Monday, November 25, 2024

God's Abiding Care!

                         Christ the Kind and Thanksgiving Sunday!

                             Prayer

                         Matt. 6:25-33

                              

(1)  Focus Statement:

This sermon tells us to not worry because God will take

care of us and to be thankful for God's continuous care.

 

(2)  Function Statement:

Because of this sermon the congregation will relate to instances in their lives where God has been there and cared      for them and will be thankful.

 

Introduction:

     Today is Christ the King and Thanksgiving Sunday!  This Sunday completes the Christian year.  We have cycled through Christ’s birth and life.  Today, we celebrate that Christ’s sits on the throne in heaven and reigns along with God over all creation.  We celebrate His reigning in our lives!  We celebrate that whatever happens He is there to bring us through, and we can be thankful for that!

 

1st Movement

As I may have already indicated before, I lived through a very bitter split in the church that I was a member of as a teenager.  I would like to share one story from the time we attended the church after the split which was about two years.

 


It was a Saturday work day at the church.  We had been working inside on either installing a Baptistry or remodeling the nursery, putting one way glass in so people in the nursery could see the worship service.  Things had gone pretty well.  In some ways, the church had tried to pick up and go on over the last two years; in other ways, they had not.  We had done a lot of work on the building during these regular work days, and the church had tried to create a new start, but there was a lot of bitterness toward "those other people."  This particular work-day, we had finished what we were doing inside, and a prominent lady from our church and myself (about a 17 year old youth) were out in front of the church.  There was this old ugly stump out in the front of our church where we had cut down a dead tree in the past.  A man from the other church who was a farmer came by, stopped, and offered to pull out this stump for us with one of his tractors.  Before I tell you what happened next, you need to know that this man, prior to the splitting of the church, had been the Youth Sunday School teacher, had held cottage prayer meetings with the youth in his home, and had been a trustee in the church.  When this man made the offer to remove the stump, this leading lady in our church laid into him something fierce with me standing at her side.  "You get off of this property!  We don't need your help!  You didn't help us when you were here, and you're not going to help us now!"  As he kind of backed toward his truck, he made another attempt.  "I just wanted to do what I could to help; I think we all need to work together;  I could pull it out pretty easy with my tractor."  She said to that, "Get out of here!  We don't need you!"  After he left, I tried to talk to her, but she made one other statement that I will never forget, "I don't know if it is right or wrong, but that is the way I feel!"  After this last of many events that showed to us that the people were not willing to leave the past in the past and move on for the Lord, my family and I moved to another church.  I was very broken, my family probably left mainly because of me, but the Lord brought me through it and has helped me to grow and be better because of this chain of awful experiences in my life.  The Lord has taken care of me!

 


I can remember one other time, as I looked at this scripture, before Donna and I got married, my family and I went on vacation to Michigan.  My grandparents and some of my other relatives were in Michigan, and we would try to go up there about once a year to see them.  We were driving up, and it was night.  It was one of those dark, rainy nights where you can't see too well.  I was driving, and we had missed the turn where we usually turn because things do not look the same at night.  We were trying to get off in Holt because that is where my mom's brother lived (Holt is a suburb of Lansing).  We saw an exit that we recognized as being a road near them, so we went off.  We circled around off of the ramp and came to a stop light.  We looked the situation over, and decided to turn left.  We couldn't see any signs, but that felt like the way that we should go.  As soon as I made the left turn, blue lights started flashing in my rear view mirror.  I pulled off, and the policeman came to my door.  I told him that we were lost, and he said, "That's evident!"  Come to find out, we were headed up a one-way street the wrong way.  He said, "It's a good thing it is this time of the night because normally people are coming down this road at 55 mph."  He told us how to get where we were trying to go and let us go.  The Lord, with the help of this officer, took care of us again!

 

2nd movement


Our passage today says not to worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, and don't worry about our body, what we will wear.  Look at the birds of the air and the flowers in the field.  God takes care of them so wondrously, and we are more important to God than these.  We spend a lot of time worrying about life.  As I look back over my life, God has been there.  God hasn't always sheltered me from the bad as is evident from the first story that I shared today, but God has helped me to grow and be better in spite of what Satan or the world brings my way!  I have learned to cherish the scriptures:  (1) "All things work together . . . .", (2) "God is not the author of confusion . . . .", and (3) "God will not allow us to be tempted beyond . . . ."  God can take our hurts and turn them into something good for us.  On the other hand, there have been those times when God has sheltered me from the bad as is evident by the second story.  I know God doesn't always promise to do this.  We don't know what the future holds, but we know that God is there and will take care of us.  That is what our scripture tells us this morning!

 

3rd movement

In a couple of days, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  As we pause for just a moment, I would like to ask you to try to think of some experiences in your life when God has been there and cared for you.   Pause . . . .   Have you thanked God for God's abiding care?  I challenge you to do that as we encounter Christ at the table today;  after you receive communion, you can kneel at the altar or you can pray at your seat, whichever seems to you to express the most thanks to God.  Also, if my story hits a little close to home because you have experienced a crisis in your life that has left you broken, God wants to restore your life.  Won't you bring that God as we encounter Christ at the table this morning?  I also hope that after looking at this today we can be more conscious of God's abiding care as we go through this next year.  God deserves our praise and thanks more often than once a year!  Amen!


                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

Monday, November 18, 2024

Jonah, A Part of God's Preparation.

  

 Play this video before or after Children's time:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qLhAdA5ZXI

 

From the video: Jonah was a prophet, but he never really got it!  Compassion and mercy, that’s what God wants! 

 

Introduction:

A.   How many of you believe the story of Jonah actually

     happened?

 

B.   How many of you believe it is a parable?

 

1.   Israel being Jonah and the large fish being

     Babylon.

 

2.   Because the Israelites hadn't taken God's message

to the rest of the world.

 

3.   Very controversial among scholars. (Intro. to

     Jonah in Nelson Study Bible.)

 

Trans.    Whatever you believe about Jonah, I believe there are some lessons in his story for us today!

 

                            Prayer

                          Jonah 3:1-10

 

I.   General information about the book.

A.   Purpose:  To encourage evangelism!

 

B.   In either case, the book was probably written after

the fact (notice the past tense: "Nineveh was . . . .

(vs. 3:3))

 

II.  Lessons for us today.

 

A.      God longs to bring all people back to Godself!

B.       

1.   Ninevah was a very wicked city full of people who

did not know God!

(note:  Nineveh was the capital of Assyria which

was destroyed in 612 B.C.)

2.   God longed to have a relationship with these

     people!

 

3.   Maybe it represents any people or place!

 

B.   God makes preparation to bring all people back to

Godself!

 

1.   God sent Jonah to tell them to repent and turn to God.  You know that story:

a.   Jonah doesn't go but instead goes as far in

the other direction as he can go. (vs. 1:3)


b.   A storm comes up and Jonah tells the sailors

     to throw him overboard; he believes it is

     his fault. (vs. 1:12)

c.   They throw him in and the sea becomes calm.

(vs. 1:15)

d.   A large fish swallows Jonah (vs. 1:17)

e.   The fish spews him up on dry land (vs. 2:10)

f.   The Lord tells Jonah to go again, and this

     time, Jonah goes (vs. 3:1-3)

 

2.   All of this to prepare a way for Nineveh to

     receive the message that God wanted a

     relationship with them!

 

3.   God still longs for people to turn to God, and

     God is still making preparations!

a.   God has sent Jesus to provide a way!

b.   God is still sending people forth with the

word that God loves them and wants a

relationship with them!

 

C.      Some will respond to God’s love!

D.       

1.   The people of Nineveh turned to God, to Jonah's  

displeasure!

a.   Jonah didn’t get it! God wants to show

compassion and mercy to all people!

              b.   The people of Israel didn’t get it!

c.   It's a shame that sometimes people can't

rejoice when others come to the Lord!

d.   If we are filled with God's love, we will

rejoice!!

 

2.   The point is that the message went out and these

responded!

 

3.   It's still the same today; when the message goes

out, some will respond.

 

a) We need to go and tell.  We need to

   “share what God has done for us!” We don’t

   have to do it in a pushy, judging way, but we

   are suppose to tell the good news.  Don’t tell

   them, “You are going to Hell!”  Tell them,

   “God has made a difference in my life,” and

   then tell them how!

 

b) From Jonah, we can see that when we share the

   word, some will respond.  The problem is that

   sometimes, like Jonah, we run from doing that.

   1) I don’t have the time!

   2) I don’t know what to say!

   3) I really want them to get what they

      deserve!

   4) I’m afraid!

 

c) We do not have to be afraid to share what God

   has done for us!

1)  God will help us with what to say!

2)  We do not go out alone!  That is what the

 candle being taken out before us at the end

 of the service represents!

3)  We just need to be a willing vessel!

 

d) This is how we can make a difference in the

   world!

1)  We won’t make much difference by being judgmental!

2) We won’t make much difference by focusing on straightening people out!

3) We can make a difference by sharing the love and grace of God!

4) The Bible says if Christ be lifted up, He will draw all people to Him.  That is probably referring to his crucifixion, but we are the plan by which He draws all people to Himself.  If we lift Christ up in a positive way, He will draw all people to God!

5) The world can be changed for the positive; our country can be changed for the positive!

 

6) As a side affect of that, our church will grow because people will want to be a part of a church that gives them hope!

 

Conclusion:

A.   We, like Jonah, are a part of what God is doing to

     bring the people we know to God! Do we get it?

 

B.   Will we be God's messengers, taking God's message of

     Compassion, mercy, and love to others?  Will we take

it faithfully?

 

C.   Or will we, also like Jonah, run from it.

 

D.   We are “the preparation or the plan.”  There is no

other plan!  Will you respond by letting God work

through you?  We can as we encounter Christ at the

table today; then, go into the mission field and make

a positive difference through Christ!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

Sunday, November 10, 2024

A Time to Remember!

 

Veteran’s Day Sunday!

 Introduction:

     A.   Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day.

 

     B.   Veteran’s Day reminds us of the importance of                   "Remembering and honoring."

          1.   We all have many memories.

          2.   Some aren't so pleasant; they bring tears to our                 eyes.

3.   Others are precious; we wouldn't trade them for any sum of money.

 

     C.   Memory is a precious gift!

          1.   We not only store up many good things from the

past, but it helps us get through the present as well!

          2.   We wouldn't know that when we are thirsty we can                 quench our thirst from a cool water fountain!  We                wouldn't know what that thing hanging on the wall                was.

          3.   We wouldn't know a red traffic light means stop!

          4.   We wouldn't know a mailbox is a place to mail a                  letter or pick up the mail!

          5.   Each time we stumbled onto these realizations, we                wouldn't know the next time what we had learned                  before but would have to stumble onto them again!

6.   Memory is precious, and we take it so for granted!

 

     D.   Even though memory is precious, we do forget!

1.   That is why we need things to help us to remember.

          2.   That is what Veteran’s Day is!

          3.   It is a day set aside to remember and honor all

              those who are serving or have served our country!

          4.   But it can and should also be a day to remember

all that God has done for us.

          5.   The person or nation who forgets God is as

Foolish and trouble-bound as the person who

forgets that a red light means to "stop!"

     Trans.

          As we remember our Veteran’s, I would like to share

four truths about God that we should also remember!

 

                            Prayer

                       I Chr. 29:11 - 13

 

I.   Remember the Greatness and the Glory of God!

     A.   As David remembered the greatness of God in our text,

we as a nation need to remember the Greatness of God.

 

     B.   America has only been blessed and been great because

God has allowed it to be that way.

          1.   America started as a nation that loved and feared                God!

          2.   Not only the common people, but many of the

              lawmakers as well!

 

     C.   Before our country once again realizes the Greatness

          and the Glory of God, we must do it as individuals;

          individuals make up a country!

 

          "in Him was life, and the life was the light of all              people."  John 1:4 NRSV

 

          1.   Jesus was the light of all people!  He showed us

              how to live!  We will not be disappointed with

              Jesus' character (God's character revealed

through Jesus. (vs. 1) because Jesus' character is perfect.

          2.   We may have too little patience or too much

temper, but Christ was in perfect balance!

          3.   Christ is great!

              a.   Once we realize this, we will want to give

Him the proper place in our hearts.

 

                   "but in your hearts sanctify [or set apart]

                   Christ as Lord."  I Peter 3:15a NRSV

 

              b.   When we give Christ a special place in our                      hearts, He will affect and influence our

entire lives!

 

II.  Remember the Rights of God!

     A.   We all think about our rights.

 

     B.   We need to remember that God has rights too!

          1.   God has the right and is worthy to be praised and                served!

 

              "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive

 glory and honor and power, for you created all

 things, and by your will they existed and were

 created."

                                                Rev. 4:11 NRSV

 

          2.   As a matter of fact, the scriptures tell us that

              all people will one day bow their knees to God

              (Rom. 14:11 & Phil. 2:10), but for some, it will

              be too late for salvation!!!

 

III. Remember the Judgement of God!

     A.   Does God really punish sin?  Yes, God Does!

          1.   God cannot stand to be in the presence of sin,

              and judgement will come to those without God!

          2.   Think of the Judgement of the Flood!  Whether you                believe this to be a historical account or a

              parable about sin and God's action toward sin,

              the lessons are the same!  It is a story about

              judgement.

              a.   God waited in patience while the Ark was

                   being built!  God waits today while people

                   decide what to do with God's message that is

                   going out!

              b.   When the time came, God shut the door and   

                    nobody could open it!  Judgement was pronounced. 

c.   Each person made their own decisions about what they would do with the message of destruction that Noah proclaimed. 

                   1)   When the door was shut, opportunities

were past, and the world was destroyed except for those who obeyed God and took shelter in the Ark.

                   2)   Today, Jesus is our Ark.

          3.   Think of the Judgement of Christ!

              a.   God so hates sin that he poured out his

                   wrath and Judgement upon Christ!

              b.   In our place, for our sins!

 

"But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us."

                                      Rom. 5:8 NRSV

 

     B.   Remember the Judgement of God!

         

     "And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once,

     and after that the judgement,"   Heb. 9:27  NRSV

 

          "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one

          seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb;

          for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is

          able to stand?"                   Rev. 6:16b-17  NRSV

 

          There is still coming a day when God will once again

          pronounce judgement upon the earth, and the door of   

          opportunity will once again be shut. 

                        Read II Peter 3:9-12

 

 

IV.  Remember the Love and Grace of God!

     A.   God cannot stand sin, but God reaches down in pure

          Love and Grace!  We are people of Grace!

 

          "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor

          rewarded us according to our iniquities." 

Psalm 103:10 KJV

 

          "For God so loved the world that he gave his only                begotten Son so that whosoever believeth on him should           not perish but have everlasting life."  John 3:16 KJV

 

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as     snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  Isa. 1:18 KJV

 

B.   The good news of the Gospel is that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ!

          1.   God took our judgement on the Cross!

          2.   God suffered and died!

          3.   God rose again!

          4.   That we might have forgiveness and be put back in                relationship with God!

5.   That we could have a second chance after messing our lives up with sin!

          6.   That we can have a life of purpose and meaning!

 

     C.   God is a God of Judgement, but God took our Judgement

in Jesus Christ!  What will we do with that gift?

 

Conclusion:

     A.   Have we accepted what God has done for us?

          1.   Have we accepted Christ as our personal Savior?

2.   Have we accepted Christ's death as payment for our sins personally?  That is the offer that God has presented to us.

 

B.   If you haven't, you can do that this morning as we encounter Christ at the table!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion