by renewing and refreshing us with renewed fellowship; being able to worship in this space as we did before covid; and showing us new possibilities for how to reach out to our community with His love again. He is taking what was lost, and restoring it. He is turning things around and bringing them back on course.
The most important way God brings growth is through His Word. As God, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah says in today’s First Reading, God’s Word always does what it accomplishes. Even if we don’t do anything on purpose, God’s Word still does what it needs to do to cause change, growth, and transformation. One thing I’ve learned over the past twenty years of being a Pastor is that the most important, and most effective thing you can do is just to preach what the Bible says and let God do the rest. Not everyone may be receptive to hearing what the Bible says, and not everyone may understand what is being said in the Sermon. There may be some who, may be like the path where the seed fell on in today’s Gospel reading, who may hear, but it doesn’t have any affect. Still others may, for whatever reason, have hearts like stone, resistant to the message being said, whether because of past hurts, prejudices, or anything else. And still others may have hearts choked up like thorns, distracted from hearing because of overwhelming worries, stresses, or anything else that’s keeping growth from happening. And, for others, the message “hits” in a certain way that brings life-changing results right away. But in all the years I’ve been preaching, I’ve learned that God knows how best to implement the message being spoken, and so all the work is ultimately up to Him. Sometimes we may hear things said we don’t expect, but God is still speaking, and, if we listen, we are able to grow. Once we start growing, we are able to transform, and then bloom and blossom. Even though we’ve gone through periods where, whether personally or as a church family, we’ve withered and dried up, God has caused something to happen to give us an extra refreshment, to satisfy our thirst for whatever we’ve been missing, and has opened us up to let us be ourselves and let our true personalities blossom again.
But we always have to remember that growth is a process, not an event. We can’t rush ourselves to get to where we need to be. If we do try to go too fast or get there too soon, we might end up putting ourselves in a bad situation. Think about it like this: if we have to drive somewhere, and we end up trying to go too fast to where we need to be, we end up losing control of our vehicles, crashing, or worse. So, we can’t rush the journey – we have to go at a safe speed. In order to become who we are personally, we have to allow ourselves to change and transform slowly, to be happy, healthy, and the best we are meant to be. Those of you who have gone through rehab as well know that healing is a process that can’t be rushed, or you might end up with a worse injury than before, or cause more permanent damage: slow and steady progress brings the best healing and recovery. Taking baby steps is generally the safest route. Which also means, growth involves a lot of patience.
As Paul says in our Second Reading, “If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Which also means, staying committed to growing. Just because growth isn’t happening right now, and you, or we, aren’t where we need to be, or at that end goal, doesn’t mean it isn’t ever going to happen. And, as Paul also says, growth can involve even more struggle, even pain, at times. To go back to the rehab example, for those of you who have been through it, you know that sometimes doing the exercises can be painful. We might be comfortable where we are, but in order to get to where we are meant to be, it might mean moving somewhere new. Some of you, with your gardens, have probably had to move a few plants and flowers to places where they are able to get better sunlight, less sunlight, better soil, just grow better in general. In the same way, God often needs to move us from somewhere we think is where we need to be, but where He knows we can be to be able to blossom best.
As Gerald May says, “True growth is a process which one allows to happen, rather than causes to happen.” Yes, we have to water and nurture our plants and flowers to allow them to grow healthy. But at the same time, we also have to sit back and just let them grow the way they’re going to grow. It’s the same way with us: we certainly are to continue to let ourselves grow and blossom as Christians by praying, reading the Bible every day, and being active in the life of our church family. But there is actually a lot of being passive, of letting go, and letting God take control, that sometimes we forget. As cliché as it might sound, a lot of what we have to do is really just let God be God. That’s really what faith is: letting God be the one in control, passively allowing Him to cause things to happen for us.
In one of the Frog and Toad books, which I read when I was smaller, and which I now read to Josie every so often, there’s a story where Toad plants some seeds in the ground, and he’s so eager to see them spring up that he starts shouting at them, “Now seeds, start growing!” Frog then tells him that they’re probably afraid to grow because Toad’s shouting at them so much. So he suggests just letting the seeds grow, while Toad does the watering and all the calm things to help them grow. For us, growth isn’t something that can necessarily be planned, mapped out precisely, or have exact results: if that is our approach, then we end up getting frustrated and angry with ourselves, and end up afraid because we’re not growing the way we think we need to. So, instead, we just need to trust our lives to God, and put them in His hands. Let Him transform us and help us grow the way He knows we are meant to. And in the meantime, just enjoy the life He's given us to live; take advantage of everything He offers us to enjoy; and live in the present moment we are given.
And, as we grow, and have patience with ourselves, and God, we are also to have that same patience with each other. We each bear different fruit. We are each at different places in life, on different journeys, and on different paths, and, as a result, we are each blooming and blossoming in our own unique ways. We are actually not expected to think, act, or be the same way: if we were, we would be a cult, devoted to conformity instead of to blooming. And that’s actually what we can be expected to do as a church family: allow each other to blossom and bloom. We have to let each other be who we really are, and encourage each other to blossom and become who we are meant to be. We are also to recognize that each of us are at various stages and abilities, and that maybe our purpose is not to contribute, but simply to be. Bearing fruit doesn’t always mean that we are all working for the same cause, or even that we are on the same path, but that we are coming together as our own unique individual selves, valuing each other for who we are, and being a family together. If we notice anyone withering or shrinking back in some way, we are to reach out and see how we can help refresh and renew them. Then, we can enjoy the fruit we offer each other: fruits of compassion, support, genuineness, helpfulness, and love. Even as we are growing, we can help each other grow – even as God is helping us all to grow and blossom.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Sermon Text for July 16, 2023 - "Rested and Restored"
“Rested and Restored”
July 16, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
When I lived and worked in Southern California before coming here, there were two things I was pretty much immersed in a lot of the time: weddings and sports. Weddings, because that was how I made a good part of my income, and at one point was doing at least three weddings a weekend; and sports, because, of course, it was easy for me to get to see my favorite teams since I lived right near a lot of the places they played, and they were easy to get to. But they both had something in common: they were both noisy. Now, of course, the wedding ceremonies themselves were usually peaceful and calm, but the receptions afterwards could get pretty loud and boisterous. And, of course, most of us have been to at least one sports game in our lives so far, so we know how loud those can get. To say the pace of life and general lifestyle between Southern California and Farmersville are two different experiences would be like saying water is wet. I’m already starting to prepare myself mentally for (God willing) going back to Southern California for a few days in December, and move faster, think faster, even drive faster than I have to here. In Southern California, everything goes fast, fast, fast; while here in Farmersville, things move at a much slower pace, which, believe me, I’ve really appreciated these last six and a half years. What I really came to appreciate was that, even amidst the constant fast moving and loud lifestyle and atmosphere, there was at least one moment of peace I was able to experience during the week: the church I served in the high desert. There, we had a small but friendly crowd – even smaller than we have now. Which meant that, especially with weddings, I would only be able to hang out with one group of people, knowing I would probably never see most of them again, at the church I served, there was always one group I could come back to week after week for support and encouragement. The worship service itself was always calm, restful, and peaceful. Even the drive there was relatively peaceful, especially the earlier I left in the morning. And, if the Senior Pastor was preaching that week, so much the better – I got to be able to focus just on worshipping. So, even though I was still working, being able to be at church every Sunday was a time I was able to rest – to take a break from the fast-moving and loud life I was living, and be able to rest, be refreshed, and be restored to be able to make it through the rest of the coming week.
Indeed, that’s exactly what church is supposed to be. Although we may think of it as being one more obligation or place to be during the week, it’s meant to be a place for us to be able to take time out from everything else we have going on, and just be able to rest and be refreshed. It’s where we come to be in the presence of God – and where He renews and re-energizes us to keep going, whatever might be going on with us. It’s a place where we can be reminded that, even though we may be struggling, tired, or feeling pressured from life, God is still here with us, is in control of our lives, and is here for us. It’s also where we can come to enjoy the support, love, and encouragement from each other; even though, yes, we can pray and worship God anytime, anywhere on our own, we still need each other to be reminded we have friends and supporters. Church is meant to be a place where we feel welcomed, where we belong, and are accepted for who we are. It is to be where we can find a place free from the conflicts of the rest of the week, with others who share our same desire for having a time of peace. We can come be as we are, without being judged for who we are. Ultimately, church is meant to be a place where we can come to rest.
Specifically, to rest in the presence of Jesus. To know that, whatever else we may be having to deal with in life, we can come be with someone who just wants us to be with Him – Jesus. He wants to take our burdens, worries, and everything else that’s been weighing us down during the week, and relieve us of them; taking them off our backs and off our hands. He also wants to heal us of the pains, disappointments, and sadness of the past week. If we let Him, He will do as He promises, and restore us to peace, calm, and refreshment again.
The way Jesus reminds us of His promise to heal, restore, and refresh us is in the Bible. Usually, we read the Bible as a rule book. In fact, in today’s Gospel reading, what Jesus means when He thanks the Father for hiding these things from the wise and learned and revealing them to little children, is that being a Christian isn’t as complicated as we make it out to be. In fact, it’s a lot simpler than a set of rules, lifestyle code, or philosophical system – as those who considered themselves wise in Jesus’ day were trying to make religion into. In other words, trying to make it into some sort of great mystery that only the experienced and learned would be able to do correctly. But there actually isn’t any kind of special mystery for following Jesus, or being a Christian: it’s instead, as Jesus Himself says, all about love. We follow the law of love in response to God loving us freely and unconditionally. Of course, as Paul reminds us in Romans, we don’t do this perfectly, because we are still in a constant struggle between living according to what God is making us into – becoming more like Jesus – and what our instincts want us to do. Which is usually to try to fight, react, want revenge, be angry, or defend if we feel threatened. Even this can come out of a certain view of God we may have or have had: that God leaves us to fight our battles on our own, or even may be angry with us, because of something we think we’ve done. This usually happens because of a misunderstanding of the Bible, again, focusing on what we interpret to be rules and consequences.
Instead, we are to read the Bible, as both Soren Kierkegaard and the late Billy Graham once said, as God’s love letter to us. Because that is what the Bible really is: it’s a reminder of how, even since the beginning of the world, God has shown His love for all people in many different ways. Even though disaster happens, God comforts us by taking charge and making things better, just as He did even back in ancient times. His greatest expression of His love was sending His Son to die on the cross, showing how far He was willing to go to love us, and then rising again, to rescue us from fear, doubt, and despair. So, each time we read the Bible, or hear it read, we are to ask ourselves, first of all:
What promises, comfort, and assurance is God or Jesus giving us in the passage? To go back to something said a minute ago, we may think of the God of the Old Testament as being one who is vengeful and angry. But nothing could be farther from the truth: the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament – a God who loves, and, ultimately, restores. Even in today’s First Reading, God, speaking through the Prophet Zechariah, promises to restore everything that has been lost. Maybe some of you are here today feeling defeated, broken, or discouraged. Today, God gives you His promise, in verse 12, “I will restore twice as much to you.” Just like the people of Israel to whom Zechariah was speaking thought that all was lost, you also might be feeling like all is lost – but God’s telling you everything you’ve lost is going to be given back to you. You’re going to receive blessings even greater than you could possibly imagine. Whatever you think is gone is going to be restored to you – you’re going to receive healing, peace, stability, security, self-esteem, and well-being again. This is God’s promise to you.
Second, when we read the Bible, we are to ask: in what ways, in the passage, is God or Jesus encouraging us to grow, progress, or mature in our relationship with Him? Not what are we to think about whatever the issue of the day might be, but how can we move forward in our relationship with God? How does God want us to be able to grow closer to Him? What do we need to give over to His control in order to have any distractions from Him be removed? Also, in a way, as Paul encourages us to think about, what are we still struggling with that is keeping us from growing closer to God? Not in the sense of what is keeping us from living a morally Christian life, but what is keeping us from putting God first, going to Him for help, spending time with Him, and making Him the source of our satisfaction? Also, in what ways is He encouraging us to live out our calling as Christians in our love for Him and others?
One of the most important ways is in how we talk to each other, and about each other. Last week we talked about how each of us are given the gift of prophecy by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to use our gift of prophecy, and prophetic voices, for encouraging, building up, and lifting up each other and other people. Especially if we want church to be a place where we feel welcomed, accepted, and encouraged, it has to start with us: how we talk about each other, and how we treat each other, determines how much we are able to rest in Jesus’ presence here in church. If we are able to support each other, and build each other up, then we will be able to feel refreshed and renewed, and help each other do the same, whenever we are here. And, then we will be able to help others come to Jesus for rest, to be refreshed, and be restored. Let this be our goal, and our purpose.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Monday, July 10, 2023
LCMC Great Lakes District Prayer Concerns for July 2023
LCMC Great Lakes District
Prayer Concerns for July
2023
For the Church:
- Lutheran
Congregations in Mission for Christ
- LCMC's Staff:
Mike Bradley, Service
Coordinator
Charles Hunsaker,
Military Endorser
Christian Huntley,
Coordinator for Leadership and Pastoral Development
Sharon Macfayden,
Director of Operations
Cathy Nichol,
Administrative Coordinator
Julie Smith,
Coordinator for Districts and Fellowships
Kristy Thomas,
Communication and Public Relations
- LCMC's Board of
Trustees and Ministry Board.
- Our congregations in
the Great Lakes District. This month, we pray for Grace Evangelical Lutheran
Church in West Carrollton, Ohio, and Pastor Phil Hohulin; and Greenford
Lutheran Church in Greenford, Ohio, currently in the Call Process. Please pray
for God to send the right Pastor to them.
- Our Mission Partners:
this month, we pray for Haiti’s Children, Inc.; and Chosen People Ministries.
- Our International
Partners: this month, we pray for LCMC India and the SPANTA Synod of the
Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar.
- Our local
congregations with whom we fellowship and work alongside for mission and
ministry in our communities.
For
our Government:
- Joe Biden, our
President.
- Kamala Harris, our
Vice President.
- Mike DeWine, the
Governor of Ohio.
- Gretchen Whitmer,
the Governor of Michigan.
- Our elected
representatives in Congress and State Legislatures.
- Our local county and
municipal officials.
- Our nation's Armed
Forces, especially those serving who are members of our church families; and for
those who are suffering from mental or physical injury, and Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder.
- Our First
Responders, particularly those of law enforcement, fire safety, paramedics, and
all medical professionals.
For all those in
special kind of need:
- The people of
Ukraine and Russia in the ongoing war there; and for Spiritual Orphans Network
and others who are ministering to the victims of the war in that region.
- All in our church
families who are suffering from physical, mental, or spiritual illness;
addiction; injury; abuse; domestic violence; trauma; stress; or Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder.
- All in our own
families who are in need of any kind of healing from God, in mind, body, or
spirit.
- Those who are
continuing to suffer from the effects of COVID-19.
- Those in our church
families and communities who are suffering from poverty; homelessness; food
insecurity; lack of adequate shelter and/or utilities; unemployment or
underemployment.
- Those in our
communities who are working to alleviate poverty and homelessness, especially
our local shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, and clothes closets.
-
Those in our
communities who have been affected by inclement summer weather, especially
storms, tornadoes, and fires.
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Sermon Text for July 9, 2023 - "God Does What He Promises"
“God Does What He Promises”
July 9, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
As many of you know, and as I’ve mentioned before, summer is my favorite time of year for a lot of different reasons. But I’ll also admit, for those of us who have gardens, summer can also be a bit stressful – hotter weather, and even more humid weather, means having to water a lot more. Even though we’ve had rainstorms like we did yesterday, it still gets hot again. But we know that if we don’t water our gardens, our plants and flowers are going to die. So, to make sure we keep giving them life, we have to water our gardens. That’s also why we come to church every week, and that’s why, at least once a month, we also take Communion: to keep our spiritual lives, our relationship with Jesus, alive. And that’s important because, even as we live our lives during the week, we always have to remember that we don’t just live our own life: we live the life of Jesus.
When we were baptized, we were not only given the promise of eternal life after death, but we were also given a new life, to be lived in this life. Our life is no longer only our own, but we have been united to the life of Jesus. Perhaps we do not always realize it, but we share in the life of Jesus. The power of Jesus reigns in our hearts and minds, and each day we are being transformed to become more like Jesus. Especially when times are difficult, or we face doubt and uncertainty, having something to fall back on, namely faith in Jesus to be there, take care of us, and save us, is always a blessing. And what is faith? Believing that Jesus does whatever He promises. Sharing in the life of Jesus therefore means living as Jesus did, a life where our own very existence is so bound up with our heavenly Father, and our identity is so closely tied to becoming like God. In fact, as Paul says in today’s Second Reading from Romans, verse 4, “We were therefore buried with him by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ as raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” He then goes on, “The death [Jesus] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive God in Christ Jesus.” And, brothers and sisters, that’s what we are – we are alive! Even though some may be saying covid killed the church, I, and I’m sure many others of us, beg to differ – we are not dead, but we are more alive than ever before, because Jesus has kept us alive. He has kept us going for a special purpose – to speak, act, and live in His Name.
That’s why, just like our gardens, we’ve been kept alive: to live the life of Jesus among other people. In fact, to live a life which truly follows the Bible is to share in the life Jesus lived with others, and live according to the pattern He has set.
As the late Eugene Peterson says, “We do not qualify as biblical simply by quoting the Bible. We are biblical only when we share in the wilderness with those who are tempted and fall, when we carry the cross of Jesus, and when we love extravagantly in Jesus’ name.” And what this means is that, as Christians, we are called to be a propheticpeople, people who prophesy on behalf of Jesus.
Another thing we maybe haven’t realized, or have never realized, is that we all have been given the gift of prophecy. When we were baptized, we were given the Holy Spirit, which means we were given all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the ability to prophesy. Now, contrary to popular belief, prophecy doesn’t just mean the ability to foretell and predict the future. In my own experience, true prophecy nowadays is also never entirely specific: there are frequently vague images involved, which are made clear once the events they predict take place. Prophecy is also never done “for hire”: it is a message which comes directly from God, and which may be unexpected to both the one prophesying as well as the hearer. Which, in our First Reading, is why Hananiah is shown by the Prophet Jeremiah to be a false prophet, because what Hananiah is predicting is specific, comes out of his own bias, and may be what the king and people want to hear, but is not what God is actually saying. Also, contrary to popular belief, not only pastors or even trained preachers are given the ability to prophesy, or have the exclusive right to prophesy – all Christians who have been baptized, and therefore given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, are given both the right, and the responsibility, to prophesy in Jesus’ Name.
So, if we know what prophecy isn’t, then what is prophecy? This list gives us a pretty good description. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t come up with this list on my own; I actually found it on Google from another person’s presentation, which I’ll provide the links for when I post the sermon text online. However, it’s still an excellent description of what prophecy is:
- Speaking out the mind of God under divine inspiration
- Speaking the heart of God
- Edifying, exhorting, and comforting people
- Restoring the image of God in people
- Showing people what God has for them
- Telling people how God sees them
God frequently inspires us – if we are able and willing to listen. In fact, I’ll let you all in on a little secret: each time I myself go to prepare the Sunday sermon, or before any occasion where I am called upon to preach or speak, I pray, asking God to give me the words to speak, and that they would be His words, the words He wants people to hear. He knows what we need to hear to guide us, He knows what is on His heart, and He tells us what to say that is on His heart. Speaking the heart of God means telling people what sort of heart God has: a heart which cares about the well-being and needs of every person; and who also desires everyone to have the same heart for people He does. This means He wants everyone to live in peace and love with each other, in families, neighborhoods, and even all around the world. Edifying, exhorting, and comforting people means that we have to speak clearly, sometimes even bluntly, to make sure God’s message is heard. Which means, as Jesus Himself says in today’s Gospel reading, we may sometimes face opposition for what we say – especially if what we say goes against what the attitudes of the times are. Which also means, just like Jeremiah, we may be having to tell someone exactly what they don’t want to hear, or not what they expected to hear, but what God wants them to hear, which is ultimately for their own good. But we are never to be afraid to speak what God inspires us to say, because what we say or do for someone might be just the right thing at the right time, especially to give them comfort and peace in trouble. Just as God is, we are to be concerned about the well-being, dignity, and image of God for all people. Restoring the image of God in people means speaking words and doing actions which enable God to rescue them from living according to destructive, undignifying, harmful, and addictive patterns and habits; or which also enable people to recognize that they are loved and accepted by Him as they are, and are of worth and value in His sight. Which also means encouraging people to recognize that God has something even greater for them than what they currently know. What does God have for them? A life where He gives them every good gift and blessing; unconditional love and acceptance; help in times in trouble; peace that comes from knowing He is always there and in control; freedom from harmful habits; freedom from abuse and hatred at the hands of others; and the promise of eternal life with Him, including being reunited with everyone else who has died. How does God see them? As people He loves, forgives, and accepts. But in order to nurture and really exercise this gift of prophecy we have, this also means we have to lay aside our own biases and agendas, and be open to where God sends us, and to whom He sends us.
There is also another component to all this: the word evangelical has taken on a certain meaning, frequently a political or cultural one – and one which has strayed far from its original definition. But, as with everything else we’ve been discussing, whether or not we realize it, by our prophesying, telling people the heart of God, we are being evangelical. What does the word really mean? Simple: someone who has the Gospel, the good news of Jesus, to tell all people. And that’s what we have: the good news of Jesus for all people. As we prepare to receive Communion in a few minutes, we’ll hear this good news once again: that Jesus loved us so much He gave His life for us, and then He rose again to give us a new life. We’ll be filled anew with the power of Jesus, by the power of His body and blood, to speak and act in His Name. Then, we’ll be reminded of what our purpose is when we sing after Communion: “Thank the Lord and sing His praise, tell everyone what He has done!” Tell people what He’s done for us, what He can do for them, and what He promises. Whatever He says, He promises, and whatever He promises, He does. That’s the good news He wants us to prophesy, to tell everyone.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Sunday, July 2, 2023
Sermon Text for July 2, 2023 - "Our Citizenship"
“Our
Citizenship”
July 2, 2023
Dear
brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Already
the Fourth of July celebrations have begun: in addition to the natural light
show we got late last night, there were already fireworks being fired off
nearby, in celebration of the weekend. And doubtless, tonight, as well as
tomorrow night, there will be even more local firework shows. Of course, we’re
also looking forward to the larger shows which will take place in our different
communities on Tuesday night, and the times we’ll be able to gather with our
families and friends for dinners, barbecues, and just an all around good time.
Because, on
Tuesday, once again, we will be celebrating the day on which the American Continental
Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence from Britain, over abuses
which the British government was imposing on its people in the American colonies;
especially imposing numerous taxes on basic goods and services to pay for the
recent war against France, and imposing these taxes on the Americans while
denying them representation in the British Parliament. So, on July 4, 1776, the
Declaration of Independence was unanimously approved by the Continental Congress,
paving the way, after the American Revolution, for the United States of America
to be founded, and for our rights, especially our right to worship, to be
enshrined in the Constitution.
Before
I go any further, I want to acknowledge that the temptation today would be to
preach about the problems America’s currently facing, how those problems are
rooted in certain partisan issues and politics. But I want to assure all of you
that is not the direction I’m going to choose to go. It is my firm belief that partisan
politics belong neither in the pulpit, especially in the sermon; or at the
altar, either in prayers or liturgy. The same also goes for speaking about moral
or social, and even controversial theological opinion: none of those belong up in
the front of the church. No form of “us” and “them” divisive rhetoric belongs
either in the pulpit or at the altar. However, this does not mean that we deny
each other the right to follow, and be obedient, to our individual consciences
regarding the issues of the day; while, at the same time, respecting the
beliefs of our fellow Christians, as well as our right to express our beliefs
as individuals, and emphasizing those things which unify us and make easier
cooperation possible. In other words, we acknowledge that our common faith in
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only thing that truly makes us Christians, and which
transcends all other lifestyles, opinions, and labels. As Americans, and
especially as American Christians, we are to seek unity and peace in our
country and greater society, and, as the Preamble to the Constitution which we
adhere to as Americans states, “insure domestic tranquility.”
All that being
said, there are certain duties which, as Christians, we do owe to the
government and to society. The first of these is, as even Jesus, who is the
supreme ruler and King over the earth says, to give what rightfully belongs to
the government to the government: particularly taxes, to be able to fund the
government being able to provide services which maintain the peace, prosperity,
and defense of our country. Also, we owe the government obedience to the law, to
be able to maintain good relations and safety among ourselves, our neighbors,
and those with whom we interact in different ways on a daily basis. Just as one
example, we maintain a safe speed while driving, to make sure we are kept safe,
as well as those we share the road with. We also make sure to treat all people
with general and equal dignity, courtesy, and respect, especially in our
schools and workplaces. Furthermore, we are to treat those in government with
respect and honor, and pray for them, regardless of position or political
party. But notice that none of these are rooted in partisan politics: instead,
these are actually ways that we not only follow the national and local laws,
but, perhaps more importantly, we also fulfill the divine law, to love our neighbors
as ourselves. In fact, this is exactly what Paul encourages us in our Second Reading
from Romans, verse 8: to “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing
debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” In
all our dealings and interactions with each other, and even with strangers, we
are to consider what the response which demonstrates the most amount of love is,
to be able, once again, to maintain this same love and peace in our wider
society. We do this simply because not only are we Americans, but because we
are Christians. As Christians, we are actually in a greater
position than before to change and transform society, so it’s time for us to
seize that opportunity, by living in way which loves and serves our neighbor
and all those around us. Because by doing so, we give God the honor due to Him,
when we live lives which honor Him and show who He really is.
Which is what we
are also to think about in how we live our lives, and how we respond to the
current spirit of the age: what is of greatest benefit to our families,
communities, and society at large? In our First Reading, God, speaking through
the Prophet Jeremiah, encourages us, where we live, to put down roots in our
communities, and be of benefit to those among whom we live, because He puts us
in the places in which we live for a reason. I myself never would have dreamed,
for example, that I would come from the Los Angeles area of Southern California
all the way to Farmersville, Ohio, but God did bring me here, has allowed me to
put down roots, and has blessed me personally in many different ways – just as
He has all of us, whether we have lived here our entire lives, or are also “transplants.”
And He still continues to bless us richly beyond any way we could expect. Of course,
none of it has come without some sort of struggle: in the past few years, we
have had to deal with the pandemic and the radical changes, as well as social
upheaval, it brought. But what God has shown through everything that has
happened is that He is still very much in control, rules supreme over
everything, and is still guiding everything according to His plan. In fact, God
continues to comfort us by promising, in verse 11: “’For I know the plans I
have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.’” And that is what God really wants us to
remember on this Fourth of July: that even as, according to His plan, He caused
the United States to become independent, and has preserved and protected us as
a nation through various struggles and crises for over two centuries. He still
has a plan for each one of us individually. His plan is for us to prosper, be brought
safely through harm, and to have hope for the future. And we can have hope for
the future, because we know God already has everything planned out. We also know
God does whatever He plans, because He carried out His ultimate plan, for our
salvation, by sending His Son to die on the cross and rise again – which means
that we will someday we will live with Him forever. All we have to do is trust
Him and follow where He leads.
Francis
Scott Key is best known as the author of what is now our national anthem, “The
Star-Spangled Banner,” which he wrote on September 14, 1814, in praise of the
American victory over the British during a naval battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore,
during the War of 1812. But Francis Scott Key is also known for being a devout
Christian, who valued his personal relationship with God above all else, and who,
as a poet, wrote praise songs; in fact, one of his other poems, “Lord, With Glowing
Heart I’d Praise Thee” is in our hymnal, number 243. He also expressed his
faith as an American Christian by saying: “The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who
acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and
will find His Word in his greatest darkness.” Once again, the Fourth of July is
a wonderful opportunity for all of us to return to God and recommit ourselves
to Him. It is a time for us to start acknowledging God’s direction, praise and
thank Him for His blessings, and, in response to what He has done for us, live
lives which show His love, concern, and care for those we share our lives and
days with.
Most of
all, it is a time for us to recommit to our motto as American Christians: In God we trust. Now, even though the words “In God we trust”
didn’t officially become our national motto until 1956, and weren’t actually added
to our currency until 1957, it has been our trust in God which has kept us
sustained and encouraged in hope. Every time we take money out of our wallets
or pockets, we can look at the words “In God we trust,” and pray to God for the
ability to trust Him. And, with Francis Scott Key, and the third verse of hymn 243,
we pray: “Lord, my spirit’s ardent feelings vainly would my lips express/Low
before thy footstool kneeling, deign thy suppliant’s prayer to bless/Let thy
grace my soul’s chief treasure, love’s pure flame within me raise/And, since
words can never measure, let my life show forth thy praise!” On this Fourth of
July, let our lives, as Americans, and especially as American Christians, live lives
of love, honoring God by serving our neighbor, and let our lives praise God, by
being blessings, and giving all people blessings from Him.
Now
may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.