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

 

    

 

 

Is believing all there is to it?

 

                                                                                                                            Epiphany Sunday!

                                                                          Matt. 2: 1-16

Introduction:

A.        Today is Epiphany Sunday!

            1.         An epiphany is an ah-hah moment!  It is a moment when the light bulb

comes on and we come to a realization.

                        2.         The wisemen had an epiphany.  It was that this baby was a king, so they

took him gifts fit for a king!

 

B.        As we read in Matt. 2 we see that Herod believed that Jesus was the Messiah or

king.    I guess we could say Herod had an epiphany too!

 

C.        From all indications, he was so sure that in verse 16 he had all the male children

under 2 yrs. old in Bethlehem killed!

 

D.        He believed, but he reacted the wrong way on this belief.  Look what he tried to

do!  Was this pleasing to God?

 

Trans:

What should our belief bring us to?  That's what I want to look at this morning!

 

                                                                         Prayer

I.          First, we do have to believe!

A.        Before we can be right with God, we have to believe that God came in Jesus to do

for us what we can=t do for ourselves, forgive our sins and give us a new start!

 

B.        Before we can ever hope to make a difference for God, we have to believe that he

can make a difference today!

 

C.        But then what?

 

II.        Then, this belief must bring us to the right action!

A.        Just to believe in general that God came in Christ does nothing for us until we make

it personal and believe and receive that God did it for me in particular, asking God

to forgive us of our sins.  It must become something personal. We must act on

what God has done for us!

 

B.        Just to believe that Jesus can make a difference today is not enough!

1.         If we don't yield our lives to Christ for service.

read  Jas. 2:17 - 20

2.         God has chosen to use people to get the Kingdom work done in the world

today!  Without us, it will not get done.

                        3.         Methodists come from a tradition that believes very much in doing

something with our faith.  That is why John Wesley started the small

groups in the Church of England.

 

C.        Do you believe?  What are you doing with that belief?

 

III.       Some are reacting like Herod!

A.        They believe in God and may even believe in Jesus, but they are taking the wrong

actions upon those beliefs.

 

B.        Few people when you point blank ask them will tell you they don=t believe in God,

but they haven't accepted that God came in Christ for them, and they feel guilty.

 

C.        Because of this guilt, they lash out at Christianity!

1.         They try to bring Christians down to make themselves look better.

2.         They try to make the church look bad.

a.         If they hear any bad news, they are sure to tell it.

b.         If they can tell a joke that makes the church look stupid, they will.

                        3.         God isn=t for them a personal thing; God is a by-word and isn=t something

                                    to be taken very seriously.

 

IV.       But others believe and are going about doing the Lord's business.

            A.        They are claiming the promises that they can make a difference. They are lovingly

                        trying to do that!

B.        They are working and serving, and they are seeing fruits for their labor.

C.        They feel a purpose and are happy with their Christian lives.

 

V.        Churches that are growing are blessed with some of these believers.

A.        They believe God can make a difference, and they are excitedly working for the

Lord!  They are being used of God to share God’s love!

 

B.        They aren't defeated with the belief that "nothing will work today."

 

C.        Instead, they "know" something will work, and they are busy trying to find ways to

minister to the needs of people today that do work!!

 

Conclusion:

The Epiphany this morning it that God came in Christ.  That is the ah-hah moment: this

Baby is God in the flesh.  The first question that we have to deal with then is, ADo we

Believe that?@ The 2^nd is, AWhat are we going to do because of that belief?@

 

A.        Do you believe this morning?

 

B.        What are you doing because of that belief?

 

C.        Is God pleased with it?

 

 

D.        As we encounter Christ at the table this morning, we can ask God to help us with

our unbelief and to help us act appropriately on that belief!

 

E.         After you receive communion and since we are starting a new year, you will be

given the opportunity to have your hands anointed, thereby saying “God, use these hands in accordance with your will this year!”

 

                                            Prayer of Confession & Blessing of the Oil

 

Service of Communion and Anointing of Hands