A Fire within My Bones!

 6^th Sunday of Easter!

Intro:

 

A.        If we "want" a new car or new carpets, we will usually tell someone!

 

B.        If we "get" a new car or new carpets (something good happens to us), we  

            will definitely tell someone!

 

C.        This is just natural, and there's nothing wrong with it!

 

Trans.

Shouldn't this be the way we are about Christ?  Our scripture today has a   

unique way of describing this; let's look at it today and consider our

eagerness to share Christ!

 

Prayer

Jeremiah 19:1 - 20:9

 

I.          First, a little background.

 

A.        Around a hundred years after Israel was destroyed by Assyria, Jeremiah

            became a prophet of Judah.

 

B.        He was a prophet during a very hard time. 

 

1.                  It was during the fall and destruction of Judah.

 

2.         He was prophet during the first deportation of people to Babylon in                                    597 B.C.

 

C.        Jeremiah is sometimes called the "Weeping Prophet," but when we

            understand the circumstances under which he served, we can see that he

            was a very brave and courageous man.

 

1.                  Many would have turned away under such stress.

 

2.         Not Jeremiah!  He stood a true messenger of God!

 

D.        Many times, his messages were not very pleasant and warned of

            destruction  if the people didn't turn back to God! 

 

1.         Of the Deportation, he said, "This is God's judgment, and it will

            last 70 years.  Be prepared to stay awhile!"

2.         Not a popular message!

 

E.         Such was the case in our scripture today.

 

II.        A look at our scripture!

 

A.        The Lord tells Jeremiah to go buy an Earthenware Jug.

 

1.                  Tell them the Lord of Hosts says, God will bring such disaster on

this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle!

 

2.                  Because you have profaned this place by worshiping other gods, this place will be called the valley of slaughter.

 

            3.         Judah will fall by the sword! 

                        a.         There bodies will be food for the birds!

                        b.         People will walk by and hiss at the city!

 

            4.         Then break the Earthenware Jug and tell them this is what God will do to this people so that they can never be mended!

 

B.        The priest didn't like Jeremiah's prophecy of destruction, so he had

            Jeremiah beaten and thrown into the dungeon.

 

C.        Jeremiah cries out to God:

 

1.                  "Lord, I did what you said!"

 

2.                  "Look at me now!"

 

3.                  "You have deceived me!"

 

4.         "I will not speak in your name anymore!"

 

D.        But Jeremiah couldn't do it.

 

1.                  He said, "His word was like a fire in my bones."

 

2.         He had to tell it!

 

III.       What about us today?

 

A.        If we got what we deserve, we would all never be with God, but instead,

we would spend life out of relationship with God and eternity separated from God and all that is good!

 

            B.        Because of God's grace extended to us through Christ, we can be forgiven

            of our sins and have a life of purpose and in relationship with God and an

            eternity with God and all that is good! 

 

1.                  It's getting a new lease on life!

 

2.         That's better than winning a million bucks!  It is better than winning the Lottery!

 

C.        This should burn within our bones!

 

1.                  We should be wanting to tell it, share it, & live it!

 

2.                  Jeremiah felt he had to tell God’s message even under persecution!

 

3.                  How about us?  Would we? We have the message of God about

                                    Jesus Christ!

 

a.                   The persecution that we might have is more than likely not like that of Jeremiah!

 

1)                  We are more likely to be laughed at!

 

2)                  We might be excluded from the group!

 

                        3)         Someone might not want to be our friend!

 

            b.         The news we have to tell is good news, unlike that of Jeremiah!

 

D.        We need to be filled up with the Love of Jesus Christ and compassion for

            other people!  The world so needs to hear about the Love of God!

 

1.         We can be if we will yield ourselves to Christ in a desire to be

            More like him!!  Christ will fill us with the love of God!

 

2.                  We need to be serious about Christ.

 

a.         We need to take Christ with us everywhere we go, all the

            time: home, work, school, and play !

 

b.         We need to constantly yield to Christ, letting Christ make

            us better people!

 

c.         If Christ is really life and death to us, if Christ is really a

            fire within our bones, we will!

d.         If Christ is only a so-so part of our lives, if we really don't  

            know if it makes any difference to be a Christian, we

            probably won't tell it!  That is what it comes down to.

 

Conclusion:

 

A.        Do we really feel the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives?

 

B.        Is Christianity life and death to us or just something to do?

 

C.        Are we in contact with Christ daily?

 

D.        Have we tried to tell anyone about Christ lately?

 

E.         Is Christ's word "A fire within our bones?"

 

F.         As we encounter Christ at the table, come to Christ this morning!  Receive God's grace!  Receive something that you will want to tell!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

Love Them In!

       5th Sunday of Easter!                   

Introduction: Forsyth has seen her attendance go up and down over the years.  It seems she can=t seem to break over the hump.  We had a good Sunday last week for Mother’s Day!  We have had several new people attending lately! How can we continue to get people in? How can we get people to come back?  How can Forsyth grow?  What is the key?  That's what I want to look at today!  I've entitled the message "Love Them In!"

 

                            Prayer

 

                           I Cor. 13

 

I.   In order to see how we can bring people in let's look at    some ways we won't bring them in!

 

A.   We won't bring them in by sounding "religious"!

(v.1)  We will just make a religious noise!

 

          1.   The world is sick today of people who "have a

              Form of Godliness but deny the power thereof!"

              (II Tim. 3:5)  We must have the walk with the

              talk!

 

          2.   There are a lot of people who talk and claim to

              be religious.  They will tell you about it!  They

              will put signs up about it!  They will try to

              talk you into conforming to what they think or

              even force you to live according to their

              understanding of how you should live! There are a

              lot of people making a religious noise!

 

          3.   We have to talk in a language people can  understand!

 

B.   We won't bring them in by our much knowledge; through argumentation! v.2

 

ex.

Someone says, "I can study and learn about God better at home than at church with those                              Hypocrites!"

 

We might respond with,   "The Bible says not to Forsake the assembling of ourselves together!"

 

They say, "I assemble with my family and the Bible

says where 2 or 3 gather together there am I

in the midst of them!"

 

This is a person who has been hurt deeply and we won't reach them through arguing scripture! They know the

scriptures, but they have been hurt by people making a lot of religious noise!

 

C.   We won't bring them in with a self-righteous attitude!  v.4  We are all sinners saved by grace!

 

     1.   If they sense that we are judging them to make

them like ourselves, they will be turned off!

 

          2.   If they sense that we feel that we have all the

answers, we won’ bring them in!

 

          3.   If they sense that we feel that we have arrived,

we won’t bring them in!

 

II.  But we can bring them in by "Loving them in!"

 

A.   Love is patient!  v.4

 

Def. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Patience =     the capacity to be wronged and not  retaliate!

 

Patience helps us be willing to give a second chance!

 

B.   Love is kind!  v.4  Kindness instead of retaliation! Goodness!

 

1.   Helping other people!

 

2.   Taking food at times of death, a call, a card!

 

1.      Working in service projects of the church! Ex.

Thrift Store etc!

 

4.      Hospitality!

 

C.   Love is not puffed up, boastful, or arrogant!  v.4

But instead realizes we are all sinners saved by

grace! That brings an understanding spirit!

 

1.   It realizes that we haven’t arrived!  We are all

on a journey to become God’s perfect ideal for

our lives!

 

          2.   It realizes we aren’t in any position to judge!

 

D.   Love does not seek its own way!  v.5

But instead seeks the Lords will!  Wants God's best

for people!

 

E.   Love isn’t rude, irritable, or resentful!  v.5

 

1.   It isn’t resentful when others are blessed!

 

2.   It isn’t rude or resentful when others lash out!

 

3.   But gives people the benefit of the doubt!

 

4.   It isn’t always ready to judge!

 

F.   Doesn't rejoice over the sin and hurt of other people!  v.6  But hurts when they hurt and cries when they cry!

 

G.   Love rejoices in the truth!  v.6

Rejoices when someone finds God's truth!

 

H.   Endures all things!  v.7

 

Def. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

perseverance (NIV) =     "remains steadfast in the face of unpleasant circumstances."

 

Someone others can count on!

 

     I.   Love believes all things and hopes all things! V. 7

 

          1.   When the world crashes in, love helps us to keep

believing that God makes a difference and we are

willing to convey that to others!

 

          2.   Love helps us to always have hope that in God

things can be better!

 

          3.   People are drawn to people who have hope!

 

 

Recap:  We can "Love them in" because love is:

 

1.   patient

2.   kind

3.   not puffed up or arrogant

4.   seeks not its own

5.   not always ready to judge

6.   doesn't rejoice over sin and hurt

7.   rejoices in the truth

8.   perseveres

9.   retains belief and hope

 

III. "Love never fails!"  v.8

We can "Love Them In."

 

     A.   Love never fails! Vs. 8

         

          1.   One day this tongue will cease to prophecy and to

preach!

 

          2.   One day the things I have collected and cherish

will deteriorate or be sold at a used store or

flea market!  You can’t take it with you!

 

          3.   One day this body will fail!

 

          4.   But those who I have influenced by loving in

God’s name will be eternal.

a.   They will continue the ministry after me!

b.   They will love as I have showed them to

love!

              c.   I will get to take that with me in that I

will see them again!

              d.   Love doesn’t fail!  Love matters!

 

Read:  I John 4: 7-13

 

     B.   This Spirit of God, this Spirit of Love is what is going to help us to draw people to Christ! It is what

          is going to help us to grow!

 

          1.   Love each other!

 

          2.   Love your neighbors and friends!

 

          3.   Love those who are different than you!

 

          4.   Love those on the outside that have yet to come into the church!

    

     C.   People are looking for relationships.

 

          1.   Make sure they find them here.

 

          2.   Look for those who are standing around and don=t

              seem to be connected.

 

          3.   Offer them Love and Forsyth UMC will grow like

              you won=t believe.

 

2.      The fields are white unto the harvest! (John 4:35)

 

Conclusion:    Do you have this spirit of God; the spirit of Love?  Or do you need to recieve this Spirit of  God as we encounter Christ at the table  this morning?

 

Remember: God (Christ) loved us and as Christians  we are to reach out to the world with  this same Love!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

 

What About the Family?

                                                   Mother's Day!

                             Prayer

                           Psalm 127

Introduction:

     A.   It is Mother’s Day!

 

     B.   I think it is appropriate to talk about families today!

 

I.   A look at families.

 

A.   In slower days, family ties were stronger.

 

1.   The family used to work together on a farm or

     Family business.

 

2.   The family used to enjoy leisure time together.

 

3.   Family was important; so much so, it was a

     disgrace in Ancient days to die with no children!

 

B.   Look at what the Psalmist says:

 

1.   Read vs. 3-5; Children were a special blessing

     from God.  The more the merrier!

 

a.   Of course, we realize that they didn't have many of the expenses that we have today.

 

b.   When children got too sick, it didn't necessarily mean a big doctor bill, but it  might mean death.

 

c.   When children got old enough, they helped with the family business, so they were an  asset, not just an expense.

 

2.   So there just weren't many disadvantages to having lots of children!

 

C.   I'm not about to propose that everything should go back to the way it used to be; a lot of things are better than they used to be!

    

D.   But look at our families today; much of life today makes it hard on families!

 

II.  What can we as the church do?

 

A.   Get on our knees!

 

1.   Pray about our part in it.

 

2.   Are we adequately doing our part in stressing the  importance of the family?

 

3.   Or are we along with the rest of the world stressing everything else and not giving people  what they need to build strong families?

 

B.   We need to re-evaluate our ministries!

 

1.   Are we teaching to meet the needs of families?

 

2.   Are we stressing and teaching to live in

committed, monogamous relationships?

 

a)   Sex is a part of God's plan.

 

b)   It is a sacred matter!

 

1)   It is to be shared by two people in a

committed relationship!

 

                   2)   There is a bonding element to sex.  It is meant to draw us closer together in a committed relationship!

    

3)   We should be teaching that!

 

 

          3.   Are we stressing to make time for families and make that a priority or do we as a church add to the problem of just being too busy for family?

 

4.   We must re-evaluate our ministries; our families  depend on it!

 

III. What can we as individuals do?

 

A.   We too can pray and ask God for guidance!

 

B.   We can regain a little common respect for each other!

 

1.   Parents, we teach respect by being respectful.

 

a.   be respectful to our kids.

 

b.   be respectful to our spouses.

 

2.   We need to be willing as parents to admit to our

     kids when we've made a mistake by saying, "I'm  sorry!"

 

3.   We need to be careful to not push our children and tease them until they become angry!

 

Eph. 6:4  "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the

          training and instruction of the Lord."

                                      NIV

C.   We need to learn to communicate!

 

1.   We need to sit down, talk, and work things out!

Communication is key in a relationship!

 

2.   Parents, we need to work together raising our

     kids, communicating so that we are together on

     discipline.

 

D.   As families, we need to make time for each other.

 

1.   If we are too busy for each other, we are too

     busy!

 

2.   In our fast paced society, sometimes families go

     all day and not see each other!

 

3.   When I was in a construction business with my

     dad, we built an addition for some people.

 

a.   They were good Christian people!

 

1.   They went to church regularly.

 

2.   They took an active part and were very  concerned with moral issues!

 

b.   The parents taught at school, so with the exception of extra-curricular activities, they got off of work at the same time the kids got off from school.

 

c.   But they came and went after school never seeing each other; they didn't even eat  together!

 

d.   The housekeeper knew more about what was going on with the kids than the parents did!

e.   This happens all over our land!

 

4.   In our fast-paced society, we need to make time for each other!

 

     5.   As Grandparents:

 

          a.   We need to be encouragers and advocates for the family!

 

              b.   We need to pray for our kids!

 

              c.   We need to help where we can!

 

              d.   But we also need to know when it is time to back off and trust that we have done our part.  We have brought them up in the way of the Lord.

 

              e.   Our job becomes more of an advisor than the parent that demands what they must do! We can suggest but no longer tell or demand!

 

              f.   We have to give our families to God!

 

 

E.   Lastly but not least, we need to make sure we offer our kids a belief in Jesus Christ!

Eph. 6:4b "bring them up in the training and

          instruction of the Lord." NIV

 

          1.   If they are grown, offer them Christ!

 

          2.   Encourage them to go to church!

 

 

          3.   Tell them the difference God has made for you, but don’t come across so strong that you push them away!

 

Conclusion:

A.   If we will do these things, we can still have strong  families!

 

1.   If our kids are still home it isn't too late; we

     can still make a difference!

 

2.   If we have a single parent home, we can still

     make a difference!

 

3.   If our family is a blended family, we can still

     make a difference!

 

4.   If our family is a non-traditional family of some sort, we can still make a difference!

 

5.   If our kids are already grown and we have

     grandkids, we can still make a difference!

 

B.   Let's determine and commit with God's help to do what we can in our Church and in our homes to preserve our families as we encounter Christ at the table this morning!

 

C.   Now, if you have a mother who has valued family, go  out and make sure to thank God for her, and if she is  still living, let her know you appreciate her!

 

                              

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion