Berry Picking Series: "Counting the Cost."

 5^th Sunday after the Epiphany!

Introduction:

A.   Today, we will take that same juicy berry which we talked about last week and apply it two different ways.

1.   First, we will say it represents Christ.

2.   Then, we'll say it represents a goal that we have!

 

B.   In this message, we will see that it is alright to

count the cost in two different ways!

 

                            Prayer

                         Luke 14:25-35

I.   Let's look at our parable about berries.

 

A.   When we are picking berries, we have to decide whether or not they are worth the cost.

1.   Many believe they are and go out to pick berries whenever they have a chance.

2.   Others, you couldn't give them to them if they

have to go and pick them; they don't consider them to be worth the cost:

a.   the heat.

b.   the thorns and scratches.

c.   the plain old work!

d.   If you will pick them for them, they will take them, but if they have to pick, they are not worth it.

B.   When we are berry picking and we run across a nice juicy berry, we have to decide if it is worth the thorns in our hand (cost) to reach back in there and get it. (remember I am talking about berries like my grandmother had that have a lot of dead briars in them, a lot of opportunities to get scratched)

1.   Perhaps this is one I should leave for the birds!

2.   If we do go for it, we carefully select the path

we are going to take to get to it!

 

II.  How does this apply to us today?

 

A.   Deciding whether or not to follow Christ is much like berry picking!

1.   There are great rewards in following Christ, but Christ wants us to "count the cost."  (see   scripture)

a.   Christ doesn't want us going at it blindly with in mind quitting if we decide we don't like it!

b.   Christ want's those who have thought it out and have decided to dedicate their lives to God!

c.   Life will not always be a bed of roses, and Christ wants us to know that before we start! Christ also wants us to know that we will not be going it alone because Christ through the Spirit will be there to help us through.

1)   It isn’t always popular to be a

Christian!  Some of the first hearers

of this teaching of Christ would be

persecuted for following Christ and not

bowing to Rome!

                   2)   Christ is calling them to count the cost!

                   3)   What Christ taught should be what we

                        follow.  Sometimes other so called

                        Christians may try to lead us from

                        that; sometimes our government can. 

                        Sometimes it may get us persecuted,

                        even today!  Look at the life of Christ

                        and follow that! If we do that, we are

                        on the winning side, if not in this

                        life, in the life to come!  In this

                        life, we are able to be God’s hands and

                        feet to share the love of God!  It is a

                        life worth living.  Christ calls us to

                        count the cost!

                   4)   Bad things still happen to Christian

people!

a)   We still get deathly sick.

b)   Our loved ones still get deathly sick!

                        c)   Our loved ones may still get hit and killed by a drunk driver!

                        e)   Our loved ones could be killed in a school or drive by shooting!

                   5)   Whatever happens, we have a God to help us through it! We have a God who has

lived among us and knows just what we

need! We have a God in Jesus Christ who

walks alongside us and helps us

through whatever life brings!

                   6)   Again, Christ calls us to count the cost!

 

2.   If we go at it blindly, not counting the cost, we probably won't make it!  Life will still not be what we expected it to be!

 

B.   Looking at our goals and plans as a church, Christ

would have us to count the cost!

 

1.   As a church, we are to prayerfully count the

cost!

a.   A minister should never expect a

     congregation to swallow anything without

counting the cost! This isn't Biblical! 

Christ wants us to count the cost then

decide if we are to do something!

 

b.   I once knew of a minister in another

tradition who decided what God's will was

for the church building program.  When the

church didn't agree with him, they were

wrong and weak in faith for not accepting                   it!

 

 

c.   It is not a weak faith to count the cost so

     we will know what we are getting into.  It

     is good stewardship!

     1)   That is the whole purpose behind all

          the steps we go through as Methodists

          before we can build.

     2)   All the checkpoints and approvals are

          designed to help us to count the cost!

d.   Like in berry picking, we have to look at

the different avenues that are available to

us to attain a goal and then decide which is

the best one to take. 

e.   If we don't and just dive in without considering the alternatives, we might just get scratched up real bad and not accomplish what we were trying to do.

 

III. After we have counted the cost, then what?

 

A.   This is where the faith comes in!

 

B.   Even if we find it possible, if we count the cost and

have no faith, we wind up like the Hebrew people after they sent the spies to spy out Canaan, afraid to step out even though it is possible to do whatever it is that we are checking out.

 

C.   If it is concerning whether or not to accept what God has done for us in Christ and become a Christian, if we have no faith, we wind up lost and out of relationship with God.  This also takes faith or trust!

D.   In making a decision, after we have counted the cost and God has guided us to an intelligent decision, if we are willing to step out on faith, God can use this decision to make a positive difference.  The sky is the limit in our Christian lives and in our Church!

 

Conclusion:

A.   Concerning becoming a Christian, we have to count the cost!

1.   Some will not choose to follow Christ because of  fear of what they will lose!

2.   For me, I feel that I have gained much more than  I have lost.  I don't regret a day I have spent  serving the Lord!

3.   Won't you accept what God has done for us and begin your journey of Faith?

 

B.   As individuals and as a church, let's be good stewards of God’s gifts to us!  Let's count the cost, but let's also have the faith to step out when the Lord shows us something to do!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

Berry Picking Series: Sermon one. "Son Ripened Christian."

 4^th Sunday after the Epiphany!

Introduction:

A.   Have you ever gone Berry Picking, especially for the kind that has thorns?

 

B.   Where my grandmother lived in Corning when I was young, she had some Blackberries in her yard; she was unable to care for them properly, but when we came to visit, there was always plenty of Berries to pick.  I usually got to help my dad do that.

 

C.   Upon reflecting on berry picking, there are a lot of connections with the Christian life.  It could be used as modern day parables about the Christian life.

 

D.   Over the next 3 weeks we will look at a short series of sermons: modern day parables about berry picking.

     (Since we were closed last week, I may combine the last 2 into a message for this week, making it a 2 message series.)

 

Trans.

Today, we are going to talk about the "Son Ripened  Christian."

                            Prayer

                  John 8:12 and I Cor. 1:26-31

 

I.   Let's first look at the berry itself.

 

A.   A berry or any plant in complete darkness will not grow and will eventually die; sunlight is an essential ingredient for life.

B.   When a berry gets the right amount of sunlight, it ripens and makes a delicious fruit that we all love to eat and enjoy.

 

C.   Also, after long exposure to the sunlight, the berry dries, drops off into the soil, and reproduces, making another vine come up.

 

1.   This is a natural process for the berry to yield  itself to exposure to the sun thereby

reproducing. It will grow toward the sun!

 

2.   After reproducing, there are thousands more berries than before.

 

3.   My grandmother’s berry vines were very large, and each year, they had grown larger.

 

II.  How does this apply to our Christian lives?

 

A.   As we look at our scripture, we see that God has given us Jesus to be our Sonlight!

 

1.   Through Christ, we attain wisdom, righteousness,  sanctification, and redemption.

 

2.   Through Christ, we grow and mature into what God would have us to be, through God’s Sanctifying Grace.

3.   We become the beautiful fruit after the proper exposure to the Son; we become something that is  able to be used to feed and help others!

     a.   We learn to love like Jesus!

     b.   We learn to share that love with all people

          and invite them into the Kingdom of God!

B.   Also, we become something that reproduces for Christ.

 

1.   As Christians, our part is in the yielding our lives to the Son. Just like berries grow toward the son!

 

2.   When we do, it is natural that we will reproduce.

 

a.      We will want to share in some way. Because

of God’s love shown through us, we will draw people to God!

 

b.   We may never really know who all we have led to a closer walk with God when we are exposed to the Son!

 

c.   A life that is yielded to the Son will reproduce thousands of times itself in a lifetime!

 

3.   All because of our exposure to the Son!

 

III. What is this proper exposure to the Son, and how can we be exposed?          Rom. 12:1&2

 

A.   It is a complete surrender to the will of the Son!    (Complete exposure!)

1.   It isn't a Spot exposure where we let the Son hit this spot but hide other places in our lives!

 

2.   We are to present ourselves whole and complete unto the Lord!

 

 

a.   It should be an everyday communication and walk with Christ where Christ is the reason we do the things we do!

 

b.   Christ's way is the best for us and for those around us.

 

B.   It is allowing Christ to transform us by the renewing  of our minds!  This is the way we continually get   exposure to the Son, by seeing that our minds are  renewed.

 

1.   Through Bible Study and by reading the right things.

 

a.   The Bible is God's written word.

 

b.      Through the Bible, we are exposed to God through Christ. Christ is our best

revelation of God!  We understand God best by looking at the life of Christ!

 

2.   By letting the right people influence us, Christian people who are dedicated.

3.   By being selective of what we hear and see.

 

a.   When we see something enough, it affects us.

 

b.   When we think of what is out there to see today, this is scary!

 

4.   By seeing that our minds continually get a dose of Sonlight and not darkness!

C.   A Christian must have Sonlight to live & grow!

 

1.   When we shut ourselves off from the Son, we will  die spiritually.

 

2.   Without continually being exposed to the Son, we  can't grow toward perfection in Christ!

 

Conclusion:

 

A.   When we have the right amount of exposure to the Son, we will mature to the point we will multiply (bear fruit).

 

B.   We may not always know who we have influenced, but we can rest assured we will multiply!

 

C.   Are we getting this much exposure to the Son?

 

D.   As we encounter Christ at the table today, we can

yield to Christ those areas where we need to grow or

change!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

 

 

 

Friends Tell Their Friends About Jesus!

 

2^nd Sunday after the Epiphany!

Human Relations Day!  

Intro:

A.   What is a friend?

Webster:  A person to whom one is attached by

affection; an intimate acquaintance.

 

B.   What does it mean to share?

 

C.   If a real friend gets something good, do they share it

with their friend?

 

D.   We will see today where some people did just that!!

 

E.   I’ve entitled the message: “Friends Tell Their Friends

     About Jesus!”

 

 

                            Prayer

                       Read John 1:35-50

                          Mark 1:14-20

 

I.      We see in this account of the calling of some of the first   disciples how when Andrew & Philip found something good they shared it with their friends!

 

A.   They had a great love for their friends!

1.   They were special to them!

2.   They wanted them to have good things too!

 

B.   Christ, the Messiah, was a good thing!

1.   He was the one who was going to destroy their

     enemies and release them from bondage!

2.   He promised them no more hurt, no more pain, no more oppression!

3.   Summed up, he promised them Hope, a light at the end of the darkness!

 

C.   So they wanted their dear friends to share in this new-found "Hope!"

 

D.   In Mark=s account of the calling of the first disciples, Jesus says, AFollow me and I will make you fishers of people.@ Mark 1:14-20

 

     1. Without getting into the differences of the

        accounts, the message is clear that Jesus wanted us

        intentionally telling the Good News!

 

     2. In Johns account, they immediately began doing

        that; they began to tell their friends and   

        relatives!

 

     3. That is what we are here for, to tell the good news

        and make disciples by word and deed!

 

II.  Do we have friends? Of course we do!

 

A.   Do we believe that the message of Christ is good news?

 

B.   Do we want our friends to have good news?

 

C.   Of course we do, we love them!

 

D.   We want the best for them if they are true friends!

 

III. We too have a great Hope in Jesus; that is good news!

 

A.   The Israelites misunderstood the prophesies & promises of the Messiah!

 

1.   They thought Christ was going to deliver them

from the bondage & oppression of other nations ruling over them!

 

2.   They were expecting an Earthly Kingdom!

 

B.   But we know today:

1.   That the delivery from bondage was from that of sin; Christ destroyed sin's hold on us!

 

2.   That the no more pain and no more hurt referred

to a Heavenly Kingdom!

 

3.   Besides this, we know that living for Christ

gives life meaning today!! We are part of

Christ’s Kingdom today!  We are Kingdom people!

 

4.   We know that Christ wants us to live as kingdom people and make a difference today!

 

a. Feed the hungry! (donate to free food shelf)

 

b. Cloth the poor!(volunteer at the Thrift Store)

c. Overcome oppression! (such as Martin Luther King Jr. did as we remember him on Human Relations day)

 

d. Show people that we know, a God of love! Let

   God love through us!

 

e. Tell people how God has made a difference in

   our lives.  Sometimes that is the greatest

   witness: the greatest way to tell others about

   Jesus!

 

f. Don’t be pushy and condemning.  People get

   enough of that.  Share Christ/God’s love;

   don’t push it at them! There is a vast  difference.  People will be turned off by it  being pushed at them!

 

C.   So, we know Jesus is the best this life has to offer!

 

IV.  If we really love our friends, shouldn't we want to share

Jesus with them today just as the 1st disciples did?

 

A.   Teachers, that is why we teach!

          Because of love, we are sharing Jesus with a friend!

 

B.   That is why preachers – preach! (to share Jesus’ love  with a friend!)

 

C.   But each one of us should be involved in this ministry  in some way, some how, sharing Jesus with a friend!

1.   We can invite others to church, or tell them

about the Live Stream or website.

 

2.   We can tell them what Christ means to us!

 

3.   We can talk about it while we are doing the

things with our friends through the week: shopping, working, playing, or maybe just talking on the phone.

 

          4.   Actually, that is the best way after all.

 

Conclusion:

A.   So in concluding, yes we need to tell about Jesus!

Friends tell their friends about Jesus, but do it from

a perspective of love and witness to the difference

Christ has made in your life, and not in a judging,

condemning way from the perspective of where your

friend falls short! That is the way the first

disciples shared!  Come and see!

 

B.   That is the way the good news can be shared today!

 

C.   Do we need strength to go tell today?

 

D.   As we encounter Christ at the table, we can receive

that strength.  Let's ask God to help us and guide us in sharing with our Friends, not in a pushy way but in an inviting way!  Come and see!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

Baptism: Let’s Take a Look!

 

Baptism of the Lord Sunday!

Introduction:

 

     A.   Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday!

 

     B.   It is a day we celebrate in 3 ways:

 

          1.   We take a look back to Jesus’ baptism and consider

it.

 

          2.   If there are candidates wanting to be baptized, it

is certainly appropriate to baptize them, not that

they can’t be baptized on other days.

 

          3.   We remember our own baptisms and what that means.

 

Matt. 3:13-17

Prayer

 

I.   Let’s look at Jesus’ baptism.

 

     A.   Jesus comes to John to be baptized of him.

 

          1.   John is surprised, and says “I need to be baptized

by you!”

a.   John’s baptism was an act of repentance, but

Jesus didn’t need to repent!

              b.   Thus John’s confusion.

 

          2.   Jesus says, “I want to do it to fulfill all

righteousness.”

 

     B.   After his baptism, “A voice from heaven declares, This is

my Son in whom I am well pleased.”

1.   Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of Jesus’

ministry!

 

          2.   Jesus’ baptism set him apart as claimed by God!

 

 

     C.   Those who want to say that baptism is just an act of

repentance have trouble reconciling what happened here.

They are about as confused as John.

II.  As we remember our baptism, what is baptism to us?

 

     A.   Baptism.  First and foremost is a witness to the grace of        God!

1.   Baptism has 2 components:

a.   The baptism vows that we answer to. Pg. 34,40,

     or 50 (which we will use today)

     1)   The vows show what we are doing!

     2)   They are our show of repentance.

     3)   They witness to our part of the commitment!

     4)   We can renew our vows as many times as we

          want!

          a)   We might renew them when we feel we have fallen away.

          b)   A child I a sense renews the vows that have been answered at their baptism when they are Confirmed.

          c)   We renew our vows as a way of drawing closer.

 

b.   Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

     1)   The baptism itself is a witness to the

          grace of God!

     2)   The baptism shows what God has done!

     3)   The baptism claims us by God!

 

          2.   For United Methodist, the key word - choice! We have many choices about Baptism.

               a.   First choice: we recognize three modes. Mode is not an essential.

                    1)   sprinkling

                    2)   immersion

                    3)   pouring (AFFUSION)

               b.   2^nd choice: We do Baptize infants. Whether or not we do, is not an essential!

                    1)   We recognize infants as being saved until they reach an age of deciding for themselves.  Since we believe they are saved and Baptism is a witness to the grace of  God, they can be baptized. The parents answer for their vows on their behalf.

                    2)   If a child is baptized as an infant, they should later confirm their vows through confirmation. During confirmation, they are taught about God and the church and given a chance to say “Yes, I want to follow Jesus.” As they say their vows for themselves, they are claiming the grace that was declared at their baptism for themselves.

                        a)   If they do not follow through with that personal commitment, they can fall away.

                        b)   When we baptize an infant, we and their parents make a commitment to bring them up so that they will want to say the vows for themselves, so they do not fall away!

                        c)   We also make a commitment to create a memory for them of their baptism.

                    3)   For this reason, we encourage only baptism of infants who will be brought up in the Lord.

                   4)   But we can also choose not to have our baby baptized.

                        a)   When we make that choice, they can still take part I Confirmation classes.

                        b)   If they decide to follow Jesus, they will be baptized while the others are saying their vows and remembering their baptism.

     D.   We do not re-baptize.

          1.   To get baptized again is to say God’s grace failed! God never fails!  God never fails!  If there is a failure, it is on our part!

 

          2.   Then we can renew our part: our vows!

 

          3.   We don’t baptize people who have been baptized by another Christian denomination and want to join with us!

 

          4.   When someone joins the church who have been baptized, we have them renew their vows as a way

              remembering their baptism and drawing closer.

 

Conclusion:

 

     A.   So as we recognize baptism as a witness to the grace of

          God and an act of being claimed by God, Jesus’ baptism makes

          sense and so does ours!

 

 

     B.   As we encounter Christ at the table today, examine

          yourselves. If there is any commitment we need to make,

          make it.

 

     C.   Today, on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, after communion, we

          will renew our vows as a way of remembering our baptism

          and God’s claim on our lives and as a way of drawing closer!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

Congregational Reaffirmation of Baptism pg. 50