Colossians 3:12-17

Do I Have To Put Up With You?

Colossians 3:12-17

June 128, 2009

Part 3 of summer 2009 series on God’s answers to our questions

We are looking at some of the things this summer that we find to be problems or that we have questions about in our everyday lives –– and how we can find God’s answers to these problems and questions.

Life is filled with things that bother us and that are problems for us – things we might wish we had answers for.  These things can range from how to deal with the economy and the way if affects our daily living to how to be a Christian parent to how to deal with “difficult people” to how to deal with emotions such as anger.

I believe that the Bible is our guide to living life in God’s ways – and contains God’s answers to our questions in life.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that:

^“16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This summer we’re going to look at some of the issues and questions we may face in our lives – and how God would have us deal with them.

Today we are going to look at an issue we all have to face from time to time – how to deal with folks that are “difficult” – folks that just seem to rub us the wrong way – folks we wish we could avoid – but can’t.

How do we deal with difficult people?

How do we deal with those people who rub us the wrong way?

We might wish we didn’t have to put up them – but we do – and we need to look at God’s word to see how to do it.

Listen to what Paul wrote in Colossians 3:12-17:

Read Scripture

You know — much of living the Christian life comes down to how well we get along with other people. Scripture makes it plain that God places tremendous value on unity. Paul stressed unity repeatedly through out his letters. In Psalms it says:                                                                                                                         How good it is when brothers live together in unity. (Psalm 133:1) The next verse doesn’t say: “How rare it is when people live together in unity”—but it could. The ability to get along with others requires a great deal of effort. Our natural tendency is not to get along – and to try to avoid those we can’t get along with.

The old adage that:

“I was taught that if I can’t say something nice to someone don’t say anything – so since I can’t say anything nice to that person I’ll just avoid them”

is ok – but truly not the Christian way to deal with folks we find difficult to deal with.

You might remember when Jimmy Johnson took over as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys had been on a downward spiral, but within a few years he rebuilt the organization and guided them to the Super Bowl — and they won. The next year they did it again. After winning his second Super Bowl, what did owner Jerry Jones do? Give Jimmy Johnson a raise? No, he fired him! Together they had rebuilt the Cowboy dynasty and had accomplished the seemingly impossible, but they couldn’t get along. Winning wasn’t compensation enough, and Texas just wasn’t big enough for both men’s massive egos, so they parted company. This serves to remind us that even when things are going well, it’s hard to maintain unity – and deal with folks you find it hard to get along with.

As you go through life you’re going to find some people simply rub you the wrong way. Some people are just going to be difficult for you to deal with. Maybe they have done something to hurt you – or maybe they continually do things that hurt you – or maybe they don’t do anything specific — but there’s something about them that gets under your skin.

Do me a favor — raise your hand if you have never had a person who rubbed you the wrong way.

I don’t see any hands raised.

Mine is not either.

Yea – we all have had times when people rub us that wrong way – and have all had to deal with “difficult people”.

We’ve all had people we wanted to look at and say:

“Do I have to put up with you?”

And – believe it or not – -  there will be times when you find that you – even likeable and friendly and jolly you — rub someone else the wrong way – or that you – yes even you – might be a difficult person for someone else!

Since we all know that we have – and will continue to have – difficult people in our lives – and yes we are even going to be difficult people for others – we need to look at how God ways us to get along with difficult people – how to put up with folks we would rather not have to put up with.  And – if you’re on the receiving end of someone’s cold shoulder, these principles will help you defuse difficult situations. God wants us to live together in unity – and in Colossians 3:12-17 shows us how to put up with difficult folks.

First of all, Paul writes that we must be willing to…

1. Take the high road.

Paul writes:

(v. 12) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…

Paul is reminding us of who we are.  We are God’s people, dearly loved by Him, and expected to live holy lives.

This is our identity – it is who we are!

This should determine how we act.

When we relate to other people, we should say to ourselves, “I don’t know where this person is spiritually, but I know where I’m supposed to be in my spiritual life, and my attitudes and actions are going to reflect that.”

If others want to stir up trouble at work, or cause friction in your family life, or create chaos within the church, that’s their choice. You don’t have to try to get even; you can take the high road to solving the conflict.

Some time ago rock music legends Keith Richards – guitarist for the Rolling Stones — and Elton John made the news with public insults of one another. Keith said that Elton John is a “Vegas act” and that his career now consists of “writing songs for dead blondes.” (You might remember that Elton John wrote memorial a songs for Marilyn Monroe and that he rewrote it at the death of Princess Diana.) Elton responded to Keith’s remarks by saying, “He’s so pathetic. It’s like a monkey with arthritis trying to go on stage and look young.” What surprises me most about this interchange is that both men participated. Both are extremely famous, extremely successful (by rock music standards), extremely rich, and extremely busy. Yet they each found time to prepare and publicly deliver cheap-shots directed at the other. The result was that they both wound up looking petty and vindictive.

On the other hand, do you remember several years ago when Tiger Woods first won the Master’s Golf Tournament? Afterward Fuzzy Zoeller made a racist comment that – without much effort -– could have been blown into a major controversy.  It would have been bad enough if he had said it in the clubhouse around his friends, but he said it on national TV. A lot of people were upset and Fuzzy himself became the target of some rather vicious talk. Do you remember how Tiger reacted? He simply said, “I know he is a jokester; I have concluded that no personal animosity toward me was intended — we all make mistakes and it is time to move on.” Tiger could have said so much more. He could have gotten even. Instead, he took the high road.

Taking the high road is a lot easier to do when you remember that you’re not perfect either. You’ve made some mistakes. You’ve gotten your hands dirty a few times. You know what it’s like to need forgiveness. That’s why Paul said,

(v. 14) Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

A friend who is a marriage counselor told me about a couple he was who were having problems in their marriage. The husband was fed up with his wife  and ready to leave — and he had many well-documented  reasons for wanting to go. As a last-ditch effort, she persuaded him to try one counseling session. During the session the husband gave the counselor a list of reasons why he couldn’t go on in the marriage. After a few minutes of this, the counselor said to him, “So, what is your contribution to the problems in this marriage?” The husband looked at the counselor and said, “My contribution?” “Right” the counselor said. “What have you done to make things more difficult for her?” After some thought the husband said, “Well, I’m not very patient.”  The counselor said, “Ok. What else?” The husband stared at the counselor, then finally said, “I have a hair-trigger temper and I yell sometimes.” The counselor pressed him for more. The wife spoke up and said: “Well, he doesn’t always do what he says he’s going to do.” The counselor stopped her and told her that this was the husband’s chance to think about what he had sone in the marriage. “Well, she’s right. I’m always promising to take her out on the weekend and I never do.” the husband added. . They went through this lost for several minutes until they had accumulated quite a list of things the husband had done.  The counselor finally reviewed the list and said to the husband “And you’re talking about leaving her? I can’t believe she hasn’t left you!” Suddenly, a new element had been added to the mix: humility. The husband realized he had been making his wife as miserable as she had been making him. He went from seeing himself as the victim to seeing himself, to a certain extent, as the perpetrator. From that day on their marriage was different. They began seeing the marriage counselor every week and were able to work out their differences. Their marriage was saved when they each began to take the high road, and forgive one another as Christ had forgiven each of them.

That’s what it means to take the high road.

Show others the same mercy you have been shown by Christ.

Does this mean we sweep conflict under the rug and never deal with it? No, of course not. But it means that we don’t resort to name – calling and hostility with those who don’t agree with us.

You are one of God’s people; let your actions show it.

When dealing with difficult people – people you would rather not have to deal with – when having to put up with folks you would rather not have to put up with –  take the high road and don’t contribute to the problem.

Secondly, remember…

2. Your actions are more important than your feelings.

Have you ever been ready to go to work in the morning,  opened the front door, and been hit by a blast of winter air and realized you won’t make it to work without freezing? What do you do? You probably go back inside the house and grab a sweater or a coat. Your skin is too sensitive for the cold, so you clothe yourself accordingly.

Paul wrote that we’re to do the same thing in our personal relationships. He wrote:

(v. 12) Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

He used the phrase “clothe yourselves” because sometimes you have to cover your feelings by “putting on” the right behavior. Your feelings may be sending you in one direction emotionally, but you can clothe yourself with attitudes and behavior that move you in the right direction.

Over the years we’ve been lied to about our feelings. We’ve been told if we feel something it must be real. We’ve been told that if we have feelings we should express them to others; we need to get our feelings out in the open so we can deal with them. Let me tell you something. Spitting out a bunch of hostile, angry, mean, resentful words at someone is not going to help. It is not going to make you a better person, it is not going to make them a better person, and it won’t improve your relationship. Just because you feel something doesn’t mean you have to say it. And you don’t have to let your feelings control your actions.

Paul wrote:

“Put on compassion…put on kindness…put on gentleness.”

You may not feel these things, but you can “put them on”—at least temporarily. Some people say, “That seems hypocritical,” but it’s not. If you feel dislike for another person, and you show them kindness, you’re not being hypocritical, you’re being holy!

The Bible never tells us that we will be judged according to our feelings. It says again and again we are judged according to our actions. You can’t always control the way you feel, but you can control the way you act. So – act in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Does this mean you sweep conflict with others under the rug? No, of course not. It means that when you deal with conflict you put your feelings aside and you put a layer of holiness between you and the other person.

I read not long ago that you may not be able to change things that happen or occur in your life or some of the people who may be difficult for you to deal with and put up with – but you can change how you react to them or respond to them. React and respond with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

When dealing with difficult people – people you would rather not have to deal with – when having to put up with folks you would rather not have to put up with –  take the high road and don’t contribute to the problem – and react in ways that show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Thirdly, remember to. ..

3. Include Christ in every conversation.

You probably remember the bracelets with the letters “WWJD”. Hundreds of thousands of young people and some not so young across the country wore them, them a few years ago.  They served as a powerful reminders to do what Jesus would do.

WWJD stood  for “What would Jesus do?”

It’s a good question to ask yourself in any situation.

Another good question to ask yourself is “What would Jesus say?”

If you’re having a conversation with someone and angry words are about to be exchanged, ask yourself, “What would Jesus say right now?” If you’re talking to friends and an outsider becomes the topic of conversation, ask yourself, “What would Jesus say about this person?” You may not always know what Jesus would say, but you’ll almost always know for certain what he wouldn’t say!

We need to make sure our conversation is filled with words that lift people up, instead of tearing them down. Paul wrote:

(v. 16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.

He is saying, “Include Christ in every conversation.”

Ask yourself, “What would Jesus say?”

Does this mean all of our conversations become nothing but fluff and we sweep all conflict under the rug? No, of course not. It means that when we have conflict, we discuss it with no one but the person involved. Otherwise, we keep quiet.

When dealing with difficult people – people you would rather not have to deal with – when having to put up with folks you would rather not have to put up with –  take the high road and don’t contribute to the problem – react in ways that show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience – and keep Christ in every conversation.

There’s a fourth principle that will help you in dealing with difficult people – people you would rather not deal with.

4.                  Pursue personal peace.

The key to developing peace in our relationships with others is to develop peace within ourselves first. I’ve never met a happy critic. I’ve never met a gossip who is full of the joy of the Lord.

It comes down to this: people who constantly stir up tension in relationships do it because they have no peace within themselves; and people who have peace have no desire to stir things up.

Paul said:

(v.15) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

If you have not personally experienced the peace of God which passes all understanding, then it’s no wonder that your relationships are rocky. You can’t give to someone else what you don’t have.

The Bible promises that we can experience the overwhelming presence of God’s peace:

You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you. (Isaiah 26:3 NCV)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you…(John 14:1)

…and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Paul also reminds us that peace is the fruit of—the result of being filled with—the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)

If people are constantly rubbing you the wrong way – or if there are a lot of folks you would rather not have to deal with — there is a chance that they are not the problem! If other people frequently disappoint you — if your employees do more things wrong than they do right — if your children get on your nerves all the time — if you find that you notice when other people don’t do their job — if your spouse just doesn’t live up to your expectations – well maybe, just maybe, the source of the problem can be traced to the fact that you aren’t experiencing the peace of God in your life.

I guarantee that once you experience God’s peace, you will lose all interest in conflict, you will lose any desire to be judgmental, you will lose the tendency to be “on edge.”

Getting along with others – dealing with difficult people – dealing with folks you may not really want to deal with — may not always be easy, but it’s possible. It happens when you make an effort for it to happen. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, and people will less likely rub you the wrong way – or be the kind of person you don’t want to deal with.

Of course, there will always be people who rub you the wrong way — people you would rather not deal with – people you would rather not put up with. When you have to deal with them – or put up with them — take the high road — remember that your actions are more important than your feelings and you can choose how to react to them — include Christ in every conversation…and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

Remembering these 4 tips can help you deal with difficult people – and put up with folks you don’t want to put up with. Amen.

Psalm 128

Psalm 128

June 21, 2009

Father’s Day

Being A Christian Man Is Not For Sissies

We are looking at some of the things that we find to be problems or that we have questions about in our everyday lives this summer –– and we’re looking at how we can find God’s answers to these problems and questions.

Life is filled with things that bother us and that are problems for us – things we might wish we had answers for.  These things can range from how to deal with the economy and the way if affects our daily living to how to be a Christian parent to how to deal with “difficult people” to how to deal with emotions such as anger.

The Bible is our guide to living life in God’s ways – and contains God’s answers to our questions in life.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that:

^“16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This summer we’re looking at some of the issues and questions we may face in our lives – and how God would have us deal with them. We’re not looking for answers to our questions so we’ll be “nice people” – but so we can learn how to be god’s people in the world – and relate to others in God’s ways.

Today is Father’s Day – and I thought we’d look at a question that many of us – or at least us Christian men – might struggle with – that being how to be a Christian man – how to be a man – a man of strength and courage – but still filled with God’s Spirit and living the life God wants us to live.

I believe there are ways we can be Christians and be men – ways we can be Christian men — but I’m going to have to give you a warning from the start – it’s not for sissies.

Being a Christian man is hard – it takes commitment and courage.

Being a Christian man means you stand up for what you believe.

Being a Christian man is definitely not for sissies.

When I was growing up in the mid to late 1950’s and early 1960’s some  of the most visible fathers in our country were Ozzie Nelson — the easy-going dad on the  TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet – Ward Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver – Danny Williams on Make Room For Daddy – Steve Douglas on My 3 Sons – Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show — and Rob Petry on The Dick Van Dyke Show.  These men – these fathers — were able to take care of their families and solve all the problems in 30 minutes – and Ozzy would even have time for “a little song from Ricky” before the show as over. They were the perfect fathers with the perfect families.  Of course, there was also Ben Cartwright on Bonanza who might have to raise a fist or a gun at times – but it was usually Ben and the boys against the bad guys.

The image portrayed of what it took to be a father – to be a man — made fatherhood – and even manhood – seem so easy!  Just get up in the morning – put on your coat and tie – go to work – come home at 5 – maybe play ball with the kids – eat supper – listen to what the kids had been up to that day – solve a problem or 2 – read the paper – and go to bed.

Nothing to it!

Well – things have certainly changed, haven’t they?

“Ozzy” is no longer a Nelson – but Ozzy Osbourne! To say that Ozzy Osbourne is different from Ozzy Nelson is like saying the Sahara Desert is different from the Atlantic Ocean – the 2 Ozzy’s are so different they barely  fit in the same category! There’s an enormous difference between the two Ozzy’s. True – both have something to do with the music industry – but the similarities end there!

Ozzy Nelson was always in control and never had to raise his voice. Most of the time Ozzy Osbourne seems oblivious to what is going on around him — usually just stumbling through the house with a dazed and confused look on his face.

Tasks for Ozzy Nelson were never hard – but even simplest tasks — such as taking out the trash – seem to leave Ozzy Osbourne bewildered.

Ozzy Nelson always knew the right thing to say – but Ozzy Osbourne often loses his train of though mid-sentence – and when he is able to complete a sentence usually about half of it is bleeped out!

Ozzy Nelson never drank too much – but even though I understand that Ozzy Osboourne — the former “Prince of Darkness” and rock legend from the band “Black Sabbath” — is clean and sober these days and hasn’t used drugs or alcohol in years,  they have clearly taken their toll on his short-term memory.

I guess the best thing that can be said about Ozzy Osbourne is that he stays through all the craziness. Through all the craziness of his out-of-control, rock-and-roll lifestyle, he remained committed to his family.

Now — let me make this clear:

Don’t—and I mean don’t — take this as an endorsement of Ozzy Osbourne – he is light years away from being an ideal father — but I’ll say this for him: He spends more time with his children than many people spend with theirs!

So – we have 2 images of fatherhood and manhood – 2 ends of the spectrum of what it means to be a man – what it means t be a father.

But — the good news is that we don’t have to follow either Ozzy—Nelson or Osbourne—as our role models in what it means to be a Christian father – or a Christian man.

The Bible tells us what we need to do in order to be a good father a Christian father – and a good man – a Christian man.

Today we’re going to look at some things the Bible teaches us about how to be a more effective Christian man – a more effective Christian father.

But – let me warn you – it’s not easy.

It’s hard.

It means being willing to stand up for what you believe when others may not believe what you do.

It means doing what you know is right even if others are doing wrong.

Being a Christian father – being a Christian man – is not for sissies!

There are three roles that every father – that every man – can play in the lives of young people.

First of all they need to…

1. 1. Strive to be a good example.

Actually, everyone is an example, whether they realize it or not.

Whether you use the role to the best of our ability or not, you are an example  to others – particularly young people. Others see what you do and they are prone to do likewise. So, you need to be aware that they are always watching you, and are, a lot of times, going to imitate you.

When I was growing up, people used to tell me:  “You are just like your father.” The older I get and the less hair and more chin I have the more truth there is to that statement! Here’s a truth — a fact of life — just by osmosis your children – and others — will pick up some of your characteristics and habits. You need to be aware of this and make an effort to strive to be a good example for them.

In the book of Acts there’s a story about Paul and Silas being thrown into jail.  During the night, an earthquake came the jail door opened — but they didn’t try to escape. The jailer was so impressed by this that he asked them, “What must I do to be saved?” and Paul said:

Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household. (Acts 16: 31)

Paul and Silas “shared the Word of the Lord” with the jailer and his household. The jailer put his faith in Jesus, and then he did some things that first-century jailers typically didn’t do for prisoners — he washed their wounds and brought them into his house and fed them. That same night he and his family were baptized. This jailer was saying to his family, “Starting today I will be a follower of Jesus, and it will make a difference in the way I treat others.” And he proved his commitment by living out his example in front of his family. And the result was that he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

He was striving to be a good example.

Joshua was also striving to be a good example when he declared before the people of Israel:

Choose today whom you will serve…As for me and my family, we will serve `the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

You see — your children are going to follow your example.  So are other children.  Strive to be a good example. If you keep in mind that you are being watched you’ll be far less likely to berate a waiter for messing up your order, you’ll be far less likely to speak harshly others, you’ll be far less likely to tell a “white” lie for convenience’s sake, you’ll be far less likely to bend the rules to save a few dollars.

You are an example — strive to be a good one. By this I mean:

Let God bring out the best in you so you can bring out the best in others.

That’s being an example. That’s being a Christian father.  That’s being a Christian man. Doing these things at times is not easy – controlling your temper is not an easy thing to do – staying calm when others are getting upset is not easy – doing the right thing when others are doing the wrong thing is not easy – telling the truth when it would be so easy to tell a lie is not easy – but all these things are part of what it means to be a Christian – and all these things are part of what it means to be a man.  All these things take courage – but are what it takes to be Christian men.  Being a Christian father – a Christian man — is not easy – it’s not for sissies – but it’s the kind of fathers – and the kind of men – that God is calling us t be.

So – you need to – first of all – strive to be a good example.

Secondly…

2. Strive to be a good teacher.

Have you ever known someone who was good at something, but wasn’t able to pass that skill on to others?  My Dad was an attorney – and in his firm was an attorney who was an excellent tax attorney.  He was quite skilled at keeping financial records straight and organized. However, his son’s finances were always a mess. He was frequently broke, frequently late with payments, and frequently overdrawn at the bank. His son once told me:

“As long as I can remember my dad told me I was terrible at managing money — that it burns a hole in my pocket — but he never showed me how to balance a check book, and he never showed me how to make out a budget.”

Isn’t that amazing? I guess the father thought these skills should come naturally to his son, but they didn’t, and his son has struggled with financial problems all of his life because of it.

A few minutes ago I mentioned that there are some things that your children and others might learn from you by “osmosis”– by simply observing you. But there are other things in life that they will learn only if you take the time to teach them. If they don’t learn things from you, they might not learn them at all.

If you want to be a Christian man – a Christian father – be a good example – and be a good teacher.

H. Jackson Brown has a son who was about to go to college – and decided to write out the things he thought his son needed to know before entering the “real world.” These notes he wrote for his son were eventually published in under the title Life’s Little Instruction Book and it sold millions of copies.

You know — King Solomon did the very same thing. His writings were published under the title “Proverbs.” It begins…

The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline…Listen, my son, to what your father teaches you. What you will learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor. (Proverbs 1:2,8-9)

We need to do for our children and for others what Solomon and H. Jackson Brown did for their children. We need to make the effort to teach them what they need to know in order to survive in the “real world.” Part of what it means to be a Christian father – a Christian man – is be a good teacher.

However, this is an area where all fathers – all men – in fact all people — need to take special care. It’s not enough to tell others what to do. You need to teach them. In other words, you need to communicate in a way that they will be able to understand and receive what you’re saying.

Instead of communicating effectively with others, particularly young people,  too often we have a tendency to give them long drawn out speeches full of phrases such as “buckle down” and “shape up or ship out” and the ever-popular “when I was your age.” When it comes to teaching, there’s a principle that we need to keep in mind: the more words you use, the less impact you have. It’s not enough to just be right in what you’re saying; our challenge is to teach them in such a way that it brings out the best in them – teach them in a way that inspires them to do right.                      Listen to what Solomon said…

The wise person makes learning a joy. (Proverbs 15:2)

To be the Christian father – the Christian man – God wants you to be – you need to teach others the ways of God – but teach them in ways they can learn them from you.

I heard someone say not long ago: “My father taught me to work, not to enjoy it.”

What in the world does that mean?

“My father taught me to work…” That part is good; it’s what every father should do. But I still don’t get the second part: “not to enjoy it.” What does that mean? Whatever it means, I don’t think it’s a good thing. It’s true that some dads can be so demanding that they take the joy of everything, whether it’s home work, or yard work, or playing baseball, but it’s nothing to brag about. In fact, if I had kids I would want to be able to say:

“My dad taught me to work, and he also taught me to love it”

I want young people to be able to say:

“I learned the value of hard work – and taking pride in your work – from him”.

Solomon said:

Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it. (Proverbs 22:6)

It is our job as Christian fathers – our jobs as Christian men – to teach our children and others to do what is right, and if we do our job well, they will enjoy learning to do what is right, and they will continue to do what is right.

We must take the time to teach them how to balance a checkbook or plan a budget, because they might not learn it anywhere else. We must take the time to teach them how to treat other people — because they might not learn it anywhere else. We must take the time to teach them how to go on a job interview, how to handle an emergency, how to have a morning devotional, how to pray, how to study the Bible, how to help a friend in need, how to overlook an offense, and on and on and on…because they might not learn it anywhere else.

That’s being a good teacher. That’s being a Christian father.  That’s being a Christian man. Doing these things at times is not easy – teaching others how to do things can be hard – it can be much easier to say:

“O well – they’ll learn it if they want to!”

But finding ways to teach the right things to others is part of what it means to be a Christian – and what it means be a man.  All these things take time – but they are what it takes to be Christian men.  Being a Christian father – a Christian man — is not easy – it’s not for sissies – but it’s the kind of fathers – and the kind of men – that God is calling us t be.

If you know how to do something others need to learn, make an effort to pass it on. Teach them what you know, so that you can bring out the best in them.

So – we have 2 things that it means to be a Christian father – a Christian man. Strive to be a good example – and strive to be a good teacher.

Thirdly… you need to

3. Strive to be a good coach.

In all the words that describe the roles of a Christian father – or a Christian man — I like the word “coach” the best.

What does a good coach do?

He brings out the best in his players.

When Michael Jordan played basketball at the University of North Carolina, his coach was Dean Smith—one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport. Dean Smith was a great basketball coach, but was he a great basketball player? He may have been probably okay, but he was no Michael Jordan. And yet, Michael Jordan attributes a great deal of his success to his college coach, Dean Smith. Dean Smith didn’t have to be a great basketball player to make great basketball players. He just had to know the game, and know how to bring out the best in his players. The sign of a great coach is that he produces players who are better at the sport than he’ll ever be. The sign of a great coach is that he empowers his players to do their best.

Ken Griffey, Sr. was a pretty good baseball player. But his legacy is that he raised a superstar, Ken Griffey, Jr.

Cal Ripken, Sr. was a good baseball coach, but his legacy is that he raised a legend, Cal Ripken, Jr.

A great coach empowers his players to do their best – even if they outshine the coach themselves.  A great Christian father – a great Christian man — does the same. He has the attitude that John the Baptist had about Jesus…

He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

We’ve probably all had coaches that did not empower to do us to well, that did not bring out the best in us. We’ve all had coaches who played favorites, who wanted to win at all costs, and who cared nothing at all about his players beyond what they could do for him. Clearly, that’s not the kind of coach we want to be to our children or to others.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul said,

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

This verse describes our role as Christian fathers – as Christian men. We’re not to bully our children or others, or berate them. We’re not to take away their drive or the desire to do good. But we’re to teach them to discipline themselves and we’re to teach them how to play the game whether it be a sport or “the game of life” — to – as Paul says –

“bring them up in the instruction of the Lord.”

Our goal is to empower them to do better than we have — to be more successful than we are —  to be better husbands or wives than we are — to be more holy than we are — to reach more people for Christ than we do — to become greater than we’ll ever become. That’s a Christian father’s goal – a Christian man’s goal — to bring out the best in others .

Like being a good example and being a good teacher, being a good coach is not easy.  It means doing these things at times are not easy – watching what we do and say so that others will learn from us what a Christian is to do and say – standing up for Christian principles so that others can learn what it means to stand up for Christian principles – being honest when it would be just as easy to not be so that others can learn how to be honest – forgiving others so that others can learn from us what it means to be forgiving.  All these things take courage – but are what it takes to be Christian men.  Being a Christian father – a Christian man — is not easy – it takes courage — it’s not for sissies – but it’s the kind of fathers – and the kind of men – that God is calling us t be.

Being a father isn’t easy. Bering a Christian man is not easy. There’s no question about it – it’s not for sissies.  In addition to the things we have talked about today, you’ve got a job to worry about, finances pressures to deal with, a marriage to keep strong, and many other obligations to take care of. But men, I want you to keep this in mind: Regardless of how successful or unsuccessful you are at work, the place where you will make the greatest difference in this world, where you’ll have the greatest impact with the longest lasting results are in the lives of your children – and the children of others.

They need you more than you could ever know, more than they could ever say. They need you to be an example to them. Bring out the best in yourself so you can help bring out the best in them. They need to be a teacher. Make it a joy for them to learn what you know about life, so that you can bring out the best in them. They need you to be a coach. They need you to empower them to play the game of life as a Christian.

These are the things a Christian father – a Christian man — father does. He leads by example, he teaches, he coaches…in order to bring out the best in his others.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem entitled “If” that my Dad read to me over and over again as I was growing up and struggling with what it meant to be a man. Kipling wrote:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream — and not make dreams your master,
If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings — nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more — you’ll be a Man, my son!

Let’s all strive to be men – indeed to be Christian men.

Matthew 7:24-27

Matthew 7:24-27

Recession Or Depression?

June 7, 2009

Part 1 of “You’ve Got Questions – God’s Got Answers” series

This summer we are going to look at some of the things that we find to be problems or that we have questions about in our everyday lives –– and how we can find God’s answers to these problems and questions.

Life is filled with things that bother us and that are problems for us – things we might wish we had answers for.  These things can range from how to deal with the economy and the way if affects our daily living to how to be a Christian parent to how to deal with “difficult people” to how to deal with emotions such as anger.

I believe that the Bible is our guide to living life in God’s ways – and contains God’s answers to our questions in life.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that:

^“16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This summer we’re going to look at some of the issues and questions we may face in our lives – and how God would have us deal with them.

Let’s start today with an issue that we are all having to face – how to deal with the economy.

The economic recession our country is currently in is affecting every one of us.

The question for us is – how does God want us to deal with the economy?

What answer does God have for us as we struggle with bills to pay – some of us on a fixed income and others trying stretch our income as far as we can?

The recession can be depressing.

Here’s the question I want us to look at today:

Is the recession going to be a time of depression for us – or does God have a way for us to deal with tough economic times?

Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:24-27 might help us as we try to deal with the economy. Listen to what Jesus said:

Read Scripture

In hard economic times like these, many people show where they put their trust, what really brings them happiness, and what really brings them joy. Tough times expose the foundations that many people have built their lives on, and shows what really is their source of comfort, happiness, and security.

For many, the recession has exposed the “sub par materials”,  so to speak, that they used in constructing their lives. They may have not been prepared for the fierce economic storms that are now raging in our country – and in their lives. Many  people seem depressed — stressed out — and just plain worried.

And – of course — they may have every right to feel the way they feel.

The recession can be depressing.

Jesus’ parable I just read would have been one that people would have understood in His day — and it is one that in our day, here in Florence, here in Claussen, that people can relate to as well. We all know how tough the economy is – we all know what it means to try to stretch our budgets as far as we can.  And when it comes to building houses, all you have to do is drive around Clauseen – you don’t have to go far – and you will see houses being built – houses being bought, and houses being sold.

The question is – how are we going to pay for everything – everything we have to pay for – homes, cars, gas, food,  and everything else we have to pay for – with the economy like it is?

When  Jesus was telling this parable, He talked about 2 folks building houses, but He was not only talking about brick, wood, and mortar; — He was referring to the foundation of our personal lives.

Tough economic times have a way of exposing what the foundation is for your personal life.

This parable ends the “Sermon on the Mount”– one of the greatest teachings ever. For 3 chapters of Matthew Jesus had told everything we need to know about living life in God’s ways.  Now He finishes His sermon by asking:

“What foundation are you laying, or have you laid for yourselves, that you are going to build on?”

“What materials are you using?”

“As you’re building your life, do you have anyone who is a little smarter than you, anyone who can see things you don’t see, who can help that you can make sure that your life will make it through the hard times?”

In the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus talked about relationships, marriage and family, finances, about integrity and character. He covered everything you would ever want someone to cover about how to live your life and He used this little parable to “tie together” what He had said.

A way of paraphrasing this parable would be:

“Therefore, if anyone who hears what I have just said obeys what I just said, he will be a wise builder. And the person who doesn’t is a foolish builder.”

It’s like He’s saying:

“Listen, all of us are builders. We are building our personal lives, and many of us are responsible for some little lives, too. When you build your personal life, be a wise builder, not a foolish builder.”

I believe that we can use Jesus’ principles – and learn how to keep “up” in a “down” economy.

How can we “keep up the faith” even though the economy is going down?           How can we keep up our faith, our attitude, our joy when the economy is heading down?

We have to understand that our joy is not based on the things that we have, the things that we can purchase, or the places we can go – but that’s easier said than done – isn’t it?

How can you keep the recession from leading you  to depression — and continue having the quality of inner life that all of us seek after?

How can you continue to have faith and trust in God — no matter what the torrent of financial insecurities in your life may be — no matter what storms may hit your life?

How can you keep the recession from leading you into depression?

Well — first of all – you need to wise up and start with a solid foundation.

Jesus was very clear in this passage we’re looking at today that the first thing you have to do to keep recession from leading you to depression is wise up and start with a solid foundation.

Now, every builder will tell you the most important aspect of building a house is its foundation. You must pick a great location and have a solid foundation.

The same is true in your life.

Some of you already know that to be true because things are beginning to shake just a little bit, and you’re wondering if it’s too late to wise up.

It’s not too late.

You can still begin again – and get a fresh start.

But – you may need to start building your life over again.

The key is this: wise up and start with a solid foundation.

Jesus says in this parable before us that the best foundation for your life is the Rock.

Throughout the New Testament, the solid  Rock shown to be the testimony and truth of Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, in Matthew 16, Jesus has his core disciples around Him – and the people in the community had begun to wonder and ask, “Who is Jesus?”

Jesus asked his disciples,

“Who are people saying I am?” because people had all kinds of different ideas.

Peter answered

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”(Matthew 16:16)

And in verse 18, Jesus looks at Peter and says:

“on this rock I will build my church.” ((Matthew 16:18)

“The Rock” is the testimony and truth of Jesus Christ. It was good for Jesus, it was good for Him to build His church on, and it’s good for you to build your life on.

Now some of you may be saying,

“Bill – what does my building my life upon the Rock – upon my faith in Christ — have to do with my lack of spending capital — or with my loss of job –  or the fact that I may not have medical insurance in a few months?”

“What does this have to do with anything about that? I thought this was going to be a sermon on how to keep from being depressed in the recession.”

Well, it goes back to the storms of life – like the recession — exposing what’s really important to us. Many people – maybe some here today — have had their lives exposed by hard times – and have been exposed for not having a true faith and real meaning in their lives, not understanding what is most important, not understanding what their highest values should be.

Maybe you’re one of those.

Worried about how your life looks on the outside – without concern for what’s on the inside – or the foundation – of your life.

To keep the recession from leading you to depression – in fact, to live the life God wants you to live and find the victory God wants you to have in life, you have to start with the right foundation – and that foundation is faith in Christ.

Too many folks have all kinds of time to do the things they want to do – but very little time for the things God wants them to do. That’s not the foundation God wants you to have for your life – and when troubles come – your life will crumble. Make sure you have the right foundation for your life. Make sure you have time for prayer, for reading God’s word, for Church activities and worship. Make sure the foundation of your life is where it should be. Having Jesus as the foundation for your life will help you keep from experiencing “recession depression”.

You see – if your life is built on a foundation that is not Christ – then what happens when you lose your job — or your retirement income dwindles?

What happens when the economy goes down and the storms of life and the things that made you feel good about yourself are washed away?

What happens then?

These things are storms, and they are real. They will hurt, they’ll cause some pain. But will they crush you? Should they crush your faith? Should you suffer from “recession depression”? Not if you have a firm foundation, not if you understand who Christ is and have invested your life in Him instead of other things.

You can have the peace of Christ — even when the recession and storms of life are raging.  You can be confident that you have built your life on the right foundation – if you have built your life on Christ.

Listen, friends — I know some of   you have lost jobs and others might still lose their jobs. I know that many of you are struggling with finances. I know that some of you are not getting the retirement income you thought you would, or your income is not stretching as far as you thought it would. I understand. We are all there, but these are some principles, some things that you can build your life on, so no matter what storm hits, you have Christ – and the recession – or whatever else – does not have to depress you. You can know that our foundation is secure.

So — how can we “keep up the faith” even though the economy is going down?

How can we keep up our faith, our attitude, our joy when the economy is heading down?

We have to understand that our joy is not based on the things that we have, the things that we can purchase, or the places we can go.

How can you continue to have faith and trust in God — no matter what the torrent of financial insecurities in your life may be — no matter what storms may hit your life?

How can you keep the recession from leading you into depression?

First of all – you need to wise up and start with a solid foundation – that foundation being Christ.

Here are some practical ways to do this:

1. 1. Get involved in Church.

If you want the solid foundation of Christ in your life – get involved in a church. Take time for God’s things – reading the Bible – studying with God’s people  — worship – fellowship. Getting involved in a church is your first step in building your foundation on Christ – and your first step to keep yourself from recession  depression.

2. Help each other.

We’re all in this financial crisis together.  Find ways to reach out to each other.  If someone has a need, find a way to meet that need.

3. Help others.

Help those in need. You can do this by donation money (if you have it to donate) or food — or by giving clothes you don’t wear any more to thrift stores like GoodWill – Salvation Army – or Mission Mart.

So – the first step to keeping “up” in a “down” economy – or keeping the recession from leading you to depression – is wise up and start with a solid foundation – that being Christ.

The second step is — you have to build with the best materials.

Build with the best materials.

What are the best materials, the best things you can build your life with on the solid rock foundation?

Your relationship with your family is one of these things.  The building materials of integrity and character and trust are other things. Materials of faith, family values, and care, the things that Jesus talked about — these are the things you should build your life with – and the things that will withstand any downturn in your personal finances. These are things that money cannot buy –so money – and the economy going down — doesn’t change them.

These are some of the materials you need so the recession won’t lead you to depression.

It’s a good thing to have a solid foundation, but too many people receive Christ, begin to build their life on Christ, and then use cheap materials. They don’t have integrity, care, and authenticity. Then when the storms come, it devastates them, leaves them with just a slab.

To live the life Christ wants you to live, to keep the recession from leading you to depression, you need to make sure that you  build your life on the firm foundation of Christ — and then — on that firm foundation – you need to build your life with good materials. When you do that, then you have a life that can withstand any type of storm.

Here another practical step:

Always remember that it’s what’s in your heart – your foundation – that is important – not what you wear.  Name brand clothes are good – but not if you’re wasting money on buying them or going into debt.  Of course, you can get name brands if you shop those stores I mentioned earlier in the list of stores of donate to – Salvation Army, Good Will, Mission Mart, and others.

Start with a solid foundation. Build with the best materials.  Two steps to keeping the recession from leading you to depression. Two steps to being victorious in all the trials of life.

Once the building starts going up, and you’re doing the things that you know you ought to be doing, the third thing is to make sure that you team up with trusted people who can help you build the life that is victorious during a recession – or any other time.

So – the 3^rd step is — team up with God in building your life. .

You need and outside expert to help you gauge what we should be doing and how we should be building your life.

The best one any of us can invite to team up with us is God.

God will show you exactly what “building codes” – so to speak — you have to follow to have a life that keeps you from being depressed in the recession – or any other storm life may have in store for you.

God will show us exactly what we need to do.

David prayed:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

David was saying “I’ve got the right materials, but I want God to inspect them.”

Let God lead and guide you as you strive to build a life that will help you not get depressed in the recession – but be victorious in your life.

So – here are 3 steps to keep the recession from leading you to depression —

Wise up and build your life on the foundation of Christ

Use the best materials,

Allow God into your life to inspect what you’re doing.

One more tip I want to throw in — lighten up!

I throw this one in here because it helps me and I think it will help you: Lighten up! Just lighten up!

Jesus talked in Matthew chapter 6 about the storms that would come in life. You know what He says? He says

“Don’t worry about it. I am in control.”

As a matter of fact, He takes it a little further. He says:

“Trust in me, no matter what happens. You have built your life on the Rock, the firm foundation. It’s not shifting sand, it’s not uncertainties. You have chosen to put your life in me, on me, your firm foundation, and I will take care of your needs.” and you built your life on me, the strong foundation, and I will take care of you.”

Really — it’s a faith issue.

Once you’ve built your life properly and honored God, why are you worrying?  Jesus says:

“I’m in control. I’m in control of the economy, I’m in control of your job, I’m in control of everything. Who of you can change anything by worrying? What does worrying do?”

So why are we worrying?

Here are 3 more “practical tips” to keep the recession from leading you to depression.

1. Have a pair of scissors with you as you read the newspaper – and cut our those coupons!  You’ll be surprised how much you can save!

2. “Eat Cheap” – Don’t eat out as often – let your family meal times at home be “family time” – and when you do eat out – try to find coupons and try to share meals – or bring leftovers home for the next day.

3. Sell or give away what you don’t need.  Dave Ramsey advocates huge yard sales – selling everything you don’t need or have not used in a while.

So — I believe that you can use Jesus’ principles – and learn how to keep “up” in a “down” economy.

You can continue to have faith in God and trust in God — no matter what the torrent of financial insecurities in your life may be — no matter what storms may hit your life.

You can you keep the recession from leading you into depression.

It all depends on your foundation for your life.

You can follow Jesus’ principles –

Build your life on the foundation of Christ

Use the best materials

Allow God to inspect what your are doing

And – you can lighten up.

These are some of the ways to be victorious in life – and to keep the recession from leading you to depression.

Amen.

Ezkiel 37:1-14, Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Acts 2:1-21

John 15:26-27

Come, Holy Spirit

May 31, 2009

Pentecost

What an eerie – and yet tremendously exciting – description of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

What an eerie — and yet tremendously exciting — description of the Spirit of God bringing life to lifeless, dry bones.

Eerie – yes – even scary – and yet intriguing – and indeed exciting.

But still scary.

Today is Pentecost.

One of the three most important days in the church year – along with Christmas and Easter.  This is the day we celebrate the coming and power of the Holy Spirit – and yet we seem to be uncomfortable with it.  We don’t quite know what to do with it.  It’s hard to generate enthusiasm for Pentecost.

Why do we not celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in the same way we celebrate the coming of Christ – or the resurrection of Christ?

I’m not sure – - but I’m afraid it has something to do with the fact that we are scared.

We are comfortable with looking back at the Bible and saying -

“Yes – how wonderful the coming to the Holy Spirit was ” – -

or “Yes – how wonderful it was that the Spirit of God brought life the dry bones” —

but yet – - what we would do if it happened here and now?

The very thought of the Spirit coming into our lives and this Church right now scares us to — – doesn’t it?

We want to be able to look back and admire the coming of the Spirit – while keeping it at a safe distance from us.  Like a lion or tiger in the zoo or a shark at an aquarium.  It’s great to look at – but don’t let it get up close and personal.

The coming of the Holy Spirit is scary.

It’s risky business!

We don’t know what might happen if the Holy Spirit were to suddenly come upon us – do we?

We don’t know what might happen if we were to experience the renewing — life giving work of God’s Spirit — here and now – do we?

We don’t know what might happen if we were to experience a Pentecost of sorts here and now – do we?

And that can be scary!

We just might get excited.

We just might start worshipping like we really mean it.

We just might start really loving each other.

We just might become excited about doing God’s will.

We just might start really wanting to do something – to really make a difference for God’s glory.

We just might start wanting our faith to really mean something to us – and make a difference in how we live.

Yea – scary – risky business.

We wouldn’t want any of this to really happen – would we?

We don’t really want to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit – - the new life offered by the Spirit of God — because we are scared of what might happen if we do.

Let Pentecost just be something that happened “back then” – let’s just observe it as a historical event – but let’s not get carried away with it.  Let’s not act like it could happen here – and now.

Let the vision of the dry bones receiving life be just that — a vision — don’t let it be reality — especially not reality for us!

But — guess what — while  we try to avoid getting the Holy Spirit as if we were trying to avoid getting the Swine Flu

we also bemoan the fact that we just can’t get anything going –

we bemoan the fact that we can’t seem to grow as a Church!

Maybe – just maybe — we should re–think Pentecost.

Maybe we should re-think our attitudes about the life changing – Church changing power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you think that maybe we should take another look at Pentecost – and what the Holy Spirit can do for us – here – and now?

Do you think we should take another look at the life-giving power of God’s Spirit?

Should we take another look at the excitement and enthusiasm of the disciples – the new life of the dead bones – and maybe take the coming of the Holy Spirit more seriously – and see if there is a chance it could happen again – now?

What do you think can really make a difference in our lives and our Church?

Friends – it’s the work of the Holy Spirit that can make a difference in our lives – and the Church – so we need to see what the Spirit can do for us – pray to be filled with the Spirit – and learn to walk in the Spirit all our lives.

Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, said that if there was one message he could preach to the church, it would be a message about how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s how much of a difference the filling of the Holy Spirit can make in a person’s life.

Many people give up on trying to live the Christian life because it’s too hard. The fact is, it’s not just hard—it’s impossible.

It’s impossible to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit’s power.

If we are going to be the Christians God wants us to be – and the Church God wants us to be – we had better start praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

You see — the Holy Spirit is the oil that makes the machinery of your life run smoothly. Have you ever tried driving a car without oil? You know what happens, don’t you. The engine locks up and breaks down. It’s the same way for a Christian who lives without the oil of the Holy Spirit in their life.

Some of you have been walking in the Spirit for many years – but fr some of you the idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a new concept. But the fact is that all of us need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The fact is that – if we are going to be the Christians God wants us to be – and the Church God wants us to be – we are going to have to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

On this Pentecost – let’s look at a passage of Scripture that teaches in plain detail what the Holy Spirit can do for you, how you can be filled with the Holy Spirit, and how you can live a Spirit-filled life. The passage we’ll look at is in Ezekiel 37, the story of the Valley of the Dry Bones. This passage teaches us a great deal about the Holy Spirit.

If you can turn to your Bibles or a pew Bible that might be helpful – because we are going to be referring to Ezekiel 37 a lot.

Look at the passage.

What can the Holy Spirit do for you?

Well – let’s look at some things the Holy Spirit can do for you:

One thing is: He can revitalize your life.

Take a look at verse 5 in Ezekiel 37 –

(v. 5) This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you and you will come to life.

Then — skip down to verse 14…

(v. 14) I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.

That’s what the Holy Spirit does for you.

He revitalizes you.

He takes you from the point of merely surviving to the point of truly living.

He changes your life from “black and white” to the “wonderful world of living color” – so to speak.

It’s as if your life “mono” to “stereo”.

It’s as if your life were changed from a moped to a mercedes.

The Holy Spirit revitalizes your life.

He infuses you with freshness, and with newness.

Another thing the Holy Spirit can do for you is that He can renew your hope. Take a look at verse 11 – 12:

(v. 11-12) Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord days: O My people I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord.”

What’s God doing here?

He’s sending the Holy Spirit and renewing their hope.

Have there been times in your life when you felt like the people of Israel felt here?

Have there been times when you have said:

“My bones are dried up and my hope is gone”?

I think we all have.

The presence of the Holy Spirit changes your perspective on life. One of the benefits of life that is filled with the Holy Spirit is that the Spirit renews your hope.

In Ephesians 1 Paul says that the Holy Spirit is given to us as…

…a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those        who are God’s possession…(Ephesians 1:14)

Paul’s saying g that the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life guarantees that you will get through this life—no matter how dark it may seem, no matter dry you may feel, no matter how desperate things might be—the Holy Spirit will keep your hope alive. A benefit of the Spirit filled life is the absence of despair.

Another thing the Holy Spirit does for you is that the Spirit will restore your dreams. Look at what Ezekiel writes in verse 14:

I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. (vs. 14)

The people of Israel had a dream of living in their own land. When Ezekiel recorded these words from God they had been living for years in exile. God was saying /to them:

“Do you know that dream I gave you? Don’t give up on it. I’ll restore it.”

God will do the same for you.

Too many of us go through life like we’re living in exile. We live like we’ve been banished from our homeland, banished from the benefits and promises that all children of God can claim. If you’re not walking in victory, you’re living in exile. If you’re not experiencing power over sin, you’re living in exile. If you’re not filled with joy, and peace, and hope, and love—you’re living in exile.

God didn’t create us to live in exile. He created us to experience the benefits of our heavenly citizenship here on earth. It is through the fullness of the Holy Spirit that we experience the fullness of life. In him we experience life as it should be lived.

That’s what the Holy Spirit can do for you. He’ll revitalize you, He’ll renew your hope, and He’ll restore your dreams. He’ll give you life as it should be lived.

Now, maybe you’re saying,

“I want that. I want to go from the Valley of Dry Bones to the Valley of Life. How do I get there? How do I experience this difference in my life?”

Let’s take a look at that right now—how to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

First of all… you have to ask for it. In fact, “asking” may not be a strong enough term. A better term might be “speak it” or “claim it.” Take a look at Ezekiel 37:4:

(v. 4) “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life…’”

The fullness of the Spirit is God’s promise to all believers. It’s a promise that we can all claim; it’s a promise that God will certainly deliver. But here’s the thing — if we don’t claim it, if we don’t speak it, if we don’t ask for it—we’ll never experience it.

You know — there are times when I have to speak to myself the same way that Ezekiel spoke to the bones in the valley. I have to say:

Bill, hear the Word of the Lord. The Spirit of God is going to breathe life into you. Receive it! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop doubting Hm. Stop flirting with despair. Let God do His work.”

Maybe you need to have a little talk to that effect with yourself!

In Ephesians 5: 18 Paul writes:

Be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

He writes it as an imperative command. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is an act of obedience on our part. It’s something we do; it’s something we initiate by asking for it…by claiming it as God’s promise. If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, then ask for it. Say:

“God, fill me with your Spirit.”

The first step to being filled with the Holy Spirit is that just that easy.

The second step is easy also. After you’ve asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you need to accept It. Another way to say it is “Receive it.” Even though we initiate the work of the Spirit in our lives by asking for it, being filled with the Spirit is not something we can do for ourselves. It is something that God must do for us — it is something we must receive. We receive the Holy Spirit by yielding to  Him ..by allowing Him to have His way in our lives.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is that simple.

You ask for it. You accept it – then you act on it.

Imagine with me if you will that your banker called you and said, “Someone has just deposited $10 million into your bank account. It’s there…and it’s all yours.”

How long would it take for you to act on it?

What would you do?

You would probably start writing checks (10% going to the Church, of course).  paying bills, making investments, giving gifts, and so on.

Or you might say, “But I don’t feel like a millionaire. I don’t look like a millionaire. I don’t deserve to be a millionaire. I don’t see any of the money…where is it?”

But the fact is, in this scenario you are a millionaire. You can live like a millionaire, if you’re willing to act on it.

In the same way, God has placed a deposit into your spiritual account — He has offered you the Holy Spirit. In your account there is joy, peace, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In your account there are spiritual gifts, there is power, there is life. They are yours, but you have to act on it. You have to start “writing checks”, so to speak. Don’t wait until you feel it—just do it.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an elusive experience that we have to spend half of our lives chasing after. It is the promise of God, it is the command of  God, and it is available to all believers. If your heart is right with God, you can be filled with the Holy Spirit right now. Ask for it. Accept it. Act on it. It’s that easy

There’s another thing about the Spirit filled life we need to know.  In addition to knowing how to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we also need to know how to walk in the Spirit.

Bill Bright, whom I mentioned earlier, taught a principle called “Spiritual Breathing.” His concept was that, as we go throughout the day, we can become aware of impurities in our life, and can “exhale” them by confessing them to God. And then we can “inhale” his presence in our lives by surrendering ourselves to his control.

When you’re going throughout your day, and you realize you’ve just had an thought you should not have had, don’t wait to repent — don’t wait to confess it—take care of it right then. Breathe out – and ask God for forgiveness, — and breathe in – receiving the forgiveness God gives.

Do this all day long, every day of your life.

Whenever you think something or say something or do something that breaks the flow of the Spirit in your life, exhale — confess it immediately and surrender control to him. You exhale what is impure in your life, you inhale his presence. The idea is that you recognize and acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life throughout the day. You walk with him all day long.

This is how Paul said it in Galatians 5:

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

I like that phrase—let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit is an all-day, every-day experience. And it’s the key to victory. It’s the key to a dynamic relationship with Jesus.

God’s promise in Ezekiel is:

(v. 14) I will put my Spirit in you and you will live.

Anything less is just existing. God wants to fill your life with living color. He wants to revitalize you; He wants to renew your hope; He wants to restore your dreams. He wants to fill you with the Holy Spirit, so that you can live in his power.

Is this what you want?

Then ask for it. Accept it. Act on it. He will do it: he will fill you with his Spirit. And then, beginning at this very moment, start practicing spiritual breathing—keep in step with the Holy Spirit throughout the day, every day. I can promise this: His presence in your life means that you will never be the same.

So – it’s pretty easy to live that Spirit filled life.

What might happen if we were to ask for God’s Spirit – act on God’s gift – and walk in the Spirit?

Let’s try and see!

Let’s take the coming of the Spirit off the pages of the book – and into our lives as we ask for – act on – and walk in the Spirit of God. Amen.

Acts 9:1-19

Acts 9: 1-19

Easter Means Changed Lives: Saul’s Story

Part 4 0f 2009 Hopewell Easter series: Easter Means Changed Lives

May 24, 2009

Easter 7

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians.  It is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

This year as we have worshipped during the Easter season we have looked  at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As have we looked at their stories, we’ve seen how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

One person who experienced the life – changing power of the risen Christ was Saul – who had his life – his purpose for living – his name – his identity – everything about him — changed by an experience with the risen Christ.

Listen to how Saul had a lfe -m changing relationship with Christ.

Read scripture

Here’s a question for you:

What will it take for God to get you attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

God has a plan for each of our lives – and has things He wants each of us to do – but too often we become so caught up in our own world and the things we think God wants us to do that we don’t pay attention to God.

Sometimes God has to do something drastic to get our attention.

Saul had to have a flash of lightning and a dramatic vision of the risen Christ before he would pay attention to God – and ask God:

“What do you want me to do”?

What about you?

What will it take for God to get you attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

You see — Saul was a man who hated the church. He hated Jesus. He hated Christians and he hated anything that had to do with Christianity.

Because of his hatred of Christianity, he did everything within his power to destroy it. And that was his intent as our passage for today begins.  Saul is going to Damascus with warrants to arrest any Christians he might find there.

Saul is moving against Christ Himself.

But God had a plan.
God was going to change Saul – get his attention – and let him know what God’s plan for his life was.

It was just going to take a bolt of lightning and a dramatic vision of the risen Christ to get his attention – but God was willing to use whatever it would take to get Saul to listen to Him and do His will.

God was willing to do whatever it would take to get Saul to say:

“What do you want me to do?”

What will God have to do to get your attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

Now – don’t misunderstand me here.

I did not say that Saul was not a believer in God – or that he did not know God – that was not the case at all.

Maybe he know God too well – or “knew enough about God to be dangerous”.

Anyway – he certainly knew about God!

He was a Pharisee – a leader of the Jewish people.

He had a deep love and appreciation for his Jewish faith.

He was educated as a rabbi by Gamaliel in Jerusalem.

That means that he could relate to educated people.
He spoke Aramaic and Greek. That meant that he could speak to people in their own language.
He was passionately serious about his belief in God.
He knew the Scriptures backwards and forwards.
He studied the Scriptures daily and applied them to his life.
But – you know what — Saul was a religiously active person who was dead wrong about his beliefs about God. Saul missed the point – he had a wonderful religion but did not have a wonderful relationship with God.

So, here is Saul with all of his knowledge and all of his commitment – going along the road to Damascus on what he thought was a mission from God — then, suddenly a bright light shines around him and he is struck down. Then a voice cries out,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Saul replies, “Who are you, Lord?”

And the voice replies: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
When Saul is knocked down by God, he does something that reveals a change in his life – and change that would last forever.

He asks two questions.

They are probably the two most important questions anyone can ever ask God.

They are;
Who are you?

What do you want me to do?

What will it take for God to get you attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

The first question Saul asks is, “Who are you?”
This is a personal question.

Please, God, who are you?

Suddenly, Saul realized that this was not the God he thought he knew.

This was not the God that he had been serving.

So he cries out, “who are you?”

All of his years of training and in one brilliant second, Saul realizes that he doesn’t know God at all.

For Saul – serving God was keeping up with a list of do’s and don’ts.

On the road to Damascus, Saul met a God he never dreamed existed and so he asked, “Who are you?”

Saul’s question is not only a personal question — it’s also a relational question.

It’s not just a “who are you?” – but it’s  “who are you to me?”

Saul wasn’t seeking just information when he asked Jesus that question. He wanted to know what this meant for his life.

Jesus’ response was,

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

I believe that it was at this time that Saul surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.      Why do I say that?

Because of the next question he asks Jesus.
What do you want me to do?

You see, Saul goes from a Pharisee to being  a disciple

Saul goes from being a persecutor to being a proclaimer of Jesus Christ.

When Saul asks

What do you want me to do?

He has surrendered his will to the will of Jesus Christ.

Lord, What do you want me to do?
That’s a question of Lordship.
It’s as if Saul is saying, “I have been leading my own life, doing my own thing. I thought I was doing your business, but I was wrong, now I only want to do your will,.”

Tell me Lord, What do you want me to do?
Really, it is a faith question.

Later, in writing to the Corinthians, Paul would say, “for we walk by faith,  not by sight.” Whenever I read that, I wonder if that isn’t something that he learned immediately on the road to Damascus. The Lord took away his sight for three days. In those three days, all Saul could do was walk by faith. And he would be walking by faith for the rest of his life.

He begins immediately.

Jesus tells him, “Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.”

At this point, Saul didn’t make any excuses.

He could have said:

Lord – I can’t see.

I’m confused,

I don’t know all the answers

No — even though he must be led by the hand, he goes into Damascus, where he would begin a ministry that would lead him all over the known world.
Saul had thought that he was zealous for God – but he was only zealous for himself.

God had to find a dramatic way to get Saul’s attention.
Saul could not hear God speak to him as he read the Scriptures.
Saul could not hear God speak to him in church each week.
Saul could not hear God speak to him because he had his own system of beliefs that were preventing him from hearing and understanding the truth about Christ.
Christ had to flash a bright light from heaven to get Saul’s attention.
God was unable to get Saul to listen to him any other way, and God had to do something drastic in Saul’s life to get him to turn around understand the truth.
Saul was blinded by Christ.
Christ physically blinded Saul to tell him that he was Spiritually blind as well — that he wasn’t seeing the truth — that he wasn’t seeing God — that he wasn’t seeing Scriptures correctly — that he wasn’t seeing the Way to God. Christ blinded Saul to let him know that he wasn’t seeing what God really wanted him to do with his life.

What will God have to do to you to let you know that He has something He wants you to be doing – and to bring you to the point of saying:

Lord – what do you want me to do?

Unfortunately, there are many people like Saul still today.
There are people who are spiritually blind who lash out and attack those who aren’t.
There are people who are spiritually blind who think they are doing God a favor by throwing a fit when others do things they don’t like.
There are people who are spiritually blind who will not stray from the old ways the way things used to be done — tradition — this is the way we have always done it – and never bothering to ask if this is what God wants.
There are people that — before they accept change or are willing to do something a different way — God may have to strike blind or do some other drastic thing – just to get their attention.

And then – there are some who will not ask God what He wants them to do – and will have to have a dramatic experience before they come to their sense and see that God has a plan for their lives – and that they need to seek it out and put it into action.

Are you one of these?

Is God going to have to do something drastic – something dramatic – to bring you to the point that you are willing to say to Him:

“What do you want me to do?”

Paul was spiritually blind and Christ had to physically blind him in order to get his attention.

What more does Christ have to do to get your attention?

You may not have the kind of experience that Saul had, but I believe that God is continuing to work in your lives and make you into the person God would have you be.

Christ just has to get you attention – and bring you to the point where you are willing to ask Him:

What do you want me to do?

Maybe the reason this may be hard for you is because you may wonder:

Can I change?
You might have some destructive things in your life — and not know how to shake them – even when you want to.

But the message of the gospel is that we can change.

The message of Easter is that God is in the life changing business.
It may not come all at once, but little by little as you open yourself up to God’s work in your life, you can change.

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:19-20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is     Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
God can change you.

Just like God changed Saul into Paul, God can change you into who God wants you to be.

But – you have to overcome whatever it is that is keeping you from asking God what His will is for your life –  and you have to ask God:

What do you want me to do?

And then you have to do it!

I praise God that Saul saw the light
I praise God that you and I can be brought to the point where we ask God:

What do you want me to do?

And then we do it!

If God can take someone like Saul and change him into someone like Paul – God can surely take you – and make you the person God wants you to be.  But it may take drastic measures on God’s part to get your attention.

Sometimes it seems that we are too complacent – too sure of ourselves – and too sure of our ideas and too sure what we are doing – to ask God what He wants us to do. But, believe me, God has a plan for your life – and God will do whatever it takes to bring you to the point that you say:

“What do you want me to do?”

Paul went from persecuting Christians to preaching to Christians.
Paul went from bringing death to sharing life.
Paul certainly knew that of which he spoke when he wrote
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are       passed  away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians   5:17)
When Christ gets a hold of you, He will change your life!
When Christ works in your life to save you, He will change you!
Christ will make you into a new person, just like He did Paul.
When Christ works in a person’s life, he works powerfully, just like He did in Paul.
All Christ asks you to do is ask His will – and then follow.

Pray for God to show you His will.

Don’t wait for God to do something drastic or dramatic in your life – pray that God will show you His will – now.

Pray for God to show you His will for your life – then be brave – don’t make excuses – but act on it.

The same Christ that made such a dramatic change in Saul can do the same in your life!
What more does the Lord have to do to bring you to the point where – like Saul – you ask Him:

What do you want me to do?
There was a shepherd who lived in Ireland– and his granddaughter went to visit him. While visiting with him, she walked into a barn and saw a young lamb with its leg in a splint. “She asked her grandfather what had happened – and he responded:

“ Oh — he had a bad habit of running off, so the other day, I broke his leg.”

The girl began to cry.

“Why on earth would you do that”, she asked.

“Well”, he said, “the little guy had a bad habit of running off. Every time he would do that, he would be in danger. He could fall off the edge of a cliff and kill himself, or a wolf or some other predator could find him, kill him and eat him. Every time he ran off, I would have to go find him. Then, I would set him with the rest of the flock only to have him run off again. So, I broke his leg. But, that’s not the end of it. After I broke his leg, I also mended it. I put a splint on it, all the while, I was talking to him, comforting him, consoling him. Now, I have to carry water in to him every day. Not only that, I have to feed him by hand. As I do, I continue to talk to him and comfort him. By the time his leg heals, he will know my voice. He will know that it is I who takes care of him. He will come when I call him. He will stay with me, no matter what. Now, I will be able to lead him, and the rest of the sheep will follow him. This lamb will one day be the best sheep of the flock – why, because the other day, I broke his leg. In order to break its will, I had to break its leg.”

Often, for God to be able to use us, He must do something to get our attention – and He is more than ready to do that. That’s what God did to Saul – He got his attention in a dramatic way – and then He restored him. In that process, Saul discovered the true and living God who is Jesus Christ.
What more does the Lord have to do in your life for you to recognize who He is and ask the question:

Lord – what do you want me to do for you!? Amen.

John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Easter Means Changed Lives: Peter’s Story

Part 4 0f 2009 Hopewell Easter series: Easter Means Changed Lives

May 17, 2009

Easter 6

Read Scripture

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians.  It is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

This year as we worship during the Easter season we are looking at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As we look at their stories, we’re see how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

God is changing our lives – our Church – our community – and can change our world.

God is making our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

One person who experienced the life – changing power of the risen Christ was Peter.

When you think about it – you realize that Peter went from being failure prone, impulsive, and brash to ministering with power, preaching with boldness, and leading with authority.

How did this happen?

I believe that Peter’s life turned around because he chose to “stay in the game” – so to speak.

Peter did not give up when he failed – he didn’t quit – but he let the risen Christ touch his life – forgive him — use him – and do more powerful things than he ever dreamed possible through him.

You know — Judas failed, too, but he didn’t seek God’s forgiveness. He gave in to despair and hung himself.

Peter dealt with his downfall differently.

He “stayed in the game”.

Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that we never expected we were able to do!

Now — Peter must have felt defeated after the crucifixion of Christ.

Surely he felt that Christ could never use him again.

Imagine that you are Peter.

You have followed Jesus for 3 years — listening, watching, and learning.

You have given your life to following Jesus — and at times have been extremely committed to following Him.  You have even made a dramatic confession of Jesus being the Son of God.

But — all that has changed.

Jesus has been arrested — and you are scared.

You do not feel that you can risk being identified with Jesus — and try to hide.  At the house of the High Priest, three different people try to identify you as a follower of Jesus — and each time you vehemently deny it.

Let’s turn away from Peter for a moment and let me ask you – have you ever seen Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion Of The Christ”?

If so, I’m sure you remember the scene where Peter denied knowing Jesus.  It’s a mob scene – people pushing and shoving – people pushing Peter and yelling

“I know you are one of his followers!”

And Peter – scared that they might drag him before the authorities also – yelling back – “No!” “No!”

Most of us would have responded in the same way.

I probably would have.

Most of you probably would have, too.

Scared.

Not willing to stand up for Jesus when Jesus needs you.

Now – let’s imagine you are Peter again.

As soon as you deny Jesus  – you panic.

How could you have done such a thing?

Where is your commitment when Jesus needs you the most?

The next day Jesus is crucified — and you feel that you are an utter failure.  You feel that everything you have lived for — everything that you have given your life for — is gone — and it is somehow your fault.  All your claims of love seem to be nothing as you think of how you have denied Jesus.

If only you could hide.

And then the story begins to spread that Jesus has risen.

You see for yourself the empty tomb – - you even see Jesus — but you are still ashamed — and confused.  You are not sure what to do — so you return to Galilee to what you did before you began following Jesus — you return to the life of a fisherman.

Then — early one morning — Jesus appears.

You panic.

You don’t know what to say or do.

You want to apologize — but don’t know how.  You are mad — ashamed — embarrassed for having denied Jesus — and feel you just can’t face Him now.

The tension rises within you as Jesus speaks.

“Do you love me?”

Jesus asks.

“Lord — you know I love you!”

“Do you love me?”

Jesus again questions.

“Lord — you know I love you!”

“Do you love me?”

Jesus asks a third time.

“Lord — you know everything — you know that I love you!”

Jesus then looks at you — and in that look you know that all has been forgiven.  You realize that your three denials have been replaced by three affirmations of love.  You realize that Jesus loves you enough to forgive you and restore you to His work.

You have been forgiven – and you can start serving Christ again.

Peter did not give up when he failed – he didn’t quit – but he let the risen Christ touch his life – forgive him — use him – and do more powerful things than he ever dreamed possible through him.

Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected we were able to do!

Let’s look again at that conversation between Peter and Jesus that John gives us here.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:15-21)

In this story, Jesus is reinstating Peter, so to speak.

Peter had publicly failed, but Jesus still had plans for him.

As far as Jesus was concerned, Peter was still one of the twelve.

As far as Jesus was concerned, Peter was still “the rock.”

As far as Jesus was concerned, Peter was still the one to whom he said, “On this rock I will build my church.”

In this conversation, Jesus reinstates Peter, and he also explains to him what his life is going to be about from now on. Peter is about to make a comeback, and he is going to live the rest of his life differently than the part before this.

Friends — Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected you were able to do!

The fact is that all of us have failed Christ at one time or another.

The fact is that all of us done things we wish we hadn’t.

The fact is that – when pressured – all of us have responded much like Peter – denying having anything to with Christ – and then wondered why we did that.

The fact is that all of us can bravely stand up and say: “I love Jesus” when we are within the friendly confines of the Church – but when we get out in the not so friendly world we have problems – we get scared – we deny knowing Him – either by saying things – or more often than not by staying quiet when we should say things!

Can you identify with that?

I know I can!

So – what do we do?

Do we give up and quit trying to follow?

Do we wallow in our despair?

Or – do we “stay in the game” – continue serving Christ – and let Him forgive us and use in brand new ways that we never dreamed were possible?

Friends — what Jesus said to Peter – and did for Peter — applies to you and me as well. You see — Jesus gave Peter a “game plan” for the rest of his life, and it’s a game plan that can be used – or really must be used — by anyone who wants to turn things around in their lives.

So – let’s look at that “game plan” – and see how you can make a comeback for Christ – go from being failures to being victorious for Christ

There are 3 things that you must do.

1. Focus on loving Jesus.

Look again at verse 15 –

(v. 15) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love you.”

I believe that “more than these” refers to the other disciples.

Jesus is saying: “do you love me more than they do”?

This is an interesting question.

Why would Jesus ask, “do you love me more than the others love me?” Maybe it was because Peter was the one who said, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”  (Mark 14:29). So when Jesus asked Peter this question, he said, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus taught that love isn’t a feeling, it’s an action. Love is something you do.

Do you know what song really rubs me the wrong way?

It was a hit for Elvis and later a bigger hit for Willie Nelson — the ‘love’ ballad “You Were Always on My Mind.” The song says – in effect –

“Honey, maybe I didn’t treat you so well, I was never there for you, I never said or did the little things that would have showed you that you’re special … but, hey, at least I was always thinking about you.”

The problem is that many of us try to sing the same song to God. We try to say, “Well, God, I realize I never did anything, I never served you, I didn’t pray that often, I barely read the Bible, and I skipped church most weeks, but, hey, you were always on my mind. And I love you.”

That’s not good enough.

In John 14:15 Jesus said — “If you love me, obey me.”

The type of love Jesus is talking about here – and needs from us — is not a feeling, it’s an action.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and then He followed up with a command to take care of his people.

I’ll talk more about that in a minute – but the point at this point is that Jesus helped Peter refocus on his love for Jesus – and his willingness to act for Jesus.

This is job one for the Christian – our first priority.

More than anything else, the Christian life is a love relationship between you and Jesus – and that means showing your love for Jesus by focusing on Jesus and what Jesus wants you to do for Him.

In the book The Case For Faith,  Lee Strobel tells about a meeting with Charles Templeton. In the 1950’s Charles Templeton was a famous evangelist, often preaching to crowds of as many as 10,000 each night. He was good friends with Billy Graham. They even shared the pulpit in some revivals. But Templeton began to have some doubts about the Christian faith, about the reliability of Scripture, about evolution vs. creation, about heaven and hell, and on and on. Eventually he stopped preaching. In 1996 he wrote Farewell to God — My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith. When Lee Strobel began writing his book, he decided to interview Templeton. He wanted to see if there was some deeper insight into his reasons for leaving Christianity. They debated some points back and forth, and then Strobel asked Templeton what he thought of Jesus personally. Templeton said:”He was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius…He was intrinsically the wisest person I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my reading.” Strobel responded: “It sounds like you care about him.” Templeton said:  ”Yes….everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus.” Then Strobel said the old man’s voice cracked, tears came to his eyes, and he said, “I…miss…him.”

I know this scenario I am about to present my seem far fetched – but  what if something happened that prevented you from practicing Christianity — you couldn’t pray, you couldn’t read the Bible, you couldn’t go to church, you could read Christian books or listen to Christian radio.  What would you miss the most? The music? The potluck dinners? Max Lucado’s books? What would it be?

I’ll tell you what the answer should be. It should be “Jesus.”

The Christian life is, first and foremost, a love relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s what He wants. He wants you to love him. When Jesus reinstated Peter, He didn’t ask him, “Are you sorry? Are you ashamed of yourself? Do you promise never to do it again?” He said, “Do you love me?”

That’s the question He’s asking you.

Peter answered by saying, “Lord you know that I love you…you know that I love you…You know all things, you know that I love you.” Right now, if you want to experience a turn around in your life, focus on loving Jesus Christ.

Easter means that – regardless of how hard we may have fallen – no matter what we may have done – we can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive us – use us – and we can do things for Him that we never expected we were able to do!

The first step is to focus on loving Jesus.

The second step is

2. Focus on serving others.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter said “yes,” and each time Jesus followed up with ,”Feed my lambs…Take care of my sheep…Feed me sheep.”

If you want to “make a comeback” for Jesus, your life needs to be about   serving others.

Regardless of what your life  was about yesterday – maybe making money, having fun, being successful, hunting, fishing, football, music, and on and on — regardless of what you lived for yesterday – if you want to “make a comeback for Jesus” you need to let Jesus change the focus of your life.

The focus of your life now needs to be about serving others.

Jesus said in Matthew 20:26-28:

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.

Your role – the focus of your life – has to become being a servant – and your attitude must be: “What can I do for you?”

Go on – - give it a try.

When you come to church on Sunday, look for someone to serve.

When you go to work on Monday morning, look for someone to serve.

Here’s an ever bigger challenge: when you go somewhere that you would normally be served — such as a store or a restaurant — look for ways to be a servant. In a busy restaurant, for example, you can serve by the waiter by being patient and kind- hearted, and maybe leaving a bigger tip than usual. This may seem insignificant, but I’ve talked to folks who worked in restaurants – and they say that not very many people want to work on Sunday afternoon because “church people” are rude and don’t tip well. Maybe that’s fair, maybe it isn’t, but this afternoon you can do something to help change the perception.

If you want to “make a comeback for Jesus” – if you want God to use you in a new and greater way – even though you’ve failed many times before –  your life is going to have to be about being a servant.

Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

Look for ways to serve.

Look for ways to take care of people.

With every person you meet, ask this question- – if not with your words then with your attitude:

What can I do for you?

So — Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected you were able to do!

To “turn things around for God” you need to focus on loving Jesus – and you need to focus on serving others.

Then – you need to:

3. Focus on staying focused.

Jesus told Peter that he would live a hard life, and then he said bluntly, “Follow me!”

In the very next verse – verse 20 –

(v. 20) Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved [i.e. John] was following them…When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Isn’t this classic?

Isn’t Peter just like one of us?

He says, “What about him? Is he going to have a hard life, too?”

If we’re not careful, we can lose focus of what we should be doing by becoming too focused on what everyone else is doing.

There’s a Seinfeld episode where Jerry and George are writing a pilot for NBC. They’re negotiating pay, and George wants more than NBC is offering, because after all, he says, Ted Danson gets $800,000 an episode. George says, “I can’t stand knowing Ted Danson makes that much more money than me!”

Ever worked with someone who’s the same way?

They can’t do their job effectively because they’re too worried about everyone else. But I have never known a successful person who kept tabs on anyone other their own employees. Successful people know how to focus on staying focused. Successful people know how to focus on getting their own job done, and they’re not prone to petty jealousies and office gossip.

If you want to experience “a comeback for Christ “ – if you want God to use you in a new way even after you’ve failed — then you need to focus on staying focused.

That’s a nice way of saying don’t be a busybody.

Don’t stick your nose in other people’s responsibilities.

Just do your job.

Life is far too difficult to spend it meddling.

If we are all trying to focus on Jesus and focus on serving others, we all have enough of our own responsibilities to focus on – and don’t need to focus on other people’s responsibilities also.

Jesus said to Peter,

(v. 18-19) I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

God has great things in store for you. The message of Easter is that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected you were able to do!

Friends — we are all like Peter.  We’ve all made mistakes – we’ve all failed – we all can say that there have been times we have not done what we needed to do for Jesus – for the Church – for others – but – like Peter – we can all “stay in the game” and be forgiven – and even do greater things for Christ than we ever imagined. We can let Christ forgive us – and “stay in the game” — so to speak – for Christ. If you’re serious about “staying in the game”, you need to experience God’s power to help you “make a comeback”: the power of focusing on loving Jesus – serving others – and staying focused.  If you’re ready to make a comeback, you need to get focused—on Jesus, on serving others, and on staying focused.

You can’t do it without God — and He won’t do it without you … but, if you will give yourself to Him, and trust him to work His power through you, He will give you the comeback of a lifetime. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:1-7

2 Timothy 1:1-7

“Thank God For Godly Women”

May 10, 2009 (Mother’s Day)

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you.

It is a tradition to honor Mothers on this day, and we want to extend special honor to you today, though I hope we don’t make the same mistakes some pastors I know have made.

For example, I heard of a pastor who ordered roses to hand out to all the Moms in the congregation. He asked the church secretary to pick them up on Friday and bring them to church on Sunday. Well, apparently her husband did not send her flowers very often — because she didn’t put them in water or place them in the refrigerator when she picked them up on Friday — she just left them on her kitchen counter. She dutifully brought them to church on Sunday morning — all wrapped in their paper — and placed them on the altar. As the Pastor began passing out the roses he unwrapped them — and there were the pitiful looking, lifeless roses. As he handed each mother a wilted flower he could not help but wonder about the message that was being conveyed to the mothers by giving them dead roses on their special day!

And then there’s the story of the young associate pastor who was called upon to read the Scripture on Mother’s Day. He was to read from 2 Timothy 1:5 — the passage we are looking at today —  which says:

I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and, I am now persuaded, lives in you also.

It’s a lovely homage to Christian motherhood and quite appropriate for Mothers’ Day. But the young associate was nervous, and when he stepped into the pulpit he read from  1 Timothy 1:6  instead of 2 Timothy 1:5.  – and to make matters worse, he began by saying:

“I would like to dedicate today’s reading to all of the wonderful Mothers in our congregation.”

He then began reading began reading1 Timothy 1:6  instead of 2 Timothy 1:5.

1 Timothy 1:6 says:

Some of you have wandered from the faith and have turned to meaningless talk. You want to be teachers of the law, but you do not know what you’re talking about…The law is not made for the righteous, but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, for those who kill their fathers and mothers…

Not surprisingly, shortly thereafter, that young associate pastor felt a call to another avenue of ministry.

So. today, when we honor the Mothers in our congregation, we hope to do it right!

There’s an old saying that:

“God couldn’t be everywhere at once, so he made moms.”

That statement may not be theologically accurate, but it does convey the right attitude towards motherhood — moms fill a place in our lives that no one else can fill.

I remember seeing a cartoon once in which a little boy was talking on the phone, saying something to the effect of, “That’s right, Grandma. Mom’s out of town, so me and Dad and Tommy and Sarah and Fido are here all alone.”

Maybe that’s the way it feels in your house when “Mom” is away.

I don’t think we do it on purpose … but we tend to place different expectations on moms than we do on dads … especially at meal time. For example, maybe this has happened in your house:

The husband says, “What’s for dinner?”

The wife says, “I’ll need to run to the store first…we don’t have any food in the house.”

The husband replies:  “Can’t you just ‘whip something up’?”

Sound familiar?

Why is it that we think our wives can go in the kitchen and create a meal out of nothing?

That scene may play out differently if mom isn’t around.

The kids might come in and say, “What’s for dinner?”

Dad might look  in the freezer, and if there’s nothing microwavable, he might say: “Who wants to go out for Pizza?”

No one ever says to Dad, “Can’t you just go in the kitchen and whip something up?”

Now, I’m not trying to perpetuate sexist stereotypes, and I’m certainly not saying that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. But – I am saying that in our society women are bombarded with many dual roles and mixed messages. It is typically expected of them to work outside the home, to consistently “whip something up” for meals on a limited budget, to get the kids off to school with matching socks and shoes on the correct feet, to maintain the family’s social calendar, and on and on. It’s not an easy job—which is why we need today – and every day – to say “Thank you!”

Every mom here is aware that her job involves much more than cooking and cleaning and carpooling. It involves nurture, it involves guidance, it involves building character. And, as I have learned with my own mom, the job doesn’t end when a child moves out of the house.

So — on Mother’s day preachers stand in pulpits and extol the virtues of motherhood. You, perhaps, came to Church today expecting to hear a typical Mother’s Day sermon – but maybe this will be more than typical.

You see – as much as I appreciate and have been blessed by my Mom – and as much as all of u s have been blessed by and nurtured by our mothers – I want to expand the typical “thanks Mom” of Mother’s Day to say:

“Thanks”

“Bless you!”

“Thanks for all you do!”

To all of the women of the Church who play such a vital role in shaping the lives of the children, youth, and indeed all of us in the Church.

“Thanks”

“Bless you!”

“Thanks for all you do!”

To all the women of the Church who do so much to help us accomplish what we accomplish as a Church.

The sign out front today – and indeed the sermon title in the bulletin for today – says:

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

Yes – thank God for Godly mothers – but – more than that –

Thank God For Godly Women

I am so thankful for the Godly mothers of Hopewell.

But – I am really thankful for all the Godly women of Hopewell – whether they are mothers or not – married or single – who play such a vital role in our Church.  The Godly women who play such a vital role in the Christian education and nurture of our young people – who play such a vital role in all aspects of our Church – serving in the kitchen as well as on the Session – busying themselves with the crafts as well as with the leadership – working behind the scenes and in the spotlight – wherever you look at Hopewell, you will find a Godly woman – whether they are mothers or not – blessing us all by their commitment to being the people God has called them to be and leading us as a Church to be the Church God is calling us to be.

So – yes – I say thank God for Godly mothers – but more than that I say:

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

In our lesson from 2 Timothy for today, Paul is giving praise to God for the faith of Timothy – a faith his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois passed on to him.

Passing on the faith.

Making sure that others know about God.

That’s the work of Godly mothers – but more than that – that’s the work of Godly women.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy he was in prison.  He had been arrested for preaching the Gospel of Christ in disobedience to Caesar’s order. Paul sent Timothy, the young man he led to the Lord, to Ephesus to tend to the Church there in his absence. Paul established the Ephesian Church when he returned from his second missionary journey. Ephesus was an important place to establish a Church, as it was the capital city of 230 independent communities in the Roman province of Asia. If the Gospel was preached in Ephesus, it would spread outward from there like spokes on a wagon wheel. The Church was just beginning in a land famous for it’s idolatry and sexual infidelity.  Before Roman rule people in Ephesus had engaged in child sacrifice while worshipping idols. When Roman rule established order such sacrifices were forbidden, yet people still worshipped at these pagan  temples. Ephesus was a battleground between Christianity and paganism, between Godliness and Satanism. Into this battleground Paul sent one young man to be a leader while he could not be there himself.  Many people would think this was foolish — what could one young man do? Yet Paul sent Timothy in large part because of the work that his mother and grandmother had begun in him when he was a child – and the faith that had been planted in him.

Paul knew that Timothy grew up in a Godly home. The NIV says Timothy had a sincere faith.  This faith began in his grandmother, was passed down to his mother, who in turn passed it down to him. Though neither directly led Timothy to salvation, Paul did – but  it was his grandmother’s and mother’s actions that planted a seed that would one day blossom into the flower of Christian faith.

All this is to say that Lois and Eunice were Godly women in a time when godliness was unfashionable.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

Thank God for women who are willing to be Godly – even when it may not be fashionable or popular or easy.   Godly women – women who are willing to step up to the plate and give of themselves – their time – their very souls to serve God and others in the Church and the community – are a blessing.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

In the aftermath of the tragic shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, I had someone ask me what I thought had happened to the yojng men who committed the crime that they could do such a cold – blooded thing.

I explained that — when I saw the faces of the young gunmen — I did not see two children who looked like they could be capable of such a thing. They did not look like monsters who could enter a schoolhouse and, after killing all they could, turned the guns on themselves. They looked more like two boys who were hurting and confused – and needed someone to tell them about God’s love. Somehow the message of God’s love and care for them didn’t get to them – as it did to Timothy when his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois raised him and taught him about God.  These were Godly women in a time when being Godly was not easy or popular – but they were Godly nonetheless.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

Recent studies show that the average child will spend 6 minutes a day talking to their parents, while spending hours of unsupervised time watching television or on the internet.

There is a battle going on around every person in today’s world. Everyone can choose and live their own lives either in evil ways or God’s ways. If the devil  can get us to ignore God while maintaining what is called a “politically correct” lifestyle, then the devil has won that battle- But if we follow God’s will for us, them we can win the battle for the Godliness in our homes – our Church – our communities – and our world.

To do that, we need to teach our young people God’s ways.

And to do that, we need more Godly adults – men and women who are willing to be Godly when being Godly is not easy or popular.

I hope you men haven’t tuned me out already – because this goes for you also – and on your day in June I’ll talk more about that – but today let’s look at Godly women.

I thank God for Godly women – the women of Hopewell willing to  step up to the plate and give of themselves – their time – their very souls to serve God and others in the Church and the community – are a blessing.  What you do makes a difference!

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

So – what does it take to be a Godly woman – a woman who is willing to step up to the plate and make a difference – who is willing to give of yourself  — your time – your very self to serve God?

First, it takes accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. You can’t be a Godly woman until you do that. You have to choose the way of God over the way of the world.

In Romans 12:2 Paul urges Christians:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The world offers many trinkets that look beautiful, yet turn out to be just trash.

My niece lived in England for some time and has told me about a tradition there of opening  a “popper” at the Christmas meal. A “popper”  is  a colorfully wrapped tube filled with prizes. When you pulled on it, it “popped” like a cap gun, tore in half, and the prizes came out.  A “popper” was very pretty, but the greatest part of opening them was the loud bang.  That’s because each “popper” was filled, not with wonderful prizes, but with trashy gifts that were even below the quality of a Cracker Jack prize. Outwardly the “poppers” were beautiful, but what was in them was useless.

A lot of times, the things the world wants you to follow are like these “poppers” — outwardly beautiful yet inwardly full of uselessness.

Mothers, your family needs you to be in Christ. You may be the most outwardly beautiful woman in this Church today, but if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior then that beauty is indeed only skin deep.

Women – the same holds true for you – you need to be beautiful – in Christ – a Godly woman – who loves God and is willing to step up and help tell others about Christ.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

So – accepting Christ is the first step to being a godly woman.

The second step is — seek internal godliness rather than dwell on external vanity. Paul wrote top Timothy is 1 Timothy 2:9-10

⁹I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Now — Paul was not saying that women should not groom themselves. What Paul is saying is to not let let your outward grooming take the place of your inward godliness. The “good deeds” Paul is referring to here are deeds that reflect a Christ centered heart, deeds  that reflect godliness. You should be as well groomed on the inside as you are on the outside. Don’t spend all of your time grooming yourself and your household while neglecting prayer and time in the Word of God. You must see to your inner person. You must be concerned about your spiritual growth.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

So – accepting Christ is the first step to being a godly woman.

Seeking internal godliness is the second.

The third is – be willing to spend time with and train your children if you are a mother – or any child who needs it – in the Church or not – whether you are a mother of not. Yes, we are a fallen people, and we produce fallen offspring. Yes, even children from good homes can rebel. Yet Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-15:

⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I imagine Timothy, as he was growing up, made all the same mistakes that our own children (and we ourselves) made. I believe that he went through his rebellious stage, that he spent time experimenting in the world, that he perhaps went out “with the boys” and did all the wrong things.

Yet his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice planted the seeds of the Gospel in his heart by teaching him from the time he was a child. They shared with him a love of the Scriptures. Later on in his life when Paul led him to Christ, this foundation laid by his godly mother and grandmother came into play.

That’s the influence of a Godly woman!

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

I read of a man who. as a young child, prayer a simple prayer his mother taught him.  Maybe you prayed it also – I know I did.  The prayer was:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray, dear Lord, my soul to take.

He prayed this prayer as a small child, kneeling at the foot of his bed. His mother came in every night to kiss me goodnight, and she’d always ask, “Have you brushed your teeth and said your prayers?”. If he had forgotten, he’d get up from the bed and say his prayers.  As a teenager he, out of rebellion, ran away from home – but he prayed the same prayer he lay in his bunk – scared —  Juvenile Hall in California. Some time after that, he was knocked unconscious and left for dead by one of his “friends” while out partying late one night – and when he woke up in the hospital the next day he prayed the same prayer. Finally, he accepted Christ as his savior and – with tears in his eyes – prayed that same child’s prayer.   He says now that the prayer meant something to him as a child, but it meant so much more now.  That simple prayer his godly mother taught him finally brought him to Christ.

That’s the influence of a Godly woman!

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

We need the godly women we have at Hopewell – and we need more of them! We need more women who — whether they are mothers or not – married or single – are willing to play a vital role in our Church.  We need more Godly women are willing to play a vital role in the Christian education and nurture of our young people – whoa re willing to  play a vital role in all aspects of our Church – willing to serve in the kitchen as well as on the Session – willing to busy themselves with crafts as well as with leadership – willing to work behind the scenes and in the spotlight – willing to work wherever and do whatever is needed – and bless us all by their commitment to being the people God has called them to be and leading us as a Church to be the Church God is calling us to be.

We need women who know Jesus as their savior – who are seeking internal Godliness – and who are committed to taking the time to train our young people in God’s ways – or do whatever they can – to make Hopewell the Church God would have us be! –

Certainly we need men with the same commitment – but today I want us to celebrate what the Godly women are doing – and call on others to do the same. We’ll focus on the men next month. But – for now – I – and I believe all of us – want to say:

“Thanks”

“Bless you!”

“Thanks for all you do!”

Yea –

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!   Amen.

Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24: 13-35

Easter Means Changed Lives: Cleopas’ Story

Part 3 0f 2009 Hopewell Easter series: Easter Means Changed Lives

May 3, 2009

Easter 4

Read Scripture

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians.  It is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

This year as we worship during the Easter season we are looking at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As we look at their stories, we’ll see how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

Two of those who experienced the risen Christ – and had their lives changed – were Cleopas and a friend of his – whose name we don’t know.

We don’t know a lot about Cleopas – but we can look at his name – especially the Greek version of his name — other pieces of scripture — and some bits of ancient Church history and piece together some things about him. The name Cleopas appears in the passage from Luke we’re looking at today – and also in John 19:25 as he is listed as the husband of a Mary who was present at the crucifixion – not Mary the mother but “another Mary”. In the Latin language, which was common in Biblical times, the name in Cleopas in Aramaic would have been Alphaeus – the name given as the father of James “the lesser” (called that to distinguish him from the brother of John) in all four of  Gospels lists of the 12 disciples.  And here’s another interesting tidbit — Eusebius, the fourth century church historian, records that Cleopas was the brother of Joseph of Nazareth–Jesus’ earthly father.

So – if we are making correct assumptions with all these connections here – Cleopas was not only a follower of Jesus – but was his uncle – the father of one of the disciples – and the husband of one of the women at the crucifixion.  Very close connections indeed!

So – it’s understandable that Cleopas and his unnamed friend were confused and felt very “down” that first Easter evening as they made the 7 mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

They must have felt that everything they had hoped for in Jesus had died and been buried with Him.

Especially if you believe the inferences in the name Cleopas from scripture and from the historian Eusebius, you can understand how he must have felt that first Easter evening.

His nephew – one that he loved – had been crucified.

His nephew – whom his son James had given his life to follow and learn from – had been crucified.

His nephew – whom he may have followed himself – come to believe – as his son James believed – was the Christ – had been crucified.

His nephew – whom he may have believed was his hope for salvation – the Messiah – God’s “anointed one” who would make a difference in his life – his community – and the world – was dead.

He may have been at the cross on that Friday – and his wife may have stood with Mary – the mother of Jesus – as Jesus died.

He had hoped that Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel – bring God’s will for salvation and love and peace to their lives – their community – and their world.

But now those hopes seemed to be as dead and buried as Jesus was.

Even reports that the tomb was now empty seemed like empty hope.

As Cleopas and his friend made the 7 mile walk to Emmaus that first Easter evening they were very sad – depressed – and felt that there was no longer anything to hope for.

As a stranger came along beside them and began talking to them, all they could do was share their grief and sadness.

As the stranger explained scripture to them, they had a hard time hearing what He was saying – their grief and sadness was so strong.

As arrived in Emmaus they did remember their manners and extended hospitality to the stranger – inviting Him to stay with them that evening.

Then – it happened.

As they sat at the supper table with this stranger, He took the bread and broke it – and with that – as Luke puts it –

Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.

Maybe Cleopas had been along at The Last Supper or some other time like the feeding of the 5,000 or the 4,000 or some other shared meal where Jesus had broken and shared bread –  or maybe his son James had told him stores – but somehow Cleopas and his friend recognized Jesus.

This was not a stranger – it was Jesus!

Jesus – Cleopas’ nephew (if we are believe the connection established by  Eusebius).

Jesus – whom Cleopas’ son James had given his life to following!

Jesus — whom Cleopas had come to hope was the one who would redeem Israel – bring God’s will for salvation and love and peace to their lives – their community – and their world!

Jesus – not dead – but alive!

Then – He vanished.

But – in that brief encounter – Cleopas and his friend had their lives changed.

No longer were they sad and depressed.

No longer did they feel that all was lost.

No longer did they feel that there was no hope.

No longer did they feel that there was no hope for their lives – their community – and their world.

Now – they knew that all was not lost.

Now – they knew that there was hope.

Now – they knew that things could be different.

Now – they knew there was hope for their lives – their community – and their world.

Now – they knew that there was indeed hope –

They knew things could be c hanged –

They knew God was doing something new and marvelous –

because now they knew that Jesus had risen!

The news that Jesus had risen – that Jesus was alive – that there was hope – and that God was indeed doing new things – thrilled them so much that it was like their hearts were set on fire – and they ran back to Jerusalem – probably setting a world record for a 7 mile run – with the great news that Jesus had risen!

Jesus has risen!

We saw Him!

Their hearts were set on fire —

Their lives were set on fire by the risen Christ – and they began spreading the news that Christ had risen – and the fire in their hearts began a conflagration that set their community and the world on fire for God!

They experienced the risen Christ – God put a spark in their hearts – and the fire continues to burn to this day!

Their lives were changed.

They went from hopeless and depressed to hope – filled and excited – because they experienced the risen Christ!

Friends – that’s what Easter is all about!

Easter means lives can be changed. .

The resurrection of Christ means lives can be changed.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

That’s what happened to Cleopas – his friend – and so many others as they experienced the risen Christ – their lives were changed – their hearts were set on fire — and God changed the world as they shared their excitement.

That can happen to us.

That can happen to you.

You can experience the risen Lord – you can let Jesus touch your life and change you –  you can let Jesus put a spark of excitement in your heart – a spark that you can share and that can start a fire for God that can burn and change this Church – this community – and the world.

Like Cleopas — you can be “on fire” for God!

Friends – Easter means that God is doing something new and different – changing us – changing our Church – changing our community – and changing the world with His news of salvation – new relationships with Him —  and hope.

Easter means that we can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and that boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be “on fire”!

Easter means that you can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be “on fire”!

“On fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others here in the Church – and with the world.

I talked about the “domino effect” a few weeks ago – how when you line up dominoes and push one they all begin to fall – but that the first had to fall to start the process. I invited you to be that first domino – that first one to get excited about Christ and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others – so that the Church and the community can become excited about God is doing among us.

Not only do you need to be the first domino.

You need to be the first spark – the spark that God can use to create a fire in the Church and the community for Him and His will.

Easter means that you can be “on fire”!

Easter means that you can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be the one to start the fire for God and for Christ.

God is doing a new thing!

God wants you to be a part of that!

God wants you to be “on fire”.

“On fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others.

Friends — we are gathered here on this Fourth Sunday of Easter to celebrate something!

We are gathered here to celebrate the power of the resurrection of Christ – the new things God is doing in our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — the “fire” that the risen Christ can “spark” within our hearts and within our lives.

There can be a fire today!

A Holy Fire that God can start and that can’t be put out!

But – it has to start somewhere.

It has to start with someone.

Will it be you?

Will others look at how you are living – your excitement – your joy – your commitment to sharing Christ with others – and be alarmed at the fire that is within you?

Will they look at you — how you are living – your excitement – your joy – your commitment to sharing Christ with others – and want to pull the fire alarm because your excitement is so contagious?

Will your joy and excitement for the risen Christ start a conflagration  that will set the Church and the community on fire for Christ?

There can be a fire today!

A Holy Fire that God can start and that can’t be put out!

But – it has to start somewhere.

It has to start with someone.

Will it be you?

The fire that burned in the heart of Cleopas and his friend started a conflagration that changed the world. This was no “false alarm” – this was a fire that became a fire that consumed each of their hearts and lives and through them consumed the hearts and lives of thousands of others.

They experienced Christ – and became “on fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.

So –what about you?

Friends – I want to give you fair warning here — there is a report of a fire here at Hopewell.

Some have reported seeing smoke as some of us have become excited.

Some have sounded the alarm.

Some have become alarmed as over 13 members and friends of Hopewell gathered last weekend and scatted into the community – doing things for those who needed things done for them.

Some have become alarmed as there is talk that some of us just might take gather and scatter into the community with the message of Christ and the Church– going in teams to spread the word of what God is doing for us here at Hopewell.

Some have become alarmed and have begun to talk about us!

But – here is a question – is it a false alarm?

Or – is it a conflagration – the fire of excitement and enthusiasm that can touch us – consume us – and through us touch and consume our community and the world?

Are we really “on fire”?

Are you “on fire”?

“On fire” for Christ?

“On fire” for God?

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world?

Easter means that you can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be the one to start the fire for God and for Christ.

God is doing a new thing!

God wants you to be a part of that!

God wants you to be “on fire”.

“On fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others.

Like Cleopas and his friend after recognizing Christ — you can let the risen Christ touch your life — and you can be “on fire” — filled with the joy of the risen  Christ and sharing that joy with everyone you know and in everything you say and do.

You can let the risen Christ make a difference in how you live.

You can be “on fire” for the risen Christ – and doing His work with joy and enthusiasm – and your fire can set a spark in others – and the Church and the world can be changed for God’s glory.

Don’t let the “report of a fire” here be a false alarm!

Let it be the truth!

Let it truly be the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit and the risen Christ at work in you and in each of us – moving you and each of us us to greater commitment – and moving you and each of us to greater excitement for what God is calling us to do.

Can you see the spark?

Can you see the flame?

God is doing something new here.

There is a spark of excitement here at Hopewell – but we have to let it grow and burn even more brightly until it becomes that conflagration that can consume us – consume the Church – and through us consume our community and the world.

In camping you might start a fire with a small flame – or just a spark – but if you give it the right things — and keep it away from the wrong things — it can grow into a roaring fire.

One thing a spark needs is fuel – maybe some small twigs at first – then some bigger pieces of wood as it grows into a fire.

What is the fuel we need if we are going to let the spark of excitement here at Hopewell?

One thing we need is commitment to the things that can help us grow as Christians.

Things like a commitment from each of us to our devotional lives – our daily prayers – our daily reading of God’s word and growing in our lives as Christians.

Daily, personal study of God’s word is vital if we are going to be “Easter Christians” – “on fire” for God – “on fire” for Christ.

As you commit yourself to daily, personal study of God’s word – you will burn more brightly for Christ.

Then – you can add other types of fuel – like a commitment to the worship – the study – the fellowship –and the service times we have here at Hopewell.  As you become more and more committed to your personal faith and your involvement in the things of the Church you will see the flame – the fire of excitement and commitment to the things of Christ – grow into a consuming fire – a conflagration that can consume us and though us consume this community – and the world.

Fuel is one of the things that a spark needs if it is going to grow.

Sharing of ideas – acceptance of ideas – and Christian love and fellowship are some of the other “right things” that can help fan the flame of commitment here at Hopewell.

But – as I said – there are some things you want to keep a spark away from – because they can snuff it out quickly.

Water and dirt – anything to take away the oxygen – are some of the things that can put out a fire when you are camping. These are things you want to keep away from the flame.

There are some things we need to keep away from the spark of excitement here at Hopewell, also.

Things like not participating.

Things like not caring.

Things like not being willing to consider new ideas and new ways of doing things.

Things like not being willing to get involved in your own prayer life – or the  worship – the study – the fellowship –and the service times we have here at Hopewell.

These are the things that can put out that flame – that fire – quickly.

These are the things that can turn the report of a fire in the Church into a false alarm.

But – as you get more and more involved in the things that can fuel the fire of excitement – the Holy Fire God wants us to have in our lives and the Church – others will see the difference the risen Christ is making – and the spark will grow.

Friends — Easter means lives can be changed. .

The resurrection of Christ means lives can be changed.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

Easter means that you can have your life set on fire for Christ – and your spark can spread to the Church – the community – and the world.

Because of the risen Christ, you can be on fire – for Christ.

Because of the risen Christ, we call can be on fire – and God can make a difference in our lives – our Church – our community – and the world.

Amen.

John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31
Easter Means Changed Lives: Thomas’ Story

April 19, 2009

Part 2 of Hopewell “Easter Means Changed Lives” series

Read Scripture

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians – because it is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

For the next few weeks we are going to look at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As we look at their stories, we’ll see how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

God is changing lives.

God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

So – let me ask you – it has been a week since our celebration of the resurrection of our Lord — what kind week has it been for you?

Has it been a week filled with glorious hope — the glorious hope and power of God and the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ?

A week filled with a joyous response to God because of the way our lives and our world are changed because of the resurrection of Christ?

A week of bringing the new life and hope we have in Christ into the world with joy and enthusiasm?

Is that the kind of week it’s been for you?

Or —

Has it been pretty much a week of “business as usual” — some joy but mainly just the mundane — work and whatever we usually do?

Did you leave the joy and excitement of Easter here last Sunday?

Did you forget to take it home with you — and take it out into the world?

Has the promise of the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ changed your life –and given you a joyous message to proclaim to the world?

Has the promise of the new life we have in Christ – the change that Christ can make in our lives – our Church – our community – and the world – filled you with joy and excitement — and a new vision for what God can do in your life – the Church – the community – and the world?

Or –

Does the reality of the world – the reality of your life – the reality of things in the Church and the community seem to sap the energy and enthusiasm and “good news” right out of you?

Is it that your life and world and things in the Church just seem so hard to change – that you give up trying to let the resurrected Christ make a difference in your life – the Church – and the community before you even start?

Indeed — as we come together today you may find yourself wondering —

“So what if Christ has risen?”

“What difference does it make — to me?”

“What difference does it make in my life?”

“What difference does it make in this Church?”

“What difference does it make in the world?”

“Where’s the new life Christ offers?”

These are indeed legitimate questions — for as you go through your life it may be hard to see and experience the new life the resurrection of Christ offers you – and as you try to change the Church so it can be the active, excited Church God wants us to be that reaches out into the community with His love you may find it hard to believe that it can be done.

It may be hard to truly believe that things can be truly different in your life — in the Church – in the community – and in the world — because of the resurrection of Christ.

It may be hard to believe in the new life – the changed life – the changed Church – the changed community – the changed world that are possible because of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Maybe you are wondering if this new life – new Church – new community and new world can really happen.

Well — maybe — as you begin to think about your own struggles with believing in the new life Christ offers us — you can understand some of Thomas’ struggles.

Imagine that you are Thomas.

You are not there on that Easter night when Jesus appeared to the other disciples — so — as the other disciples excitedly tell you that Jesus has risen and appeared to them — you find it hard to believe. You don’t see much difference in your life — you are still scared — you still fear that the Jewish authorities may come and arrest you, also — you still feel ashamed for abandoning Christ — you just can’t understand what the others are so excited about.

Everything looks the same to you — and maybe your are asking the others:

“What new life are y’all talking about?”

“What new life are y’all talking about?”

“I don’t see any difference.”

It would indeed have been hard for you to believe in new life.

It would have been hard for you — until — you had an experience with the risen Christ — and saw His wounds for yourself — and put your fingers in the nail prints and His pierced side.

At that point — everything changes.

At that point — you begin to believe.

At that point — you begin to believe in new life.

At that point you begin to get excited.

Yes — Thomas became so excited about the new life Christ offered him that he wanted to tell the world. In fact, he wanted to tell the world so badly that he disobeyed the Roman government — the Jewish officials — and anyone else who tried to silence him.

So — what changed Thomas?

What happened to him?

What happened was that He finally had his opportunity to see and experience the risen Lord — to put his hands in the nail prints — and believe – and this changed his life.

In a sense, he became a “blood brother” with Christ.

My best friend as I was growing up was John Mackintosh.

John and I lived about a block from each other — and we saw each other almost every day. We were in the same grade in school — after school we would usually do things together — we roomed together for the first 3 years in college — he was a groomsman in Sally and my wedding.

When we were about 6 years old we became interested in Indians — as many boys that age do. We decided that we would bond our friendship in the way we had heard many Indians did. This is not the most hygienic thing to do but in 1961 we didn’t know about things like AIDS – so I would not recommend this practice to young people today — but John and I went to our secret hiding place one day — I pricked the middle finger on my right hand and he pricked his — letting the blood flow freely. We then touched fingers — and let our blood mingle.

We were blood brothers.

People who knew us said that we began to act alike talk alike — do things alike. We thought to ourselves that this is what blood brothers did.

Well, Thomas became a “blood brother” with the risen Christ.

He put his hand in Jesus’ nail-pierced hand and His pierced side.

In a very real sense, he became a blood-brother with Christ — his risen Lord — as his hands touched the wounds of Christ. At that moment he began to believe in the new life the risen Christ offered him – and began working to change the world with the power of the risen Christ.

He began to act like Christ.

After all — that is what blood-brothers do — isn’t it?

He began to proclaim the joy of the resurrection and the new life Christ offered to all.

He began to believe in the new life.

The community of believers that arose as the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost knew what new life was all about.

They lived as brothers and sisters with Christ — and in Christ.

They took Christ’s teachings to share and give to others quite literally — because the love of Christ was within them.

They had been touched by Christ’s Spirit — it made a noticeable difference in their lives.

Their lives were changed.

Their lives were new.

They lived differently — and everyone knew it.

You know what — like Thomas, you can begin to believe in the new life.

Like the early church – you can begin to believe in and live and boldly proclaim the new life we have in Christ.

You can begin to believe in — and live — the new life Christ offers you.

You can become a “blood brother” with Your risen Lord.

You can let the risen Christ touch you in new and different ways — and have a deep effect on how you live your life.

In your prayer life, your study of Scripture, your worship, your fellowship, your active participation in all aspects of the life of the church — you can experience the risen Lord in new ways — and share the new life Christ gives to you.

You can deepen your relationship with our risen Lord.

You can become a “blood brother” with our Lord – you can see His pierced hands and side – you can realize that He suffered death for you — yet rose again – you can experience His amazing love and power – and begin to act like Him —

which is — of course — what blood bothers do — isn’t it?

You can experience the new life God offers in the risen Lord – and share it with others.

Instead of doubting if new life and new opportunities for your life – the Church – the community – and the world is possible – you can experience the risen Christ and joyfully share the new life and new possibilities He gives you with others – and with the world.

Instead of looking at your life – the Church – the community – and the world and wondering why things are like they are – you can let the risen Christ give you a vision for how He wants things to be and wonder “Why not”?

Instead of complaining about how things are – you can let the risen Christ give you a vision for how they can be – and be a partner with Him in working to make them that way.

Instead of just seeing problems and not doing something to change them and make a difference – you can be a part of the solution that Jesus wants to provide for your life – the Church – - the community – and the world.

Instead of saying:

“I don’t see that anything has changed” —

You can truly experience the new life in Christ — and truly share it with others.

Others can begin to notice the love — the commitment – and the new life you have in Christ.

Others can begin to notice the difference Christ has made in your life.

It happened for Thomas

It happened for the early church.

It can happen for you.

New life is certainly a possibility for you.

New life can certainly be a reality for you.

And – it becomes a domino effect –

As you let the risen Christ touch you and change your life – others in the Church will begin to see the difference in your life and be touched by the new life Christ offers – and the Church will begin to be changed. Then – as change occurs in the Church – people in the community will begin to experience the new life Christ offers as we reach out to them with His love – and their lives will be changed – and on and on it will go.

But it begins with the first domino being toppled.

It begins with you.

It begins by your letting the risen Christ touch you and change you.

The message of Easter does not overlook reality.

It does not overlook the world and all its problems.

It does not call upon you to overlook your struggles to be faithful — your struggles to live your life in the ways of Christ – the struggles we experience as a Church to be the Church God calls us to be – the struggles we see in the community and the world –

No — the message of Easter is this:

Your faith may not be as strong as it should be

You may not be as committed to Christ as you can be

Your life may not be how you want it at this moment — it may not even be how God wants it to be

The Church may not be the Church you want it to be – and it may not be the Church God wants it to be

Things may not be the way God wants them in the community and the world –

Nevertheless — Nevertheless —

Christ has risen!

Your faith can be strengthened.

You can have a new commitment.

You can experience the new life in Christ.

The Church can be changed.

The Church can be different.

The community can be changed.

The community can be different.

because Christ has risen!

That’s the message of Easter and the Easter season.

Christ has risen.

There is new life — and new hope.

There is new life — and new hope —

for you —

for the Church —

for the community –

for the world –

because Christ has risen!

Friends – instead of doubting that new life – a changed life – a changed Church – a different community – a different world – is possible –

you can experience the new life that is yours through the risen Christ – and share the difference Christ makes in your life with others so the Church – the community – and the world can be changed!

Experience the risen Christ.

Let yourself become a “blood brother” with Christ.

Dare to let the risen Christ really touch your life.

Dare to let yourself touch the risen Christ in a life-changing way.

Dare to let Christ touch you in a way that will completely change you — so others can truly share the difference Christ has made in your life — the new life Christ has given you – and be Christ’s partner in changing the Church – the community – and the world.

Friends — Christ has risen!

Friends — there is new hope!

For you – for the Church – for the community —

Friends — there is new life!

If you came in these doors this morning wondering if the new life we have because of the risen Christ were true — and if you could believe it – I invite you to leave from here this morning celebrating the truth.

It is true.

New life is true.

New hope for the Church – the community – and the world is true.

It is true.

Thank God — it is true.

By the power of the risen Christ — we have a living hope — a hope for a new life and new opportunities – and changed life – a changed Church – a changed community – and a changed world.

Friends — we can stop questioning the new life we have in our risen Lord — and start living it.

Easter means changed lives.

We can live it – we can experience it – we can share it with each other – we can share it with the community – we can share it with the world – and Christ can make a difference – in the Church – the community – and the world — because Christ has risen! Amen.

John 20:1-18.09

John 20:1-18

“Easter Means Changed Lives: Mary’s Story”

Easter Communion

April 12,2009

Read Scripture

Easter is the most joyously celebrative day in the Christian year.

You can tell it in the beauty of the sanctuary.

You could tell it in the beautifully celebrative Community Service we had this morning – and the celebration of fellowship over good food afterwards.

You can tell it in the beauty of the music.

You can tell it in the beauty of the service as we celebrate the Sacrament of Communion.

All these elements work together to make this day the high point of our worship for the Christian year.

But what really makes today the high point of the Christian year – the reason we celebrate and fellowship in such a joyous way today — is the fact that this is our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus – the way He can change our lives – and the hope for new life in heaven as well as new hope a changed life here and now.

The resurrection of Christ is what makes us Christians – it is God’s response to sin and death – God’s assurance that sin and death do not have to have power over us – but that we can have hope through our risen Lord Jesus Christ.

For the next few weeks we are going to look at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As we look at their stories, we’ll see how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

God is changing lives. God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

One of those who had her life changed by the risen Christ was Mary Magdalene.

She must have felt alone – dejected – and that all hope was lost as she came to the tomb that first Easter morning.

Jesus — whom she had followed and in whom she had placed all her hopes and dreams — was dead — and it must have seemed that all her hopes and dreams of a better way of living — all her hopes and dreams of a new life – all her hopes and dreams of living differently and making a difference in the world had died with Him.

She had hoped that Jesus would make a real difference.

She had given her life to Jesus – she had committed herself to following Him – she had devoted herself to following His teaching – she had celebrated when Jesus had healed those who needed healing – and had rejoiced when Jesus had given new life to Lazarus.

She was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah – God’s chosen one – the one God had sent into the world to bring the world back to Him.

She had hoped that Jesus would truly make a difference in her life – and the world.

She was even ready to commit her life to following Jesus and help Him make a difference in the world!

But now – as she approached the tomb that first Easter morning – everything must have seemed different.

All her hopes and dreams must have seemed to have been buried with Jesus. She must have felt alone — and she must have felt like there was no way that she could get new hope for her life.

But then something happened.

She encountered the risen Christ – and in that encounter she realized that there was hope – that in Jesus God was truly changing her life and changing the world.

She had a new sense of hope.

She had a new sense of joy.

She suddenly had hope for a new and different way to live.

She suddenly had hope for a new and different world.

Just when she least expected it — God gave her new life — and God gave her new hope.

She now had hope for a different life – a life that was much more meaningful and joyous than she had ever dared to imagine before.

She now had hope for a different world – a world that was much more meaningful and joyous than she had ever dared imagine before.

As she ran back to the disciples with the news that she had seen the Lord she may have been confused — maybe incredulous — maybe even scared — but she also must have felt hope.

Hope that Christ was with her.

Hope that things could truly be different.

Hope that her life could truly be changed.

Hope that the world could truly be changed.

Can you imagine what a change there must have been in her voice – in her countenance – in her very self – as she found the disciples and announced to them;

“I have seen the Lord!”

What a message of joy and hope that must have been!

“I have seen the Lord!”

What a different message that must have been than the one she must have communicated earlier.

“I have seen the Lord!”

Her life was different!

Her life was new!

Her life had been changed!

She had seen the Lord!

Friends – Easter means that Christ has risen.

Easter means that everything has changed.

Easter means that everything can be seen from a different perspective – God’s renewing, life changing, world changing, perspective!

Easter means hope for changed lives!

Easter means hope for a changed Church!

Easter means hope for a changed community!

Easter means hope for a changed world!

As we gather around the Lord’s Table on this Easter morning – as we come into this beautiful sanctuary and as we celebrate the Sacrament of Communion – - there is hope – and the potential for change.

There is hope for our lives — there is hope for our families — there is hope for our community — there is hope for our church — there is hope for our world — because of the risen Christ.

There is the potential for change for our lives – there is the potential for change for our families – there is the potential for change for our church – there is the potential for change for our community – there is the potential for change for our world.

Because of the risen Christ — there is new life.

Because to the risen Christ — there is hope.

Because of the risen Christ – things can be different.

Because of the risen Christ – things can be changed.

Because of the risen Christ — there is hope — new life – a difference – and change — when we least expect it.

Because of the risen Christ – we can – like Mary — see the Lord.

Because of the risen Christ we can experience the Lord – and our lives – our Church – our community – and our world can be changed and made new – today and forever.

Because of the risen Christ we do not have to give up hope for our lives – our Church – our community – and our word.

Because to the risen Christ we do not have to settle for things as they are in our lives – our Church – our community – and our world – but we can dream of things being different – and work for the difference God wants to make in our lives – our Church – our community – and our world.

Can you see the Lord?

Can you see the Lord?

Can you see the hope — the new life — the love the risen Lord offers us?

Can you see the new life God gives us — especially when we least expect it?

Can you see the changed life – the changed Church – the changed community – the changed world – God is offering us?

Can you see the Lord?

Can you see the Lord?

If so — act like it!

Let the joy of the risen Lord – the joy of new life – the joy of a changed life – Church – community and world infect your life – let it infect how you worship — how you fellowship with each other — how you share God’s love with the world.

Can you see the Lord?

Can you let the risen Lord fill you with hope for a better life – a better Church – a better community – a better world?

If so – act like it!

Let the world know that you see the risen Christ.

Let the surprising love of God that renews us and gives us new life — especially when we least expect it – change you and give you such joy that the world will see it and wonder what has happened.

Let it make a noticeable difference in your life.

Let it make a noticeable change in how you live.

Share the difference Christ has made in your life with the Church and the world.

If you have seen the risen Christ – if the risen Christ has changed your life — you can not keep that a secret. You can not keep the new life and new hope God offers us through the risen Christ a secret.

You have to let it change how you live.

You have to let it change how you worship.

You have to let it change how you fellowship with others.

You have to let it change your actions as you reach out into the world with God’s love.

You have to tell the world the message Mary told the disciples:

“I have seen the Lord!”

“I have seen the Lord!”

Can you see the Lord?

Can you see the Lord?

Has your life been changed by an experience with the risen Christ?

Have you experienced the Lord’s love in a new way?

Have you let Christ make your life new?

Have you experienced God’s new life — especially in a way you never expected it before?

Can you see the Lord?

Can you see the Lord?

Easter has a clear message.

The message of Easter is that it does not matter how bad things seem to be in our lives – our Church – our community – and our world – God is at work changing things and making things new.

It does not matter how sinful or troubles our lives may be – the message of Ester is that God is at work changing things and making things new.

The current state of our Church does not matter — the message of Ester is that God is at work changing things and making things new – and we can be partners with God in that work.

The current sate of the economy and other things in our community that can depress us and get us down do not matter — the message of Ester is that God is at work changing things and making things new – and we can be partners with God in that work.

The current state of affairs in the world does not matter — the message of Ester is that God is at work changing things and making things new – and we can be partners with God in that work.

Because of the resurrection of Christ — our lives — our families — our community — our church – - our world — can be made new by God who makes all things new — even when — or maybe it‘s better to say especially when — we least expect it.

Let the message of Easter change your life.

Let the message of Easter change how you live.

Let the message of Easter change how you relate to all people.

Let the message of Easter truly change how you live.

Let the message of Easter give you hope for life – hope for a new Church – hope for a new community – hope for a new world – and the energy to work for God’s will that will bring that hope into a reality.

Just as the risen Christ changed Mary’s life and gave here hope and joy — the risen Christ can change you – and givng you hope – and giving you joy.

The risen Christ can change your life – can change this Church – the community – and the world!

By the life changing power Christ can give us – we can see there is new life and new hope – and proclaim – like Mary –

“I have seen the Lord!”

“I have seen the Lord!”

and the Lord can strengthen us to work for His new life – His changed Church – His changed community – and His changed world – in all we say and do.

Yea –

Easter means changed lives – a changed Church – a changed community – and a changed world.

See it.

Feel it.

Let the new life the risen Christ gives be a reality for you – and work to make it a reality for others. Amen.