The Testimony of God!

 

                                                                                                                            Ascension Sunday!

 

                                                                         Prayer

                                                                    I John 5:6-13

 

Focus Statement:       This passage says that those who have the Son have life, and it is written so that we can have assurance that we have life.

 

Function Statement:             Because of this message, the congregation will feel the assurance of salvation based on faith in Christ.

 

1^st Movement:

 

When I went to my first full-time church in Indiana in 1989 and started visiting among my parishioners, I soon detected a tension between my two deacons.  They have both since passed.  In the tradition that I was in at that time, the deacons were kind of like our lay leaders. It seems that sometimes when the new pastor arrives there are those who want to talk to the pastor and get them on their side, such was the case here, and a new pastor has to be very careful and proceed with caution.  I tried to not let them pull me to one side or the other because I felt that in their own way, both were right; as pastor, it is best to stay as neutral as possible; sometimes that is difficult.  I wanted to be pastor for both of them!  The one deacon was a very hard worker in the area of evangelism.  He was one who visited the unchurched a lot in the community, and I found him to be a very good source for finding the unchurched in the community and for working along with me in trying to get them into the church.  The other was a good man who was more into teaching Sunday School classes and etc. but hadn=t had much success in bringing others to Christ; he was haunted with the fact that his son-in-laws were not in church and his daughters had all had divorces, which in that tradition was looked upon very legalistically.  He was a deep thinker and had put a lot of thought into the scriptures.

 I appreciated them both in their own ways, but the two had been into it over our scripture for today. They had a running debate that they always tried to pull you into.  As a part of his “scriptural road to salvation,” the more evangelistic one used the scripture, AI write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life,[i]A as a final proof-text, if you will, of salvation.  If you were saved, you would know it he would say, and if you didn=t know that you were saved, maybe you aren=t.  The deep thinker found so much uncertainty about things in the scripture that he had trouble with you have got to know, and if you do not know, you aren=t saved.  I tried to console him without getting pulled into the argument and saying the one was wrong, but I found that to be a hard task. 

 

2^nd Movement:

 

Today is Ascension Sunday, and our text for today doesn=t really deal with the ascension, but as the time of the ascension had come and gone, the disciples were left with the task of trying to pull all that Christ had said and taught them together into a belief about who Christ was and what it meant to be saved.  I think our text for today is part of John=s attempt to do that.   Christians had studied the letters and had heard the apostles teach.  They knew of the teachings of Christ.  As always happens when we study the word, they had heard different opinions as to what we should and shouldn=t do.  This tends to create doubt as to what we should do and what it takes to be saved such as one of my deacons was experiencing.  How do we discern between law and faith?  John is attempting to simplify it here; he says, AIf we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.1 . . . . And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.@  The bottom line was for John, ADo you have the Son?@  Do you believe in what God has done in Christ?  Then relax; God has taken care of the rest!  That is what John is saying here, he is writing these things so we can relax and know that God has taken care of it all. 

This isn=t meant to be a last requirement for salvation, that being that we Aknow@, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that we are saved.  That is what my one deacon and many others, especially in that tradition, try to make this passage say.  It isn=t meant to be that; it is meant to be words of comfort.  It is meant to focus us on exactly what the requirements are for starting our life in God!  This isn=t to say a Christian shouldn’t follow through and want to do something else to exercise their faith, not believe and do nothing else!  It isn=t to say that a Christian will not love their neighbor and do what they can to help them as a part of exercising their faith!  It isn=t to say a Christian will not want to be baptized or take communion and that God does not act through these means of grace.  It isn=t to say that a Christian shouldn=t constantly look at their life and see if there are things that God would have them change to make them better reflect the image of God which is to fully love as God loves.   It isn=t to say a Christian shouldn=t read the Bible.  It isn=t to say that a Christian will not want to or doesn=t need to attend Church, but it is to say that the bottom line for salvation is what do we do with Christ?  All these other things are not requirements for salvation!  They are responses to what God has done for us in Christ, but not requirements!  Also, John wants to say that if we have accepted what God has done in Christ we can rest assured we are alright!   We tend to make it so complicated and apparently they did in John=s time too; John says, Bottom line, What are you doing with Christ?  If you have Christ, you are okay!  God testifies to that!  Having said all of this, if someone says to you, do you “know” you are saved, say Yes; I trust in what Christ has done for me!  God made a way, and I believe in what God has done for me!  Don’t let anyone argue that you need more or that cannot ever have any doubts! This scripture is to alleviate those doubts when they come!  All you need is Jesus!  You can count on that!

 

3^rd Movement:

 

In closing this morning, Bottom Line, what have you done with Christ?  According to John, God tells us what we need to do with Christ:

AIf we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.  10  Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God c  have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.  11  And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.@

Do you have the Son this morning?  Jesus is the Testimony of God!  Do you believe that God has done in Christ what you can’t do for yourself to make you right with God?  Do you know in whom you believe?  If you do, this passage says you are alright!  You can have confidence in that!  If you do not, won=t you come to Christ as we encounter Christ at the table this morning?   That is all it takes to start your life in God! 

Brothers and sisters, if you have received the Son, take assurance, God will take care of the rest!   According to John, there is no hidden requirement that you are missing!  That is the testimony of God!  Thanks be to God!

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

---

[i]
                        ^[i]The Holy Bible  : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

 

 
                            Other ancient authorities read in the Son

 

A Successful Mother!

 

                    

 

Introduction:

A.   We are living in a changing world; motherhood, the American flag, and apple pie are three things known for their stability in America.

 

1.   Yet, the price of apples is going up, along with

many other things!

 

2.   The flag is sometimes mistreated!

 

3.   Even Motherhood is sometimes abused!

 

B.   Although motherhood may sometimes be abused, nobody

Can do away with its importance to our families and to

our society!  Many have spoken of its importance:

 

1.   Napoleon, "The future destiny of the child is

always the work of the mother!"

 

2.   Theodore Roosevelt, "The mother is the one

supreme asset of the national life.  She

is more important, by far, than the successful

statesman, businessman, artist, or scientist."

 

3.      Abraham Lincoln after becoming president once

said, "All that I am, or can become, I owe to my

angel mother."

 

C.   In I Samuel, chap. 1, we see a beautiful portrait of a woman who honored God:  Hannah.

 

Trans.

Let's look at her this morning and see what it takes

to be a successful mother!

 

                            Prayer

                        I Samuel 1:1-28

 

I.   Hannah's state in life.

 

A.   Hannah was very sorrowful!

1.   She had been denied the crowning glory of every

Hebrew woman: the privilege of motherhood!

2.      It should be looked upon as a privilege, a

responsibility, and a gift from God.  Too many

times it is not today!

 

On the other hand, Motherhood shouldn=t be the

Only purpose for women and girls such as it was

In Hannah=s society, but it should nevertheless be

still considered important!  When it happens, it

should be seen as all of this: a privilege, a

responsibility, and a gift from God!

 

B.   Hannah prayed for a son as she probably had many times before.

 

1.   The scriptures tell us that she was deeply disturbed.

"She was deeply distressed and prayed

to the LORD, and wept bitterly." 

(I Samuel 1:10)

 

2.   And God listened to her prayer; he seemed to say,

"I have found a concerned mother, and now I shall

 have a dedicated servant."

 

3.   Hannah was important to God!

 

a.   She was a simple woman.

 

b.   Probably not very educated if at all.

 

c.   Her clothing plain.

 

d.   Yet, God heard her prayer because she was

important to God!

 

II.  Hannah was a praying mother!

 

A.   Hannah was a praying mother, and in verse 20, we see

that her prayer was answered!

 

B.   Be a praying mother.

1.   Your prayer life is the foundation of a Godly

home.

 

2.   In Hannah's prayer, she vowed to give her son

back to the LORD: she would train him in the ways

of the LORD!

3.   The greatest way we can train is by example!

 

a.   My mother is a good example:

 

1)   Prayer. I can remember seeing my mother

kneeling by her bed and praying; that

has stayed with me.

 

                   2)   She still has a devotion and prayer time before going to bed!

 

3)   She helped me believe in myself:

encourager.

 

b.   It has been said, "apples do not fall far

from the trees."

 

c.   By your example, do your children learn

 

1)   dedication or lack of it?

 

2)   prayer is important or it isn't?

 

3)   to be negative or positive?

 

4)   to be critical or complimentary?

 

5)   to be kind or rude?

 

6)   to be respectful or disrespectful?

 

7)   To be Godly or un-Godly?

 

4.   Hannah had an attitude of praise; she taught her child to love and honor God!

 

5.   Moses said about the scriptures in Deut. 6:7

 

a.   morning, noon, and night teach God's word!

 

b.   Whatever you are doing, stress God's word!

 

6.   Nothing can take the place of the home in the

spiritual training of your child.

 

 

 

7.      Suzanna Wesley is another good example of a

Spiritual leader for her children.  John and

Charles Wesley were greatly influenced by her

leadership and teaching in their home!

 

          9.   As parents of adult  children or grandparents, I

think there are still ways we can be examples for

our children. The way we do it may change, but we

can still be positive examples, encouragers, and

advisors!

 

III. Hannah was a committed mother!

 

A.   Hannah made a vow to the LORD, and she kept it!

 

B.   It must have been hard

 

1.   to give him that hug as she left him at the

temple!

 

2.   to carry out her commitment!

 

3.   but she was able to do it because she loved the

LORD most of all!

 

C.   Look at her words:

 

"Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long

as he lives, he is given to the LORD."

(I Samuel 1:28)

 

1.   What a beautiful picture of a mother dedicated to God!

 

2.   She gave her most prized possession to God.

 

a.   She gave her son to the LORD!

 

b.   That that takes 1st priority for us is what

we give our children to.

 

Conclusion:

A.   What are we giving our children to? 

 

1.   Mothers, I'm taking you off of the hook a little

bit because this is for all of us. 

 

2.      Are we giving our children to God by our example

or are we giving them to something else?

 

                            (pause)

 

B.   Perhaps, you had a Christian mother who prayed for

you.  Perhaps, you never have accepted Christ?

 

C.   You can still do that today!

 

 

Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if  any [person] hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in . . . ."   (Rev. 3:20)

 

D.   Christ can still answer those prayers today, but the

     door knob is on your side of the door.  Won't you let

Christ into your heart this morning, as we encounter

Christ at the table?

 

E.   If you make a commitment, please let me know so I can

help you on your faith journey!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

 

 

Producing the Fruits of the Kingdom!

                                            5^th Sunday of Easter!

 

Focus Statement:    In this scripture, Jesus tells a parable to

the chief priests and elders that calls them

to account for the fact that they have not

given God the expected harvest at harvest

time.  Jesus tells them that because of this

God will take the kingdom from them and give

it to ones who will produce the fruits of

the kingdom.

 

Function Statement: Because of this sermon, the congregation

                   will understand that they, the Church, are

                   the ones whom God has given the kingdom to

                   and who have the responsibility of producing

                   the fruits of the kingdom; they will commit

                   to better producing those fruits.

 

                            Prayer

                         Matt. 21:33-46

 

Sermon manuscript:

 

 

Movement 1: 

We=ve all heard the horrific stories of the Nazi prison camps, of the heros such as Corrie Ten Boom who rescued Jews from the jaws of death.  We read of the story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family being arrested, her sister and other members of her family being killed in the camps and we weep! We=ve heard of the great numbers of Jews who were persecuted, of Hitler and his followers who tried to stamp Jews from the face of the earth.  We think of how insane he was to mistreat other human beings this way; who did he think he was?  God?  Who was he to decide that an entire race didn=t deserve to live?  But do we realize that it all began with the Church and Christians misinterpreting texts such as we have today?

 

This text is one of many that have been used to separate them (the Jews) from us and to place the blame on them!  The Jews killed Christ (Christians would say)!  Before the time of Hitler, Jews were reviled with the nickname AChrist killers.@^[1]  APopes and bishops taught that the Jews, because they had killed Christ and rejected his gospel, were a reprobate people, incapable of a spiritual life and thus not fully human.@^[2]  It shouldn=t come as any surprise that the end result of this teaching was the horrific events of history that the world regrets so much today!

 

Movement 2: 

As we look at this scripture we see a parable that Jesus is sharing about a tenant whom the landowner puts in charge of a vineyard.  When it comes time for the harvest, the landowner sends slaves to collect the harvest.  The tenant kills them.  Then the landowner sends his son to collect the harvest, and the tenant kills the son.  Jesus then asks them a question, AWhat should the landowner do with these tenants?@  Their answer deserves our deepest consideration because Jesus seems to accept it and even echoes a paraphrased version of it back to them in verse 43.  Their answer was, AHe will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.@ Jesus answers them back saying, “you”…. He directs the parable to them, the chief priests and elders!  The problem is that they were not giving the landowner the produce at harvest time; the killing of the slaves and the son were just part of the means by which they were withholding the produce.

 

As we look at the audience to which Jesus told this parable (chief priests and elders), they represented a chosen people to which God had entrusted God=s message to be taken to all people, but they had kept it to themselves.  They represented a people who had gotten caught up more in the does and don’ts of what they should do within their group than with taking the message to those on the outside!  They represented a group who was perfectly content to keep God to themselves and leave the rest of the world to not know God!  They represented individuals who had not accepted God=s latest revelation in Christ which is evident in Jesus= quote to them but not a group who had not. This parable is directed toward the chief priests and elders, not the Jewish people in general!  There were many Jews among the early Christians who had accepted, so the thrust of this parable is in that they, the chief priests and elders, were not giving God the fruits of the harvest; therefore, the kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.  That is the Church made up of Jews, gentiles, black, white, young, old, male, female, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, American, middle eastern, and all other peoples of the world!

 

Not only is this parable not anti-Jew, but it is also not pro-Jew; it isn’t saying Jews have a special place in the Kingdom just because of their Jewishness! The Jews were part of the Church, and in that way were part of the group being charged with producing the fruits of the Kingdom. Some of the disciples and early leaders of the church were Jewish; they were part of the answer! This isn’t a Jews or us parable! This parable was just against the leaders who were rejecting Christ! Only the Jews who had accepted Christ and were part of the Church that Christ established were part of the solution. The Church now, Jew and gentile, has the task of taking the gospel to all people. It is an individual decision, whether Jew or Gentile, to accept and be a part of Christ’s Church.  It isn’t a national decision! The Jews aren’t automatically accepted or rejected because of their Jewishness!  We are Easter people; we are the plan since the resurrection. The Church is the new Israel!  As far as modern Israel, we should only support them when they are in line with the teachings of Christ!  This idea that we support Israel no matter what they do to stay on God’s side is just not supported in the Bible.

 

 

Movement 3:

So the torch has been passed to us.  How are we doing at giving God the produce at harvest time or as Jesus echoes it back Aproducing the fruits of the kingdom?@  Are we taking God=s message to all peoples, especially those who are different than us?  What about those in different social classes?  What about those who are of a different color?  Have we gotten more caught up in the do=s and don=ts than in taking the message to those who are on the outside, the message of God=s reconciling love?  A real test of this is, do we give people room to receive God=s message and grow, or do we expect people to immediately share all our do=s and don=ts, and if they don=t, do we write them off as unfit for the kingdom?  Or reprobates?  We are to be sowing the seeds and letting God take care of the increase!  Are we perfectly content to just take care of ourselves and grow in God and leave the rest of the world to not know God?  You see, these are the types of questions that the hearers of this parable didn=t answer up to; what about us?

 

As Easter people, the Church, people whom God has passed the mantle to, how are we doing at taking down the barriers that divide Christians all over the world and realizing we are all a part of the church who has been given the responsibility of producing the fruits of the kingdom, which is taking the message to all people, non-exclusively. That is the fruits of the kingdom that Christ is looking for!  As we encounter the risen Christ at the table this morning, let=s recommit to producing these fruits of the Kingdom: bringing all people to Christ to become part of Christ’s Church!  Let’s commit to an open invitation! Let’s commit to open minds, open hearts, and open doors to all people! Let=s unite in saying yes to God=s commission to make disciples of all the world!  Let=s let the risen Christ change us!   Amen! 

      

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

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^[1]Hare, Douglas R.A., AMatthew@ in  Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.  (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1993) 250.

^[2]Hare, 250.

Making Jesus Known!

 

^4th Sunday of Easter!

Prayer

                                                                  Luke 24:13-35

First Movement:                               

            I can remember when I was a kid our main outreach each year was a Revival.  We would get a guest speaker and/or special singers and schedule a week of meetings to invite people to.  We were encouraged to invite folks.  We hung flyers around town.  We put it on the radio that so and so church was having a Revival all are invited.  Then the week would come; our evangelist was usually literally preaching to the choir.  It would turn out to be pretty much of a disappointment and the evangelist would have to shift into either encouraging us for working so hard and telling us the important thing was we were there or sometimes they might brow beat us because we had not worked hard enough.  Either way, the Revival didn’t usually do what we hoped it would.

 

            Later, I can remember different programs we would try.  One I can remember was “Friend Day.”  We bought this packet of stuff that had posters and radio advertisements that we were having friend day.  It gave you an outline of what you were to do and when.  I can remember that during the weeks ahead the pastor would announce that he/she was bringing a friend and it was to be some known city official and would have them visit that Sunday.  I’ve brought my friend, now who will you bring etc.  On Friend Day, we were suppose to have a big Sunday where we brought our friends.  Afterward, it had a programmed way to follow up.  Friend Day was somewhat successful.  We did have a lot of people there that Sunday, but follow-up was hard, and we didn’t really see lasting benefits.  A lot of the friends were people who went to church somewhere else.

 

            There always seems to be a new program to have a special Sunday or special service to get people here.  These things can be effective, but they will not always be effective.  We had a Conference Lay Leader a few years back that was always noted as saying “We have to keep the main thing the main thing!”  I would add to that, we will only be successful when the church keeps the main thing the main thing!  The main thing isn’t just getting people here for a certain meeting or group of meetings!  It is about touching them with the love of God that keeps them coming back!  (more later)

 

Second Movement:

             Our story today is from the gospel of Luke, and it happens at the end of Resurrection Day or Easter evening!  Luke says that two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus.  One of the disciples is named Cleopas.  He is not one of the twelve and we encounter him nowhere else in the Bible, and the other disciple is unnamed.  They are just followers of Jesus that are walking along to Emmaus.  We haven’t even been able to identify with any certainty where Emmaus was!  These things are not significant to the story.

 

            They are walking along and Jesus joins them.  They do not recognize him; this seems to be a continuing theme, people not recognizing Jesus when he first appears to them.  For Luke, Jesus or God is only recognized by divine revelation!  Jesus asks them what they are talking about, and they respond to him like, “Where have you been the last couple days?  Haven’t you heard what all things have happened the last few days?”  Jesus says, “What things?” 

 

            They proceeded to tell Jesus about Jesus of Nazareth who was a great prophet and teacher  and how the chief priests and leaders had handed him over to be crucified!  They told how they thought he was the Messiah and then this happened!  Now, besides all this, now the third day since all this happened some of the women in our group astounded us by going to the tomb this morning and finding his body is not there!  They came back and told us how they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive!

 

            Jesus then picks up the conversation with, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe.”  He explains that all of this is what the prophets declared would happen.  He tells them it was necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into glory!  He begins with Moses and all the prophets and interprets the things about himself in all the scriptures.

 

            As they come to Emmaus, Jesus acts like he is going on, but they invite him to stay with them.  When they are setting down to a meal, Jesus takes the bread breaks it, blesses it, and gives it to them.  Then their eyes are opened, they recognize him and he vanishes from among them.  Then they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”  Then they went forth and told how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread!

 

Third Movement:  

            It is likely that Luke intended this story for and that it has been used as a model for encountering and worshiping the risen savior! 

 

First, Christ is known by revelation.  Paul has put it to us another way.  We can sow the seeds, others may water the seeds, but only God gives the increase!  People will not get it until God moves on their hearts.  This doesn’t mean that we don’t sow the seeds!  This doesn’t mean that we don’t water, but it is only God who can make Godself known to people through God’s prevenient grace!  It is only God who reveals Christ to us!

 

Secondly, our hearts burn within us at the spoken word!  This sets up the spoken message and word as a priority in our worship of God.  How can people know unless someone tells them? The spoken word should reveal Christ as the promised Messiah who is making all things right!  The spoken word should reveal Christ as the Messiah we all need!  The spoken word should give us guidance for life!  The spoken word should show us that, as our hearts burn within us and we encounter Christ, we should go tell others! 

 

Thirdly, Christ is made known to us as we encounter Him at the table.  Wesley talked to us about the means of grace.  Means of grace being things through which God’s grace comes to us.  Reading the word and hearing the word are means of grace.  We’ve already talked about the spoken word, but it is a way that God reveals Godself to us!  Other means of grace are prayer, singing, service, and deeds of kindness, but Wesley saw the sacrament of Holy Communion as a special means of grace.  That is inline with what Luke is saying here.

 

We believe that Holy Communion is a special encounter with the risen Christ.  As we take of the physical elements, we believe that spiritually we can encounter Jesus at the table.  We believe that someone can come to faith by accepting Christ at the table.  We believe Christ can give all of us what we need at the table.  We believe communion is a special encounter with Christ!  We believe Jesus is made known to us in the breaking of the bread and taking of the cup!

 

Fourthly, but not least, go forth and tell about our encounter with the risen Christ!  This is the way the gospel spreads!  It is not through some special program, but only, as we go forth and tell about our encounter with Christ.  Yes, programs work sometimes.  Picnics work sometimes!  Activities work in that they get Christian people to brush shoulders with folks who are on the outside so we can tell of our encounter with the risen Christ!  They will only work when we keep the main thing the main thing and tell what Jesus has done for us!  We can keep the main thing the main thing even without the programs!  The main thing is we encounter Christ, let Christ change us, and go and tell!

 

Forth Movement:

            If we do this, we are keeping the main thing the main thing!  If we do this, we will be successful and we will see the church grow.  It won’t matter so much what magic programs we try!  This is the plan in which we can find success!  First, Christ is known by revelation; Second, our hearts burn within us at the spoken word; Thirdly, Christ is made know as we encounter Christ at the table; and fourthly, go forth and tell of our encounter with Christ!  

 

Luke outlines it for us here in his gospel!  We will see others come to Christ!  We will see other believers come to join us because they will want to be a part of a church who is positively offering Christ, and we will grow like we never believed we could!  You want to be a part of a positive church who is growing in Christ?  Have you had your sadness and despair turned to joy, hope, and excitement because of what God has done for you?  Go tell what Christ has done for you so that those you know can have their hopelessness turned to joy!  Do your part in making Jesus known to your relatives and friends!  Share the love of God!  Offer them Christ! Thanks be to God!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion