Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11; John 1:6-8,19-28

Christmas Profits And Christmas Prophets

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Advent 3

December 14, 2008

Read Scripture

We are now well into our celebration of Advent – and our preparations for Christmas.

In the Church we have many things going on to celebrate the coming of God – the coming of Christ – into our lives and into our world. Times of worship and fellowship are filling us with joy and anticipation – not to mention filling our calendars and with busy schedules – as well as our stomachs with good food!

In what some call “the real word” we have many different things to do – shopping, parties to attend, and many other things – and our jobs don’t slow down at this time of year either.

The Christmas season – for many — is about shopping – and the merchants are sure to tap into the shopping sprees. I guess the Holiday Shopping Season really begins the day after Thanksgiving with it’s early store hours and sales – they call it “Black Friday” because the merchants are hoping the sales will help then have a year that is “in the black” – making a profit – instead of “in the red” – not making a profit.

Maybe some of you shopped on “Black Friday” this year – when Sally and I came into town from Camden on “Black Friday” it looked as if there were a lot of folks out at Magnolia Mall and the surrounding stores! Sally used to get up early and take advantage of “Black Friday” – but she didn’t this year.

You know – for many the month of December is about making a profit.

Stores depend on their Holiday sales to make their year profitable.

The profits of Christmas sales is followed on Wall Street and debated on the news and talk radio. Advertisements fill our newspapers and our mailboxes.

I heard about one particular shopper who was so weary that when the “store greeter” wished them a “Happy Holiday” they snapped back –

“What’s so happy about it?”

Yea – even if the “store greeter” had said “Merry Christmas” the shopper may have shot back

“What’s so merry about it?”

Yea – for most of us Christmas is filled with busy schedules – and shopping, shopping, and more shopping.

And the merchants hope it is filled with profits, profits, and more profits.

But – back in the Church – we are not in the Season of Christmas yet – we are still in the Season of Advent.

Advent is a time for promise — for hope — for anticipation — for preparing for the coming of God — the coming of Christ — touching our lives with God’s mysterious love — and compelling us to have our lives changed by that love.

Advent is a time for seeing how God comes to us in mysterious — marvelous — exciting — and life-changing ways — not just with the baby in the manger so many years ago — but also here — and now.

We know that God has come to us in Christ — and made His love known to us in surprising ways – but sometimes we have to take the time to stop and remember what this season is really all about. Sometimes we miss the important fact that God continues to come to us in ways that are just as surprising as a baby in a manger. Sometimes we become so consumed in the world’s celebration of Christmas that we miss the continued work of God in the world – and we fail to join in that work — calling for different lives and a different world.

So – while the Christmas Season in the “real world” may be a time that the merchants hope is filled with profits, profits, and more profits – for us as Christians it needs to be a time filled with prophets, prophets, and more prophets.

Now – it may seem that I just said the same thing.

Let me explain.

For the merchants Christmas may be a time for profits –P R O F I T S.

For us as Christians it needs to be a time for prophets – P R O P H E T S.

For us as Christians it needs to be a time filled with prophets, prophets, and more prophets.

Prophets – that can help us have our vision renewed — and help us see God and God’s work in the world in a new way.

It is a time for prophets that can help us allow the coming of God into our world make a difference in our lives — so we too can be prophets — showing God’s work and will to others in all we say and do.

Christmas can be a time for profits – PROFITS – but it can also is a time for prophets – PROPHETS.

Prophets like Isaiah and John the Baptist – but also prophets like you and me.

Advent is a time for prophets.

Christmas is a time for prophets.

Many of us may contribute to the merchant’s profits – PROFITS – at the local stores and even online –

But do many of us contribute to the voices of the prophets – PROPHETS – who try to point us to God – and the true reason for what we do?

John was a prophet.

So was Isaiah.

Frederick Buechner — a Presbyterian minister and author — writes that prophets never have an easy time in life.

“There is no evidence to suggest” — Buechner sarcastically writes — “that anyone ever asked a prophet home for supper more than once. In fact, no prophet is on record as ever having applied for the job.”

John was a prophet — a man with a mission — and his mission was to tell people of the coming of Christ into the world — indeed the coming of God into the world — and to call people to repentance — to make their lives ready for Christ — who was already among them — but whom they did not see.

John knew his mission — and he carried it out well — but it didn’t make him popular. Many people didn’t want to hear John — or see Christ. They were too interested in protecting their own ideas and opinions of how things should be to see that God was among them — that something new was happening and life could no longer be “business as usual”.

They were too worried about their own profits to listen to this prophet.

Things could be different — very different — but many were missing the new life Christ offered all together. They had no interest in hearing John or seeing Christ because John’s message and Christ’s work would mean change for them — and they liked things the way they were. They didn’t want to let John’s message change their lives — and they definitely were not interested in seeing Christ.

They could not see the one who stood among them.

They refused to see.

But John was a prophet.

John saw — and understood — and proclaimed that God was at work in a new way in the world. God was at work in the world through Christ — who showed God’s will for justice — for love — for righteousness – for peace — ways that would change the way things were into the way God would have them to be.

This understanding — this proclamation — did not make John very popular — but he kept on understanding and proclaiming — for he was a prophet.

An Advent Prophet.

A Christmas Prophet.

A Prophet who was committed to showing God’s will at work in the world – working for God’s will in the world – and proclaiming that God has come into the world through Jesus Christ to change the world.

An Advent Prophet.

A Christmas Prophet.

In our Old Testament lesson we see that John is not the only one who understood how God was going to challenge the ways of the world and establish the ways of God. Isaiah proclaimed that he was anointed with the Holy Spirit — and had a mission in the world to work for salvation — peace — justice — and righteousness.

Like John — Isaiah was a Prophet.

But — people had no intention of listening to either Isaiah or John — or seeing God who was coming to the world through Christ to change the world — they wanted to live their lives as they saw fit — whether it was the way God saw fit for them or not.

Yes — John and Isaiah were prophets – - maybe not popular — but faithful — faithfully seeing God in the world — faithfully proclaiming the presense of God in the world to others.

Yes – - Christmas can be a time for profits – PROFITS – but it also should be be a time for is a time for prophets – PROPHETS.

So – here’s a question for you today:

as you help the merchants with their profits this season – are you also being a prophet for God and God’s work in the world?

Are we prophets — PROPHETS?

We celebrate Christmas — but does the fact that God has come into our world through Christ really make a difference in how we live our lives?

Does it make any real difference to us at all?

Do we let Christ truly change our lives?

Do we see how Christ can and does make a difference in the world — see and proclaim how the coming of Christ can change our lives and change the world?

Or — is Christmas simply a time for us to somehow just nod at the manger and the birth of Christ as we rush about our busy lives — too caught up in the things of the world to see and experience and proclaim the things of God?

Are we Christmas Prophets?

Friends — Christ has come.

God has come into our world.

Christ is among us.

The work of God is among us.

But — do we see Christ?

Here and now?

Does it make a difference to us that Christ has come into our world?

John and Isaiah were prophets. They saw and experienced and proclaimed that God was at work in their world and things could be completely changed for God’s glory. Yes — they were prophets — seeing and proclaiming the things of God.

What about us?

Are we Christmas Prophets – PROPHETS — seeing and experiencing and proclaiming to the world that things can be different because Christ has come — or are we like those who John and Isaiah addressed — those who wished John and Isaiah and prophets like them would just shut up so they could go about “business as usual” – making our own profits – PROFITS — or helping others make their?

Are we more like Isaiah and John — prophets — or more like their skeptical audiences?

We need to let the message of John — the message of Isaiah — sink in.

Christ is among us — and our lives — and our world — can be changed.

Let Christ change the way you live.

Understand your need for Christ — for salvation.

Understand your need for the new life that only Christ can bring.

That life that Isaiah spoke of – of healing – wholeness – peace.

Then — be a prophet.

Tell the world their need for Christ.

Tell others their need for the salvation Christ offers.

Tell others of that healing – wholeness – and peace Christ offers.

Be a Christmas Prophet.

Don’t just talk about people’s need for the life of salvation – healing – and wholeness Christ offers – but see yourself as being a Prophet — sent to – as Isaiah put it –

Bring liberty to the oppressed

Bind up the brokenhearted

Proclaim liberty to the captives

See the needs all around you – and do what you can to meet them with God’s amazing and life changing love. Reach out to people all around you with the good news of God’s love in your words and actions.

Be a Christmas Prophet.

Dare to go against the grain of those only interested in making profits or helping others make a profit – and declare that there is much more to this season that just profits — PROFITS.

There can be prophets – PROPHETS. People who point to God’s amazing and life changing love and lead others to it.

It may not be what the world wants to hear — in fact it probably won’t be. It may not make you very popular. You may confront the way people live — it may not make them comfortable — but — you will be seeing and proclaiming God — and the real message of Christmas – to the world.

You will be a prophet.

We must be prophets — calling for all to repent and believe in Christ — but also being about God’s work by reaching out to the poor — working for and calling for peace when others are working for and calling for conflict — giving to others instead of keeping so much for ourselves — feeding those who are hungry — warming those who are cold — proclaiming that Christ is among us — and the world will never be the same again.

Be a Christmas Prophet.

See to it that this Christmas season is not just filled with profits, profits, and more profits – PROFITS – but also Prophets – Prophets – and more Prophets – PROPHETS. Amen.

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-8

December 7, 2008

Advent 2

Getting Into The Christmas Spirit

Read Scripture

We are now well into our preparation for the day of Christmas.

You have probably finished decorating your house – much like the Church is decorated. A tree with ornaments – although you may not have Chrismons as are here – maybe you have a Poinsettia or two – maybe some bows and candles.

I hope you have begun your shopping – buying gifts for loved ones and friends. Some of you may be finished – but I doubt it!

Maybe you have already been to several parties and other event. You may even have several more you are planning on attending.

Maybe you have attended some special worship services that have focused on the seasons of Advent and Christmas. You may even have several more you are planning to attend — or if not may I suggest you consult the bulletin announcements of the newsletter and get inspired to attend several more!

It is indeed a busy time!

By now you may be wanting to slow down somewhat – but the month of December keeps rushing on – and maybe you feel like you are being drug around with too much to do!

In the Church we wait during Advent — and prepare for the coming of Christ — the coming of God — into our lives — touching us and changing us with God’s mysterious love –

a love so great that God breaks into our lives in surprising ways –

like a baby in a manger who becomes an adult on a cross — and invites us into deeper and more meaningful relationships with God and others.

In the Church year the season of Advent is a season of expectant hope — but in what we call “the real world” the weeks before Christmas are filled with hectic, frenzied activity — trying to get too many things done too quickly.

If we are not careful, it can be a depressing season — not a joyous season.

Did you ever notice that some people seem to have the Christmas spirit, but others just can’t seem to get in the mood?

Which one are you?

Are you the person that goes around singing Christmas carols, always feeling warm and fuzzy? Or, are you just aggravated that the Christmas season is just too overwhelming? Or are are you somewhere in between?

Why is it that some folks have the Christmas spirit and others don’t?

Maybe some don’t really understand what the true spirit of Christmas is really all about.

I believe that there is someone who can help us understand what the spirit of Christmas is all about – the Christmas spirit – indeed the Christian spirit that we need not only this time of year – but all the time.

This fellow in our passage for today – this man named John – may help us understand the Christmas spirit – and the Christian spirit. Yea — John the Baptist can help us discover what the true spirit of Christmas is – and get into the true Christmas spirit – and the true Christian spirit.

So – what is the Christmas spirit?

Well — John announced that the Christ would be coming soon.

“The one who is more powerful than I, is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals” he said.

John announced that Jesus was coming — but he also acknowledged that he was but a servant of God.

That’s part of the true Christmas spirit.

To understand – and get into – the true spirit of Christmas, we must be willing to humble ourselves. We must be willing to accept the fact that Jesus is greater than us – and that we are servants of God.

John was preaching to a people who were powerless because of an oppressive Roman government. They had no hope — no reason to believe that their lives had any meaning. When John announced that the Lord would be coming, he also said that his listeners would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. In other words, their lives would become filled with the spirit of God and they would be transformed from people without hope to people with hope – from people who were ordinary folk to people who were filled with God’s spirit – and excited about doing God’s will. But – first of all – they needed to be people who understood that God wanted to use them – and they needed to be humble before God and understand that they were servants of God. .

So do we.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit – and used by God.

Humility is not always an easy attribute to grasp. It requires emptying oneself, coming to grips with our humanness and our finitude.

I don’t know if you have ever watched the TV show “An Eye For An Eye” – I never have – but apparently it is one of those “People’s Court” shows that stars a Judge — called Extreme Judge Akim. In one case the defendant was a woman hockey coach who coached teenagers. One of the player’s father was giving her a hard time, harassing her during games and yelling at her from the stands. He was an obvious male chauvinist and didn’t believe women belonged in the game of hockey. He took the coach to The Extreme Judge Akim – his argument was that the coach didn’t play his son enough. If they did the team would have won more games. The judge, however ruled against him and said he had no case against the woman coach. Witnesses stated she was both experienced and committed to youth. For his punishment the man had to be a goalie and a player would take shots at him. After 31 scores and many hits to his body, the judge ruled the punishment was over. He then revealed that the hockey player taking the shots was none other than the woman coach. Now that he had eaten some “humble pie” the man had a different outlook on the woman coach.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit – and used by God.

The spirit of God cannot enter our souls until we are willing to humble ourselves and learn that we are mere mortals, in need of a powerful and eternal God. Hopefully we won’t have to go to the extreme of someone hitting us with hockey pucks before we understand that God wants to use us – wants us to be His servants – but we have to be humble before Him and willing to be used by Him.

Humility is the first step to understanding – and getting into – the Christmas spirit.

The second step is being ready.

John tells his listeners to get ready. Their lives could change; they become more faithful — more loving and more hopeful. The opportunity for change was close at hand. To take advantage of that opportunity they had to trust in John’s word. He was God’s messenger, “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” In addition to humbling themselves they needed to listen to John – and be ready for God’s work in their lives and their world.

So do we.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit — used by God – and we need to be ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God.

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up — wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified. Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, “Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled.” The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, “Wait a minute, I don’t understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That’s not fair!” The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: ‘If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.’ None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.”

We can assume that all of the applicants knew Morse Code – or else they would not have bothered applying for the job – but only one of them was alert enough to perceive the message being sent.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – filled with God’s Spirit — used by God – and we need to be ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God.

Friends — all of us know Christ – but we sometimes tune out God’s message to us — and completely miss it. We don’t see that God is at work – and calling us – here and now – be a part of His work in the Church – the community – and the world.

Being willing to be humble servants of God.

Listening to God – to God’s message to be filled with His Spirit and be about His work in the world.

2 steps to getting into the Christmas sprit.

There’s a third step that John explains.

Third — our lives need to be open to the spirit of God – and we have to be willing to change.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – people filled with God’s Spirit and used by God – ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God –and open to God’s Spirit and willing to change.

You see – John’s message was about repentance. Repentance means there is a change of direction.

Take, for example, Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. He was a stingy, grumpy, mean spirited man whose life was changed after being confronted by the ghosts of the past, present and future. When he saw how hopeless his life had turned out he was transformed — changed — and became generous and filled with a spirit of love.

A more contemporary story would probably be the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. The Grinch was totally transformed — his heart growing 3 sizes bigger! He became, kind, warm and generous and returned Christmas to the Whos in Whoville.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – people filled with God’s Spirit and used by God – ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God – and open to God’s Spirit and willing to change.

Here’ the thing — I really believe that everyone wants to change – but that we are stuck.

Some of us may feel trapped by our sins of the past. Others may feel distant from God. Others may be too busy pursuing our own personal agenda to give time to worrying about God and the Church.

As a result we are never fulfilled or satisfied – never transformed or changed by God – never filled with the Christmas spirit – never filled with the Christian spirit. We allow our lives to become nothing more than a treadmill with no way of getting off.

The key that can unlock the door to a new life – a new relationship with God – and lead us not living in the Christmas spirit – or for that matter the Christian sprit – is forgiveness. John proclaimed a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Forgiveness enables us to move away from the past and embrace the present.

If we are going to truly understand the spirit of Christmas – if we are going to get into the Christmas spirit – if we are going to be able to truly understand and get into the Christian spirit and the Christian life – we are going to have learn to be humble before God – servants of God – people filled with God’s Spirit and used by God – ready for God’s work in our lives and willing to listen to God – and open to God’s Spirit and willing to change.

Do you want more of the Christmas sprit?

Do you want more of the Christian spirit?

Learn to be humble before God.

Learn to be a servant of God.

Let God fill you with His spirit and let yourself be sued by God.

Be ready for God’s work in your life and be willing to listen to God.

Be open to God’s Spirit in your life.

Be willing to let God change you.

Doing these things – and letting God do these things in your life – will not only help you get into the Christmas spirit – but it will also help you get into the Christian spirit!

Amen.

Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:32-37

Isaiah 64:1-9

I Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:32-37

“What Are We Waiting For?”

Advent 1

November 30, 2008

Read Scripture

The poet Ann Weems hits the message of our lessons for today — and the meaning of the season of Advent — square on the head in her poem The Coming of God. She writes:

Our God is one who comes to us in a burning bush

in an angels song

in a newborn child.

Our God is one who can not be found

locked away in the church,

not even in the sanctuary.

Our God will be where our God will be,

with no constraints,

no predictability.

Our God lives where our God lives,

and destruction has no power

and not even death can stop

the living.

Our God will be born where our God will be born,

but there is no place to look for the one who will come to us.

When God is ready

God will come

even to a God-forsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

Watch …

for you no not when God comes.

Watch, that you may be found

Whenever – wherever — God comes.

Ann Weems Kneeling in Bethlehem p.13

You know — Advent is a strange season.

It is a season of waiting — nothing but waiting – waiting for something to happen.

Well — what are we waiting for?

In our personal lives we prepare for the Christmas holiday – and wait for Christmas — during the month of December.

In the Church we call the month of December Advent.

As a Church we wait in Advent — we prepare for — the coming of Christ — the coming of God — into our lives. We prepare for God to come to us — touching us and changing us with God’s mysteriously powerful love — a love so great God breaks into our lives in surprising ways — like a baby in a manger who becomes an adult on a cross — and invites us into deeper and more meaningful relationships with Him and others.

But –

What are we waiting for?

We know that Christ has come — the baby has been born — the angels have sung — the shepherds and Wise Men have gathered — and yes — the man has even died on the cross and rose from the dead — returned to heaven — and promised to come to earth again.

So –

What are we waiting for?

Maybe we are waiting for God to come to us in a new way — and really make a difference in our lives.

Maybe that’s why Advent is so important — it forces us to pause – to pause as individuals in our rush towards Christmas and all its frantic pace – to pause as a Church before we rush to the manger and reflect on what God has actually done for us through the Christ child — and even reflect as individuals and as a Church on what the God we meet at the manger is doing for us even now — and how — even now — our lives and our world have been changed because the baby has been born — Christ has come — and continues to come — and will indeed come again — and make a difference in our lives and our world.

So –

What are we waiting for?

Waiting is a predominant theme in the 3 Scripture lessons we heard a few minutes ago.

Isaiah cries to God the pain and anguish of captives desperately waiting for God to do something — to

“Tear open the heavens and come down”

as He had done in years past — and free the people in exile in Babylon.

He and the people of Israel were waiting.

Desperately waiting.

What are we waiting for?

Paul writes in I Corinthians to a congregation getting impatient as they await Christ’s second coming.

Waiting.

Impatiently waiting.

What are we waiting for?

Mak has Jesus telling the disciples that He will return at an unknown time — but unitl that time they are like slaves entrusted with work to do until the return of their master.

Slaves — doing their masters work until their master returns.

Waiting.

Busily — expetantly — waiting.

What are we waiting for?

Do we know?

In all three lessons for this day the people knew what they were waiting for.

Isaiah could speak so boldly to God because he knew what God had done in the past. He was only waiting and praying for God to do it again.

What are we waiting for?

The Christians in Corinth knew they were waiting for the return of Christ in all His glory to come and change the world into God’s glorious kingdom.

What are we waiting for?

The disciples knew what Jesus expected them to do until He returned — all they had to do was do their jobs while waiting for their master to return.

But –

What are we waiting for?

Do we know?

What are we waiting for?

Maybe we are waiting for God to come into our lives and change our world in a powerfully new way. Maybe we are waiting for a new experience of God that will shake us up – shake up the world – awaken us from our complacency – and excite us for God’s work.

Well – if that’s the case —

What are we waiting for?

Hasn’t Christ already come?

Hasn’t God already come into our world — completely changed our world through Christ?

Hasn’t God already changed our lives?

Haven’t we already had our lives shaken up by God?

Haven’t we already been awakened from our complacency — and excited about doing God’s work?

What are we waiting for?

Friends — the truth is — we no longer have to wait.

Christ is born.

Christ has come.

Our lives have been changed.

Our world has been changed.

God has come.

All we have to do is realize it.

All you have to do is let it make a difference in how you live.

Sure — realizing that God has come — and letting God change your life — is a tall order — but God can fill it .

God can change you — God can make difference — regardless of what kind of change or difference has to be made.

Let God do it!

Like the disciples — we have the work of our master to do until He returns. Our work is realizing that God has come to us — and proclaiming the coming of God into our world every day in concrete and specific words and actions.

Yes.

Christ has come.

The baby has been born in Bethlehem.

Our lives — and our world — have been — and can continue to be – changed.

Every day — as we let God change our lives — God comes to us again and again.

Our job is realizing that and proclaiming that.

So –

What are we waiting for?

Indeed — Advent is a time for us to pause before we rush into Christmas — before we let the world get us so hurried — before we as a Church rush to see the baby in the manger – it’s a time for us to pause and remember what God has done for us through Christ — how God has come into our lives — changed us — continues to change us — and calls us to proclaim Him in all we say and do.

It has happened.

God has come.

It is up to you to respond – and to let Christ’s coming make a difference in your life.

What are we waiting for?

Indeed — as Weems writes:

When God is ready

God will come

even to a God-forsaken place

like a stable in Bethlehem.

Watch …

for you no not when God comes.

Watch, that you may be found

whenever

wherever

God comes.

What are we waiting for?

Amen.

Luke 17:11-19

Matthew 23:34-40

Luke 17:11-19

“An Attitude Of Gratitude”

Part 4 of Hopewell Stewardship Series 2008

November 23, 2008

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

We began our Stewardship emphasis for this year 4 weeks ago as we looked at what it truly means to live as Christians – and what the most important things are for us to remember as we strive to live our lives in God’s ways.

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

4 weeks ago I talked a little about “final exams” and the Ordination Exams every Seminary graduate has to take before being ordained – and how they were filled with questions to which we prayed that we had answers.

I also talked about how Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life — writes that God has a Final Exam for us. He writes that — when our life is over — God is going to have 2 questions for us:

1. How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

2. What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions.

If you answer them in the way God wants you to answer them, He has a place in heaven prepared for you.

If not, your place will not be in heaven.

Maybe it would be wise to look at how to answer these questions in the way that will please God. As we move through November, we are going to look at the fact that God has questions for us – and whether or not we have answers.

4 weeks ago we looked at the primary passage that we’ll be looking at for the next few weeks — Matthew 22:34-40 – and saw that responding to Jesus by loving God with all our heart, soul and mind – and loving others as ourselves – are the 2 primary ways we can respond to God’s questions of how we responded to Jesus and what we did with what He gave us.

3 weeks ago we looked further at exactly what it means to love God and love others as we looked at Matthew 23:1-12 – and discovered that we not only have to talk about loving God and serving others – we have to do it. We can’t be “Do as I say – not as I do” Christians – we can’t be “Do as I say – not as I do” Church members – but we have to be Christians – we have to Church members – that show God and the Christian life to others I what we say and in what we do.

2 weeks ago we continued as we looked at Matthew 25:1-13 – and saw that it means using the gifts God has given us wisely. You see — when it comes to living the Christian life and using the gifts God has given us – we have to wise guys – and wise gals.

Last week we continued by looking at Matthew 25:14-30 – and saw that God does not want us to waste our talents.

Today we are going to look at Luke 17:11-19 – and see that we need to have an attitude of gratitude – and be thankful for all God has given us.

Listen to God’s word as we look again at Matthew 22:34-40 – then look at Luke 17:11-19.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions that God may ask us when we get to heaven.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

God does not want us to have to say:

“Lord – I know you gave me so much – and I know that you blessed me in so many ways – but it was hard for me to remember what I had to be thankful for as I lived my life every day.

Things happened, Lord.

Sometimes there were bad things going on in my life and I found it hard to focus on the good.

And then – at other times things were going reall well – but I didn’t think about how the good things were really from you – and I didn’t stop and thank you for them.

You understand – don’t you – Lord?”

No – that is not the response God wants to hear from us when He asks us how we responded to Christ and what we did with what He gave us.

And – yes – God would understand that response – but what God would understand is not what we might want Him to understand.

What He would probably understand is that we were not thankful for what He gave us.

What we would understand is that we did not an attitude of gratitude.

When it comes to responding to Christ, and using what God has given us – we need to look at all that God has given us – and have an attitude of gratitude.

We need an attitude of gratitude.

We need an attitude of gratitude.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind

Love your neighbor

Love God

Love others

Love Jesus

Love others

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

If you can say:

“I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – and mind”

You are able to give a response that is in line with what God wills for you to answer.

Having a personal relationship with Christ is the first step towards living the life God would have us live. That’s why – every day – you need to ask yourself:

“How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?”

“How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?”

If you can also say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – and I used what You gave me for Your glory – and to do Your work and will in the Church and the community”

You are able to answer God’s questions in the way God intendeds.

If you can also say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – and I used what You gave me wisely –

I used Your gifts to me to make a difference in the world and the community for Your glory – I used what You gave me to do Your work in the community and the Church – I used what You gave me wisely to make a difference for You in the Church and the community.”

You are able to answer God ‘s questions in the way God intends.

If you can also say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – and I knew You gave me many talents and many abilities. I used them for Your glory and to do Your work in the community and the Church. I did not waste my talents and abilities – but used them for Your glory”.

You are able to answer God ‘s questions in the way God intends.

If you can say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – was aware of all you gifts to me – and thankfully used them for Your word and will in the world.”

You are able to answer God ‘s questions in the way God intends.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

We need to have an attitude of gratitude.

An attitude of gratitude.

I read about a man who was talking to his teenage son after the two ot them had ridden a commuter train outside of New York City. It seems they were surrounded by middle-aged men who were worn out. Their clothes were wrinkled, their shirts were heavy with perspiration as they hunched over in their seats and clutched their copies of The Wall Street Journal.

After they got off the train, the son said: “Dad, they all seemed depressed.”

Have you ever noticed how few people appear — from the looks of their faces and from their body language — to be really happy? As you observe people from your automobile, or see them walking in the grocery store or the shopping malls, you see face after face looking tired, worn out, bored, or just drained of any emotion. You can go for hours without encountering a single truly happy person.

Life gets more serious as we get older; we know that. But one gets the impression that even kids are not as carefree as they were in the past. It’s a fact that team spirit and school enthusiasm have significantly weakened at the secondary level all over our country. High school students are a lot more serious than they once were. When you notice young people not having as much fun as they’re really entitled to have, you realize this is a symptom of a serious problem.

There are a myriad of reasons. Young people are from hurting and broken homes. The economy is not as promising as it once was; kids face doubt about the future. They face pressure to do well academically to get into a good school—a cheap school but a good school. They’re studying harder. They face scary problems in schools; violence is commonplace. There’s a lot of pressure to have sex—but don’t get pregnant! There’s confusion about sexual identity, and the rules change rapidly. Many young people don’t have a compassionate, wise person to help them sort these things out. No wonder it’s not as much fun to be a kid nowadays.

One of the most important things any church can do for young people is help them laugh. I love being a part of our Youth Group activities where our young people gather and we laugh – talk – and share God’s love with each other. I hope y’all realize what a great group of youth we have here at Hopewell – and what great leaders we have.

Churches and Christian homes can – and should — be places of joy. One of the secrets of a joyful spirit is coming to understand the graciousness of God.

Our mighty, holy, awesome God is at heart a gracious, generous, giving, compassionate, merciful God who cares about you – and blesses you.

When you look at all God has blessed you with, you can be thankful – and have an attitude of gratitude.

An attitude of gratitude.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

See what God has given you – be thankful for it – and use it for God’s glory.

Have:

An attitude of gratitude.

If we can come to appreciate and understand this, and let it work its way through our lives—our thoughts, our emotions, our relationships—we can be transformed by the grace of God. We will become more thankful people, and thankful people are joyful people. With Thanksgiving Day this week — it’s an appropriate time to reflect on this.

An attitude of gratitude.

Luke has given us a story from the life of Jesus that helps us reflect on the importance of being thankful for God’s goodness to us – the importance of this attitude of gratitude. Luke’s story can help us to grow in our own understanding of this important issue. With the story of the ten lepers, Luke emphasizes the rarity of a thankful spirit – the rarity of this attitude of gratitude.

Jesus healed 10 lepers of the hideous disease – and only one returns to thank Him. Notice Jesus’ final words:

And Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give God praise?’”

Ten had been healed of a disease that made them outcasts to society and that made them disfigured people – but only took the time to thank the person who had made his recovery possible.

Only one had an attitude of gratitude.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

See what God has given you – be thankful for it – and use it for God’s glory.

Have:

An attitude of gratitude.

Gratitude is rarely expressed.

A clergyman included this item in his annual parochial report: “Nine persons lost at sea.” When the congregation read it, they expressed shock and amazement. He said, “Well, eleven people came to me and requested prayers for e voyages they were taking this year. . But only two asked me to give thanks for a safe return. So I assumed the other nine were lost at sea.”

A man writing at the post office desk was approached by an older fellow who had a post card in his hand. The old man said, “Sir, could you please address this post card for me?” The man gladly did so, and he agreed to write a short message on the post card, and he even signed it for the man, too. Finally the man doing the writing said to the older man, “Now, is there anything else I can do for you?” The old fellow thought about it for a minute, and he said, “Yes, at the end could you just put, ‘P.S. Please excuse the sloppy handwriting.’”

How often do you hear people express sincere gratitude? Try an experiment. Keep track of the number of complaints you hear each day, and compare that with the number of times you hear people express sincere words of gratitude. The complaints will probably outnumber the expressions of gratitude.

Are we really grateful?

Do we really have attitudes of gratitude?
Or — are we more apt to complain than to give God thanks?

A person who has begun to accept how gracious God is to them becomes a grateful person. The have an attitude of gratitude – and are thankful people.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

See what God has given you – be thankful for it – and use it for God’s glory.

Have:

An attitude of gratitude.

I want to offer you three reasons to be thankful

First, be thankful for all the resources God has given you: creative minds, the ability to choose and act decisively, limitless knowledge to be discovered, the ability to grow and expand your horizons in art, music, literature, humor, and beauty—not to mention God Himself, who cares and hears and has given us His Word to show us how to live.

Perhaps some of you here today hace many problems in your lives. I would think that, whatever troubles you might be experiencing, you could sit down and without any trouble make a list of at least fifty concrete things for which to give God thanks. And that’s probably the best therapy for a troubled spirit.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

See what God has given you – be thankful for it – and use it for God’s glory.

Have:

An attitude of gratitude.

A second reason to be thankful is the providence of God. Over and beyond all things that happen, God is at work—guiding, directing, and bringing about his purposes.

In her book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells about an incident that taught her the principle of giving thanks in all things. It was during World War II. Corrie and her sister, Betsy, had been harboring Jewish people in their home, so they were arrested and imprisoned at Ravensbruck Camp. The barracks was extremely crowded and infested with fleas. One morning they read, in their tattered Bible, from 1 Thessalonians the reminder to rejoice in all things. Betsy said, “Corrie, we’ve got to give thanks for this barracks and even for these fleas.” Corrie replied, “No way am I going to thank God for fleas.” But Betsy was persuasive, and they did thank God even for the fleas. During the months that followed, they found that their barracks was left relatively unsupervised, and they could do Bible study, talk openly, and even pray in the barracks. It was their only place of refuge. Several months later they learned that the reason the guards never entered their barracks was because of those blasted fleas.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

See what God has given you – be thankful for it – and use it for God’s glory.

Have:

An attitude of gratitude.

The third reason for giving God thanks is that we’re commanded to be thankful. For our welfare, we’re told over and over to give thanks. Paul says we’re to be joyful and pray continually. We are to give thanks in all circumstances—”For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Isn’t that why so much of our worship is devoted to giving thanks?

I read of a minister who was meeting with a group of men in his church. One of them commented that he had been learning the lesson of giving God thanks in difficult times. He talked with some pain about serious job problems over the last seven or eight years and how his wife had been recently diagnosed with cancer. He said that he had been learning to give God thanks in the midst of these difficulties.

Choosing, as an act of the will, to thank God in whatever circumstances shows spiritual maturity. It not only pleases God, it puts our problems in proper perspective.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

See what God has given you – be thankful for it – and use it for God’s glory.

Have:

An attitude of gratitude.

John Henry Jowett, a British preacher of an earlier generation, said this about gratitude: “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” What did he mean? He meant that gratitude, like a vaccine, can prevent the invasion of a disgruntled, discouraged spirit. Like an antitoxin, gratitude can prevent the effects of the poisons of cynicism, criticalness, and grumbling. Like an antiseptic, a spirit of gratitude can soothe and heal the most troubled spirit.

To stop in the midst of a situation and simply breathe a three-word prayer, “Thank you, Lord,” can change everything. If you want to be a joyful person, you must develop an attitude of gratitude. A thankful spirit produces a joyful person. People who focus on their difficulties are difficult to be around. People who focus on their blessings are a blessing to be around. There’s no shame in weeping over our difficulties. Jesus weeps with us. But gratitude is the ground out of which a peaceful, thankful, trusting spirit can develop. Our tendency is to focus on our problems rather than on our blessings.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love God – love Jesus.

See what God has given you – and use it – wisely – for God’s glory.

See all that God has blessed you with – and have an attitude of gratitude.

What would it be like if we all were to devote ourselves to loving God and Jesus – asking ourselves each day: “How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?” – and if we all were to devote ourselves to giving thanks to God for all He has blessed us with – and devote ourselves to having an attitude of gratitude – an attitude of praising God for His gifts to us – and using them for His glory?

What would that look like?

What would the Church look like if we all committed ourselves to these things?

I dare say it would look – and even sound – different – as we all shared God’s love with each other and used what God has blessed us with for His work.

What would the community look like if we all were to devote ourselves to these things?

I dare say it would look – and even sound – different as we made a difference for God’s glory in this community.

What would the world look like if we all were to devote ourselves to these things?

I dare say it would look – and even sound – different as we made a difference for God’s glory in the world.

When God asks us:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

We need to be able to say that we loved Jesus with all our heart – soul – and mind – that we continually asked ourselves:

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

and do what we can to make our relationship with Christ vital and strong.

We also need to be able to say to God:

I realized your gifts to me – and with joy and gratitude used them to make a difference in the Church – the community – and the world.

We need to be able to say that we had:

An attitude of gratitude.

Amen.

Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 25:14-30

“Don’t Waste Your Talent”

Part 4 of Stewardship Series 2008

November 16, 2008

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

We began our Stewardship emphasis for this year 3 weeks ago as we looked at what it truly means to live as Christians – and what the most important things are for us to remember as we strive to live our lives in God’s ways.

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

3 weeks ago I talked a little about “final exams” and the Ordination Exams every Seminary graduate has to take before being ordained – and how they were filled with questions to which we prayed that we had answers.

I also talked about how Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life — writes that God has a Final Exam for us. He writes that — when our life is over — God is going to have 2 questions for us:

1. How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

2. What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions.

If you answer them in the way God wants you to answer them, He has a place in heaven prepared for you.

If not, your place will not be in heaven.

Maybe it would be wise to look at how to answer these questions in the way that will please God. As we move through November, we are going to look at the fact that God has questions for us – and whether or not we have answers.

3 weeks ago we looked at the primary passage that we’ll be looking at for the next few weeks — Matthew 22:34-40 – and saw that responding to Jesus by loving God with all our heart, soul and mind – and loving others as ourselves – are the 2 primary ways we can respond to God’s questions of how we responded to Jesus and what we did with what He gave us.

2 weeks ago we looked further at exactly what it means to love God and love others as we looked at Matthew 23:1-12 – and discovered that we not only have to talk about loving God and serving others – we have to do it. We can’t be “Do as I say – not as I do” Christians – we can’t be “Do as I say – not as I do” Church members – but we have to be Christians – we have to Church members – that show God and the Christian life to others I what we say and in what we do.

Last week we continued as we looked at Matthew 25:1-13 – and saw that it means using the gifts God has given us wisely. You see — when it comes to living the Christian life and using the gifts God has given us – we have to wise guys – and wise gals.

Today we continue looking at what it means to love God and love others – and looking at answers we might be able to give God when He asks us how we responded to Jesus and what we did with what He gave us – as we look at Matthew 25:14-30 – and see that God does not want us to waste our talents.

Listen to God’s word as we look again at Matthew 22:34-40 – then look at Matthew 25:14-30.

Read Scripture

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions that God may ask us when we get to heaven.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

God does not want us to have to say:

“Lord – I know You wanted me to love Jesus with all my heart – soul – and mind –

I know you wanted me to love others – and use what You gave me for Your glory and to do Your work in the Church – the community – and the world –

but I just never seemed to have time –

I seemed to always find other things to do than things that would show Your love to others –

I seemed to always sit back when things needed to be done in the Church – I knew someone else would do it.

I found it easier to not do things than be a part of the 20% who seemed to be dong 80% of the work.

You understand, don’t You Lord?”

God does not want that to be our response to his questions:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

You know – I’m sure God would understand if we had to make that response – but – the thing is – I believe that what He would understand is not what we would want Him to understand.

What He would understand from a response such as that is that we chose to waste our talent.

And He would understand that that is not what He gave us our talents for.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Jesus says:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind

Love your neighbor

Love God

Love others

Love Jesus

Love others

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

If you can say:

“I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – and mind”

You are able to give a response that is in line with what God wills for you to answer.

Having a personal relationship with Christ is the first step towards living the life God would have us live. That’s why – every day – you need to ask yourself:

“How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?”

“How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?”

If you can also say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – and I used what You gave me for Your glory – and to do Your work and will in the Church and the community”

You are able to answer God’s questions in the way God intendeds.

If you can also say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – and I used what You gave me wisely –

I used Your gifts to me to make a difference in the world and the community for Your glory – I used what You gave me to do Your work in the community and the Church – I used what You gave me wisely to make a difference for You in the Church and the community.”

You are able to answer God ‘s questions in the way God intends.

If you can also say:

“Lord – I loved Jesus – and I knew You gave me many talents and many abilities. I used them for Your glory and to do Your work in the community and the Church. I did not waste my talents and abilities – but used them for Your glory”.

You are able to answer God ‘s questions in the way God intends.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love Jesus

Use what God has given you to do His will in the Church, the community, and the world.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Jesus’ parable in our lesson for today forces us to question if we are using the gifts God has given to us – or wasting our talents.

The master in the story gives the servants huge sums of money.

A talent was 15 years worth of pay for a laborer. A total of 8 talents are given here — so that makes for 120 years of pay for a laborer. Quite a hefty sum indeed! And it is obvious the master wants a return on his investment. He is a rich man — but he is looking to get richer.

He gives the 8 talents to 3 of his servants.

The first servant — let’s call him Zechariah — is given 5 talents.

This is what he would normally make in 75 years of labor.

Quite a hefty sum of money.

What does Zechariah do with the money?

He invests it.

We don’t know how — just that he invests it. He uses what his master has given to him — he risks it — and makes a 100% profit to give the master upon his return. When the master returns, Zechariah is rewarded.

The second servant — let’s call him Zedikiah — is given 2 talents.

Not as much as Zechariah — but about what he would make in 30 years — so still a hefty sum.

What does Zedikiah do with the money given to him?

Well, like Zechariah, he invests it. Like Zechariah, he uses what his master has given him — he risks it — and makes a 100% profit doing so. When the master returns, Zedikiah is rewarded for his investment — just as Zechariah was.

So far so good.

But then we have the third servant.

Let’s call him Jehu.

Jehu is given 1 talent — not as much as Zechariah or Zedekiah — but still what he would make in 15 years labor. Still a hefty sum.

But Jehu is different than Zedikiah and Zechariah.

He is different in that he is scared.

He is scared to risk — to invest what his master has entrusted him with.

The master returns, and after rewarding Zechariah and Zedikiah for their profitable risk-taking, he pointedly reprimands Jehu for what he did.

Jehu did nothing — and instead of being rewarded for at least not losing what his master has given him, he is is reprimanded and punished because he did nothing with it.

Zechariah — Zedikiah — Jehu.

Three servants given three different amounts of money.

They use it in 3 different ways.

And who is the master pleased with?

The two who risked what had been given — not the one who is careful.

The ones who used what the master gave them.

Not the one who carefully protected – but in the process wasted – what the master gave him.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Jesus is telling a story here of economics – but — there is more than simple economics going on here.

There is a spiritual side to the story also — and that’s where the real point to the story is made. There is a side to this story that questions our relationship with God — and how we use the gifts God has given us.

What did you do with what I gave you?

God blesses each of us with so much. He gives so much to each of us. Maybe not monetarily — like the master in the parable — although money is indeed a blessing from God for many of us —

but God has also blessed us each with abilities.

These abilities may vary — but they are all gifts and abilities given to us by God — and to be used by us for God’s glory and the benefit of others.

When God asks us:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

We need to be able to say that we loved Jesus with all our heart – soul – and mind – that we continually asked ourselves:

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

and do what we can to make our relationship with Christ vital and strong.

We also need to be able to say to God:

I did not waste the talents you gave me – but used them for Your glory and to do Your work in the community and the Church.”

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

God will ask us:

What did you do with what I gave you?

How do we use what I gave you?

This is an important question.

The answer is important also.

Are you like Zechariah or Zedekiah — using what God has given you – thankful for what we have been blessed with — and using your abilities for God’s glory and the benefit of others?

Or — are you more like Jehu – wasting what God has blessed you with?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Too many times we don’t use what God has blessed us with for God’s glory or anyone else’s benefit. Like Jehu, we bury what we have been given.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Maybe you bury your abilities — your talents — under feelings of little self- worth or little importance – saying things like:

“I’m not that important.

What I have to offer won’t make a difference.”

That’s just an excuse, friends – and is not what God wants to hear when He asks us what we’ve done with what He gave us.

Here’s the ting – we don’t know how much of a difference we can make until we try.

We don’t know what we can do with what God has given to us until we try.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Maybe you bury our abilities — your talents — under laziness — saying things like:

“That’s too hard.

I don’t want to get that involved.”

Or whatever other excuse we may want to give.

That’s certainly not the response God wants to hear when He asks us what we have done with what He gave us.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Maybe you bury your abilities and gifts — your talents — under an attitude of just not caring about the fact that you can make a difference if you use what God has given us for God’s glory and the benefit of others.

Again – not the answer God wants to hear when He asks us what we have done with what He gave us.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Maybe you bury your talent under an attitude of:

“Nobody asked me to do anything”

Again – not the answer God wants to hear when He asks us what we have done with what He gave us.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Friends – if you have a gift – if you have a talent – you need to use it – step up and do things that need to be done. You might need to coordinate what you do with others – but believe me – the help will be most appreciated – and you will be using what God has given you to do His work and will in the Church and the community.

What it boils down to many times is fear – being afraid to risk — afraid to take a chance with the gifts and abilities God has blessed us with – and laziness – being too lazy to use what God has given us to do His work and will in the Church and the community.

What it boils down to is wasting the talent that God has given you to use For His glory in the world.

When God asks us:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

We need to be able to say that we loved Jesus with all our heart – soul – and mind – that we continually asked ourselves:

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

and do what we can to make our relationship with Christ vital and strong.

We also need to be able to say to God:

I did not waste the talents you gave me – but used them for Your glory and to do Your work in the community and the Church.”

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Think about you use what God has blessed you with.

Are you committed to seeing how you can use what God has given you?

If God has given you some musical talent – are you committed to using it for God’s glory?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to listen to the needs of others – are you committed to be a “listening ear” for those in need — and respond with the love of God?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to help those in need — are you committed to doing so — in the love and strength of God?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to work with children or young people — showing them the love of God in real and vital ways – are you committed to working with them in the strength and love of God?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to work with adults — or Senior Citizens – are you committed to using your ability for God’s glory and the benefit of others?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to teach – are you committed to using your ability to tell others about God?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to do things with your hands — building or fixing things — are you committed to using that ability to serve God and others — whether it be by doing odd jobs around the church — or by fixing up houses of those not able to do work like that any more — or by volunteering for things like Habitat for Humanity?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability to cook — or to serve others — are you committed to using your gift for God’s glory and the benefit of others through specific things like our new Casseroles Of Caring program – or just cooking something for someone who is homebound – or our Wednesday night suppers – or other ways?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you the ability talk to others about God’s love in an exciting way – are you committed to spreading the Good News of God’s love?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

If God has given you money to be used to help support the work of others – to help us as a Church to reach others with the love of God — are committed to using your financial blessing for God’s glory and the benefit of others?

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Are committed to using whatever gift God has given you for God’s glory and the benefit of others?

Are you?

If so — use them. There is much to be done. Each person — each talent — each ability — is needed.

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Use your gifts — your abilities God has blessed you with.

Let God show you what your gifts and abilities are — think about those gifts and abilities you have left buried for years — dig them up — and use them. You’ll be surprised what you will discover when you start looking for new ways to serve God. Dig up you talents and abilities from whatever you have hid them under — and use them.

If you are not sure what your talents or abilities are – or how you can use them for God’s glory and the benefit of others — pray about it — or talk to me about it. I’ll be happy to help you discover what you gifts and abilities are — and how to dig them up and use them.

Have you ever considered what we all could get done if we all used the gifts and abilities God has blessed us with?

I think we would be surprised.

When God asks us:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

We need to be able to say that we loved Jesus with all our heart – soul – and mind – that we continually asked ourselves:

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

and do what we can to make our relationship with Christ vital and strong.

We also need to be able to say to God:

I did not waste the talents you gave me – but used them for Your glory and to do Your work in the community and the Church.”

Don’t waste your talent.

Don’t waste your talent.

Amen.

Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 25:1-13

“Let’s Be Wise Guys And Gals!”

Sermon 11/9/08

Part 3 of Stewardship series 2008

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

We began our Stewardship emphasis for this year 2 weeks ago — looking at what it truly means to live as Christians – and what the most important things are for us to remember as we strive to live our lives in God’s ways.

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

I talked a little about “final exams” and the Ordination Exams every Seminary graduate has to take before being ordained when we began this series 2 weeks ago — and how they were filled with questions to which we prayed that we had answers.

I also talked about how Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life — writes that God has a Final Exam for us. He writes that — when our life is over — God is going to have 2 questions for us:

1. How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

2. What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions.

If you answer them in the way God wants you to answer them, He has a place in heaven prepared for you.

If not, your place will not be in heaven.

Maybe it would be wise to look at how to answer these questions in the way that will please God. As we move through November, we are going to look at the fact that God has questions for us – and whether or not we have answers.

2 weeks ago we looked at the primary passage that we’ll be looking at for the next few weeks — Matthew 22:34-40 – and saw that responding to Jesus by loving God with all our heart, soul and mind – and loving others as ourselves – are the 2 primary ways we can respond to God’s questions of how we responded to Jesus and what we did with what He gave us.

Last week we looked further at exactly what it means to love God and love others as we looked at Matthew 23:1-12 – and discovered that we not only have to talk about loving God and serving others – we have to do it. We can’t be “Do as I say – not as I do” Christians – we can’t be “Do as I say – not as I do” Church members – but we have to be Christians – we have to Church members – that show God and the Christian life to others I what we say and in what we do.

Today we continue our look at what it means to love God with all our heart – soul – and mind – and to live our neighbors as ourselves – as we look at Matthew 25:1-13 – and see that it means using the gifts God has given us wisely. When it comes to living the Christian life and using the gifts God has given us, we have to wise guys – and wide gals.

Listen to God’s word as we look again at Matthew 22:34-40 – and at Matthew 25:1-13:

Read Scripture

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions that God may aks us when we get to heaven.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

God does not want us to have to say:

“Lord – I was not ready to answer these questions!

Give me more time to prepare – give me more time to get ready –

Give me more time – I’ll do better – I promise!”

God wants us to be able to say:

“Lord — I am ready – I was waiting – I was living my life in way You wanted me to.

I was not living foolishly – I was living wisely”.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

We need to be able to say:

“I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – and mind.

E very day I looked at how Jesus and I were getting along – right then and there.

I loved others and used what You gave me to share Your love with others.

I lived in such a way that others could see you in what I said and in what I did.”

We also need to be able to say:

“I lived wisely – and used what You gave me wisely.”

God has given you gifts to be used for His glory – gifts to be used to show Him to others – gifts to be used to do His work in the Church and the world.

Do you use them wisely?

Do you use them for His glory?

Do you use them to show Him to others?

Do you use them to do His work in the Church and the world?

Do you use what God has given you wisely?

Are you a wise guy?

Are you a wise gal?

Maybe “wise guys” and “wise gals” are not what you want to be.

Maybe you think of The 3 Stooges when you hear the term “wise guy” – and think of smart alecks and people who are always playing pranks. “Wise guy” has become somewhat synonymous with “jerk” – and no one wants to be a “jerk”. But – we have to become wise when it comes to how we use the gifts God has given us.

When it comes to what God has given us – we need t use them wisely – we need to use them for His glory – we need to use them to show Him to others – we have to use them to do His work and will in the world.

When it comes to how we use what God has given us, we need to be wise guys – and wise gals.

Our passages for today give us 2 answers to the questions God will ask:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

If you can say:

“I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – and strength”

You are able to give a response that is in line what God will for you to answer.

Having a personal relationship with Christ is the first step towards living the life God would have us live. That’s why – every day – you need to ask yourself:

“How are Jesus and I getting along –n right now?”

“How are Jesus and I getting along –n right now?”

If you can also say:

“I used what Youn gave me for Your glory – and to do Your work and will in the Church and the community”

You are another step closer to being able to answer God’s questions in the way God intended.

If you can also say:

“I used what You gave me wisely –

I used Your gifts to me to make a difference in the world and the community for Your glory – I used what You gave me to do Your work in the community and the Church – I used what You gave me wisely ro make a difference for You in the Church and the community.”

Then you are well on your way living as God would have You live.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Can you say you were a wise guy –

Can you see you were a wise gal?

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart – soul – mind – and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

In our passage for today, Jesus tells about a wedding feast – and 10 bridesmaids.

Of the ten young women, five were wise. They prepared for the coming of the bridegroom so they would be ready when he arrived. They made sure that they had oil for their lamps, and they trimmed the wicks so that their lamps would burn properly.

But five of the young women were foolish, and they made no preparation. They didn’t have oil for their lamps, and they hadn’t trimmed their wicks. They weren’t ready.

When the bridegroom arrived, the young women were asleep –– all of them –– wise and foolish alike –– all were asleep. But they heard people shouting, “Look! Here is the bridegroom!” –– so they woke up and started out the door to join the parade.

But then it occurred to the five foolish women that they weren’t ready.

They didn’t have enough oil for their lamps.

They would be really embarrassed if they started to participate only to have their lamps run out of oil — So they asked the five wise women to give them some oil –– but the wise women replied, “No! There will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.”

So the foolish women went to buy oil. But when they returned, the wedding banquet was in progress and the door was locked. They cried out, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But the bridegroom replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.”

Jesus concluded this story with a piece of advice:

“Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

In other words, be prepared.

In other words, live wisely.

In other words –

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

OK – so we need to live wisely.

So we need to be wise guys.

So we need to be wise gals.

What does that mean?

What does it mean to live wisely?

What does it mean to be a wise guy – or a wise gal?

It means knowing how to answer God’s questions:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

It means that when God asks you:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

You will be able to say:

“I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – and strength”

“I had a personal relationship with Christ – and Christ changed my life”.

“I asked myself on a regular basis:

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

And I made adjustments in my prayer life – my worship life – and my life of service to God and others when I needed to.”

You will also be able to say:

“I loved others.

I used what God gave me for His glory and to do His will in the world.

I looked for ways to reach out to others with the love of God.

I looked for ways to use what God gave me in the community and the Church.

I met needs in the community and the Church by doing my part and using the gifts God gave me for His glory and to do His will.”

I was wise.

I responded to Jesus wisely.

I used what God gave me wisely.

I was a wise guy.

I was a wise gal.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

Part of what it means to be a wise guy – or a wise gal – it to let God change your life – to let Jesus change your life. Part of what it means is to let Jesus control – and manage – your life.

I read recently about a man was converted to Christ through the work of the Salvation Army. He and his wife were so uneducated that neither could read or write.

He started worshiping regularly at the Salvation Army services — but one day he came home looking glum. When his wife asked what was wrong, he said, “All the people in the Salvation Army wear red sweaters, and I don’t have a red sweater.”

His wife said, “I’ll knit one!” –– and she proceeded to do that. So the next Sunday, the man went to the worship service dressed in his red sweater. But he came hone looking glum once again. His wife asked what was wrong, and he said, “I just noticed that all their red sweaters have yellow writing.”

Keep in mind that neither the man nor his wife could read or write, so they had no idea what the yellow writing on the Salvation Army red sweaters meant.

The Salvation Army symbol is a yellow eight-pointed star with the words “Blood & Fire” written in red letters.

But this man wasn’t sophisticated enough to understand that. He just knew that there was a yellow symbol on the Salvation Army sweaters, and he wanted one on his sweater — so his wife agreed to embroider some yellow writing on his sweater.

But she was illiterate too, so she had no idea what the letters should say or how she should say it. So she walked downtown and looked in some of the store windows. She found some writing in one of the windows that didn’t have too many letters –– she thought that she could copy those letters onto her husband’s sweater. So she wrote down the letters exactly as she found them in that store window and went home to embroider those letters onto her husband’s sweater.

The next Sunday, the man went to church again. When he came home, his wife asked if the people liked his sweater. He told her that they loved his sweater. In fact, some of them said that they liked his sweater better than their own.

So what was it that the wife had copied from the store window sign?

What was it that she embroidered onto her husband’s sweater?

It was this:

“Under New Management!”

That’s what the sign in the window said, and that’s what the wife had embroidered onto her husband’s sweater –– “Under New Management!”

Isn’t that what it means to be a Christian?

That’s what it takes to get ready to answer the questions God might put ton us.

That’s what it means to live wisely.

That’s what it means to be a wise guy.

That’s what it means to be a wise gal.

You need to put your life under Christ’s management.

You need to him your Lord.

When we do that, you will be able to say to God:

“I took Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I used what you gave me for Your glory used it to show You to others.

I looked for ways to get involved in the Church and the community – ways to do Your will with what You gave me.”

That’s what it means to live wisely.

That’s what it means to live wisely.

That’s what it means to be a wise guy.

That’s what it means to be a wise gal.

Live wisely.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

Take Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Live wisely.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

Let your life be under His management.

Live wisely.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

Use what God has given you for His glory,.

Use the gifts God has blessed you with to do His work and will in the Church and the community.

Live wisely.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

There is much to be done for God’s glory in the Church and the community.

Live wisely.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

Look for ways to show God to others – and to do the work of God.

It takes wise guys and wise gals to do God’s work.

Guys and gals committed to letting to God change their lives.

Guys and gals committed to using what God has given them to do His work and will in the world.

Live wisely.

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

When God asks:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Be able to answer wisely.

Be able to say:

“I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – and strength”

“I used what Youn gave me for Your glory – and to do Your work and will in the Church and the community”

“I used what You gave me wisely –

I used Your gifts to me to make a difference in the world and the community for Your glory – I used what You gave me to do Your work in the community and the Church – I used what You gave me wisely ro make a difference for You in the Church and the community.”

Be a wise guy.

Be a wise gal.

Amen

Matthew 23:1-12

Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 23: 1-12

“Can They Do As You Do?”

Part 2 of 2008 Stewardship series

November 2, 2008

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

Last week we began our Stewardship emphasis for this year — looking at what it truly means to live as Christians – and what the most important things are for us to remember as we strive to live our lives in God’s ways.

What are the most important things for us to be doing?

What are the most important things for us to remember?

I talked a little about “final exams” and the Ordination Exams every Seminary graduate has to take before being ordained – and how they were filled with questions to which we prayed that we had answers.

I also talked about how Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life — writes that God has a Final Exam for us. He writes that — when our life is over — God is going to have 2 questions for us:

1. How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

2. What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions.

If you answer them in the way God wants you to answer them, He has a place in heaven prepared for you.

If not, your place will not be in heaven.

Maybe it would be wise to look at how to answer these questions in the way that will please God. As we move through November, we are going to look at the fact that God has questions for us – and whether or not we have answers.

Last week we looked at the primary passage that we’ll be looking at for the next few weeks — Matthew 22:34-40 – and saw that responding to Jesus by loving God with all our heart, soul and mind – and loving others as ourselves – are the 2 primary ways we can respond to God’s questions of how we responded to Jesus and what we did with what He gave us. Today we are going to look further at exactly what it means to love God and love others as we look at Matthew 23:1-12 – and discover that we not only have to talk about loving God and serving others – we have to do it. People not only have to be able to hear us talk about God and do as we say – they need to see God in our lives – and do as we do.

Listen to God’s word as we again look at Matthew 22:34-40, then also look at Matthew 23:1- 12.

Read Scripture

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

God does not want us to have to say that we were

“Do as I say – not as I do” Christians.

“Do as I say – not as I do!”

That’s a motto for some parents as they try to raise their children by their words – but without worrying that their own actions don’t match what they are saying.

Not a god practice for parenting.

“Do as I say – not as I do!”

That’s also a motto for far too many Christians as they try to tell others about the Christian life and what God wills for them – but their actions at times don’t match their words.

Not a good practice or witness for Christians.

“Don’t look at what I do – listen to what I say!”

seems to be their attitude.

They talk about being a Christian – but they fail to live the Christian life.

One way to put it is that they can talk the talk – but they can’t walk the walk.

Rick Warren writes about the “final exam” God may give us that consists of 2 questions:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

What response do you think God wants to hear from us?

Do you think He wants us to say:

“O – well – God – please look at what I said – how I talked so well about you and prayed such pretty prayers – but please don’t look at what I did!”

While God will indeed forgive us for words and deeds we need forgiveness for, if we really want to live a life that is pleasing to God, we need to live lives that show God and His love to the world in what we say – and in what we do.

We can’t be Christians who say:

“Do as I say – not as I do” – but we need to be Christians who can say to others:

“Do as I say – and do as I do”.

Our words and our actions need to show God to others.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

Our 2 passages for today give us some ways to answer these question.

I took Jesus as my Savior and loved Him with all my heart – soul – and mind

I loved others as myself

and

I tried to show God to others in all my words and all my actions.

We have to ask ourselves how we are getting along with Jesus every day – every day asking ourselves:

How are Jesus I getting along right now –

and we have to nurture our relationship with Jesus every day –

but we also have to ask ourselves – every day –

“Can people see Jesus as they look at how I am living my life?”

“Can they hear Jesus in what I say – and see Jesus in what I do?”

“Can they become better followers of Jesus by listening to what I say?”

“Can they become better followers of Jesus by doing as I do?”

Can others listen to what you say – and become more like Jesus?

Can others do as you do – and become more like Jesus?

God does not want to hear us answer His questions by saying:

“I talked a great talk about my love for God and Jesus – and how I would live a life that honored God and used my gifts for His glory.”

God wants to hear us answer His questions by saying:

“I shared my love for Jesus with others in what I said and in what I did.”

“People could learn more about Jesus by listening to what I said – and by watching what I did.”

The Christina life is not a matter of:

“Do as I say – not as I do” –

It’s a matter of:

“Do as I say – and do as I do!”

Our words and our actions need to give glory to God.

We need to express our love for God by what we say – and by what we do.

We need to tell others about our love for Jesus – and we need to show them our love for Jesus

Can others listen to what you say – and learn more about Jesus?

Can others listen to what you say – and learn how to live as a Chrsitian?

Can others see what you do – and learn more about Jesus?

Can others do what you do – and be living the Christian life?

Can they do as you say – and do as you do?

Yea – when God asks us how we responded to Jesus and what we did with what He gave us – He does not to hear us say:

“I talked a great talk about my love for God and Jesus – and how I would live a life that honored God and used my gifts for His glory.”

God wants to hear us say:

“I shared my love for Jesus with others in what I said and in what I did.”

“People could learn more about Jesus by listening to what I said – and by watching what I did.”

Can they do as you say – and as you do?

Part of what it means to be a Christian – to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind – and your neighbor as yourself – is to live a life that shows God to others through what you and do.

It’s not a matter of:

“Do as I say – not as I do”

But living in such a way that others can do as you say – and as you do.

Can they listen to what you say – and hear God’s words to them – and see what you do – and see what God would have them to be doing?

Can they do as you say – and as you do?

Can they see Jesus in what you say – and in what you do?

A young girl was visiting a church one Sunday and was impressed with the stained glass windows of the Saints that were along the walls of the church. The windows were particularly beautiful this day as the sun shone brightly through them — making their colors brilliant. She asked about who these people were in these beautiful windows — and was told these were some of the Saints of the church.

That morning in Sunday School she was asked if she knew what a Saint was. Thinking back on the bright, colorful windows that had impressed her so — and the fact that she was told these were of the Saints – she replied:

“ A Saint is someone who lets the light shine through.”

Maybe not a dictionary definition of a saint, but a good one none the less — someone who lets God’s light shine through them.

Do you do that?

Do you let the light of God shine through you?

Or — is it something else others see shining through when they look at you?

Can people look at what you do – and see Christ?

Can they do as you do – and be doing the things of Christ?

Can they do as you do?

Can they do as you do?

Does the light of God shine through you?

Can they do as you do?

Can they do as you do?

God asks you:

How are you responding to Jesus?

And

What are you doing with my gifts to you?

Unless you can say:

I love Jesus with all my heart – soul – and mind

and

I love others as myselrf – and use what God has given me to show Him to others

you are not giving the answer God wants to hear.

And – unless you can say:

I tried to live in a way that showed God to others

I tried to use what God gave me to show His love and will to others

you are not giving the answers God wants to hear.

God wants us to use what He has given us to show Him to others – and do His work in the world.

He wants us to talk about Him and talk about His love – but – more than that – He wants us to act in ways that show Him – show His love – and do His will in the world.

It’s not a matter of

“Do as I say – not as I do”…

but it’s a matter of

“Do as I say and as I do.”

Can they do as you do?

Do you use the gifts God has blessed you with to do His work and will in the world?

Do you look for ways that you can show God to others in the community – do God’s work in the community and the world – and be a living example of what it means to be a Christian?

God’s 2 questions to us are:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

If you can answer the first question by saying:

I took Jesus as my Lord and Savior —

can you answer the second question by saying:

I used what God gave me to do His work and will in the world – and show others what it means to be a Christian?

There is a lot to be doing in the community – in the world – and even here in the Church – for God’s glory.

There are a lot of ways to use the gifts God has given you for His glory.

There are a lot of ways that you can show others what it means to live the Christian life by what you do.

There are a lot of things you can do to show God to others.

There are a lot of things you can do to help others see God – and see how God wants us to live.

The question is:

Can they do as you do?

Can others see what you do – copy what you do – find ways to use their gifts and talents in the same way you are using yours – and become closer to being the people God wants them to be?

Can they do as you do – and come close to doing what God wants them to do?

Part of what it means to be a Christian – to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind – and your neighbor as yourself – is to live a life that shows God to others through what you and do.

It’s not a matter of:

“Do as I say – not as I do”

But it’s a matter of living in such a way that others can do as you say – and as you do.

Can they do as you do?

When there are things to be done in the community to show God’s love to others – can people look at you – and see what you do – and see how they can serve God also – or do they see that you step back and wait for someone else to do something – and think that’s what God wants them to do?

When there are things to be done in the Church – can people look at you – and see what you do – and see how they can serve God also – or do they see that you step back and wait for someone else to do something – and think that’s what God wants them to do?

Can they do as you do?

Can they do as you do?

Rick Warren writes that God will have 2 questions for us:

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

What did you do with what I gave you?

If you can answer the first question by saying:

I took Jesus as my Lord and Savior –

You also need to be able to answer the second by saying:

I used what God gave me to do His work and will in the world – and show others what it means to be a Christian.

Part of what being a Christian means is loving God with all your heart, mind, and soul – taking Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

One question to ask yourself each day it:

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

Another part of what it means to being a Christian is to use what God gives you to show Him and His will to the world – so another question to ask yourself each day is:

Can others look at how I am living – and see Jesus?

Look for ways to let others see God in what you say and do.

Don’t be a “do as I say – but not as I do” Christian.

Use your gifts – use what God gives you – to show God to others in what you say – and do.

Don’t be a “do as I say – but not as I do” Church member.

Use your gifts – use what God gives you – to help do God’s work in the Church – and show God to others in what you say and do.

Be a Christian – be a Church member – who lives a life that says to others:

Do what I do – and you’ll be doing what God wants you to do.

Can they do as you do?

Can they do as you do?

Amen.

Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:34-40
God Has Questions – Do You Have Answers?”
October 26, 2008

What are the most important things for us to be doing?
What are the most important things for us to remember?

Today we are beginning to look at what it truly means to live as Christians – and what the most important things are for us to remember as we live our lives in God’s ways.

What are the most important things for us to be doing?
What are the most important things for us to remember?

When I was in school, preparing for Final Exams were pretty important. It seemed like no matter what else you did – how well you did on tests or how poorly you did – the Final Exam could make a break a semester of school work.
Do well on the Final Exam, and you can save a mediocre record from the rest of the semester.
Do poorly, and a great record from the rest of the semester could be damaged.
It all hinged on the Final Exam.

When I graduated from Seminary the big thing that scared us all was the denomination’s Ordination Exam. This was an exam on polity, theology, Biblical studies — including translating passages from the original Greek or Hebrew — and other topics that the denomination thought every minister should know.
Every graduate from every Seminary had to take these exams before they could be ordained. It didn’t matter if you went to a Presbyterian supported Seminary or not – you had to take the Ordination Exam.
If you scored well on the Ordination Exam you would be approved for ordination – if you scored poorly you had to take the Exam – or some part of it – over again.
You can imagine the pressure and the preparation for these exams.

Final Exams.
Ordination Exams.
Questions to which we hoped we would have answers.

Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life writes that God has a Final Exam for us.
When our life is over, God is going to have 2 questions for us:
1. How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
2. What did you do with what I gave you?

2 questions.
If you answer them in the way God wants you to answer them, He has a place in heaven prepared for you.
If not, your place will not be in heaven.

God’s Final Exam consists of these 2 questions –
How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
What did you do with what I gave you?
Direct – not really difficult questions.

Maybe it would be wise to look at how to answer these questions in the way that will please God. As we move through the next month, we are going to look at the fact that God has questions for us – and whether or not we have answers.

We’re going to look today at the primary passage for the next month. We’ll combine it with several other passages during the month that will help us understand the answers we need to be ready to give to God’s questions, but today we are going to look at it by itself.

Listen to the 2 commandments Jesus gives as the most important as we read from Matthew 22:34-40.

You know — Washington D.C. is a tough town –– and I’m not talking about its poorest neighborhoods. D.C. is a tough town, beginning at the top.

My family and I visited D.C. when Johnson was President. I remember us riding by the White House — and it being surrounded by protestors carrying signs and shouting slogans I thought how terrible it must be to live like that –– a prisoner in a grand home fenced in by hatred. Johnson finally was forced to not run for President a second term because he lost the support of the public and of Congress.

Regardless of the NFL’s Redskins, knifing political opponents is the big sport in D.C.

Jerusalem was that kind of town in the days of Jesus — powerful people jockeying for position — opposing parties trying to outdo each other. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were the major players. Like the Republicans and Democrats, the Pharisees and Sadducees each thought they were right and the others were wrong. They didn’t like each other. But – they could work together when it suited their purposes –– for instance — when someone like Jesus came along.

Both Pharisees and Sadducees had a problem with Jesus.
Jesus was rocking the religious boat –– and both the Pharisees and Sadducees had a lot to lose. So the Pharisees and Sadducees worked together to defeat Jesus –– their common enemy. They tried to trip him up –– to get him to say something that would turn the crowds against him –– to discredit him.

The Pharisees started by asking a loaded question about paying taxes to Caesar.

And then the Sadducees asked a loaded question about the resurrection. The Sadducees, by the way, didn’t believe in the resurrection.

I always enjoy reading about those controversies, because in each case Jesus deftly turns the tables on his opponents.
It’s like watching a Roadrunner cartoon.
I love Roadrunner cartoons. Wile E. Coyote is always setting traps for Roadrunner. You know the trap is going to backfire on Coyote, but the fun is waiting for it to happen.
You see Wile E. Coyote struggling to get a big rock perched above a cliff. When he sees Roadrunner coming his way, he tips the big rock over the edge so that it will fall on Roadrunner. But Roadrunner comes along at the speed of light and passes the danger point without incident. Then we wait and wait, and nothing happens. Finally, Coyote goes down to the bottom of the cliff to see what went wrong. And then we hear a loud whistling sound –– and Coyote looks up –– his eyes get big –– and then the big rock smashes him into a little pancake.

Wile E. Coyote always pulls himself together and tries again –– but every trap that he sets snaps shut on him. The only question is how it will happen. I don’t know why I enjoy that so much, but I do.

Whenever I read about the Pharisees and Sadducees trying to trap Jesus, they always remind me of Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. The Pharisees stick a loaded gun in Jesus’ face –– and Jesus reaches out and bends the barrel so it points back at them –– and then gently helps them to pull the trigger. What fun!

In our story today, both the Pharisees and Sadducees have had one “go” at Jesus, and both of them lost. Now the Pharisees try again. A Pharisee asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. That’s the kind of question that the rabbis spent their lives arguing. No matter what Jesus answered, they would say, “What about this?” or “What about that?” Hopefully, by the time they were through with Jesus, they would have him trapped in a corner.

At least that was the plan.
But Jesus answered so well that they couldn’t figure out how to get at him. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus answered:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets” (vv. 37-40).

How could anyone answer better than that?
How could anyone argue with that?

The Pharisees didn’t even try to argue with Jesus.
Love God. Love your neighbor.
The Pharisees were hoping that Jesus would say something stupid. They were hoping to make him look bad. But “Love God –– love your neighbor.” How could they find fault with that?

Love God.
Love your neighbor.

Rick Warren writes about the 2 questions God might ask us as we stand before Him.
How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
What did you do with what I gave you?

Your answers to those questions are the most important answers you will ever give to any other questions that will ever be posed to you.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
What did you do with what I gave you?

2 of the most important questions you will ever be asked.

How will you respond?

In responding to the question asked of Him in our passage, Jesus gives us 2 guidelines for being able to respond well to God’s questions to us.

Love God.
Love your neighbor.

How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
What did you do with what I gave you?

I loved God.
I loved my neighbor.

2 answers that we can give to God’s questions of us.

I loved God.
I loved my neighbor.

When we are asked:
How did you respond to Jesus?
If we can answer:
“I loved God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind.”
We’ll be giving the answer that God will reward us for.
If we can’t, we won’t.

Love the Lord you God with all heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

What does that mean?
It means putting God first in your life.
It means letting God make a difference in your life.
It means wanting to live in the ways of God more than ay other ways.
It means not letting anything compete for your attention or affection than the ways of God.

Love the Lord you God with all heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind

It’s a relationship with God that Jesus is talking about here.

So – what is your relationship with God like?
Do you love God – with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
Do you love God with everything you have?

First of all, this means taking Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

The first question Rick Warren says God might ask us is:
How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?

Unless you can answer:
I took Jesus as my Lord and Savior – and tried to live in His ways.

Unless you can answer:
I loved Jesus with all my heart – soul – mind – and strength

You won’t be giving the answer God is looking for!

So — how do you respond to Jesus?

Unless you respond to Jesus with love – commitment – and striving to live in His ways – you are not responding correctly.
Unless you respond with loving Jesus with all your heart – soul – mind – you are not responding in the way that god has in mind for you.

Love the Lord you God with all heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind
Love the Jesus with all heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind
I pray that you can say that you have taken Jesus as your Savior – because that’s
the most important thing you can ever say about yourself.

But – loving God – loving Jesus – with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind is more than just a one time commitment. It’s something you have to commit to every day as you strive to live as Jesus’ disciple.

Andrew Purves is a professor at Princeton Seminary and is a frequent speaker at the Wee Kirk conference Sally and I have attended on numerous occaisions – including last week. He says that we have to ask ourselves – every day –

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?
How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

Every day we have to nurture that love we have for Jesus – so we can say that we indeed love Jesus – and are trying to love Him with all our your heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.

That’s one of those questions to live by – to ask ourselves every day –
How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’

That’s the first commandment Jesus s said was the greatest.
Then – He said –

And a second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Love your neighbor as yourself.
What does that mean?

It means loving others.
It means loving others as much as God loves you.
It means showing God’s love to others in what you say and in what you do.
It means telling others about the love of God in words and actions.
It means being committed to using the gifts God has given you to do His work and will in the world.

If you can answer God’s questions:
How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
And
What did you do with what I gave you?

By saying:
I loved Jesus with all my heart, soul, and mind
And
I used what God gave me to share His love with the world

You are on to the right answer – and God will bless you.

If you can’t, you are not.

So – what’s your answer?

When God asks :
How did you respond to my Son Jesus Christ?
And
What did you do with what I gave you?

What will you be able to say?

Let’s pray that we all will be able to say:
I loved Jesus with all my heart, soul, and mind
And
I used what God gave me to share His love with the world

God indeed has questions.
What are your answers?

We’ll keep looking at different aspects of loving God and others – what we do with Jesus and with what God gives us – as we go along this month – but – for now – ask yourself these questions:

How do I respond to Jesus?
What am I doing with what God gives me?

And –
How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

Yea – God has questions.
What are your answers?
Amen.

Matthew 22:1-14

Matthew 22:1-14
“You Can Come As You Are – -
But You Can’t Stay As You Are”
October 5, 2008
Communion

This fall we are looking at some of Jesus’ teaching from the Gospel of Matthew.
We began by looking at Matthew 18::15-20 – and saw how Jesus teaches us to deal with conflict – while walking in love.
We then looked at looked at Matthew 18:21-35 – and saw how Jesus teaches us to forgive others – and how we can do that. Then we look at Matthew 20:1-16 – and saw an amazing story about the amazing love and grace of God. Today we turn to Matthew 22:1-14 – and will see how God invites us to come as we are – but not to stay as we are.

Listen to the word of God

Is the kingdom of God a “Come as you are party” – - and if so, can you stay as you are after accepting and experiencing the love of God?

These are the questions addressed by our gospel lesson for this morning.

Maybe you’ve heard the story about the boy who – on his birthday – was outside playing – - and heard his mother calling him to come inside. He figured that his mother never called him unless she wanted him to do something like clean his room or some such chore — so he decided that it was his birthday — he had no intention of doing chores — and he would just hide in the garage until she gave up on finding him.
Well — little did he know that his mother had planned a surprise birthday party for him — and all his friends were gathered inside waiting for the guest of honor to appear.
He also didn’t know that his mother noticed him slipping into the garage — and figured out what he was doing.
Instead of going into the garage after him, she went inside and held the party without him. He missed his own party because he wouldn’t respond when his mother called.

The parable Jesus tells in our gospel lesson for today is something like the story of the boy who missed his own party — although in the parable it is a king who gives a party – a banquet – and calls the guests to come and enjoy the feast. For various reasons, however, the guests make excuses and refuse to come to the feast. They quickly find that this was not the correct response to make to the knig’s invitation – - for he orders that all who refused his invitation be killed and their cities burned.
The invitation is then opened to any who will come to the feast and quite a motley crew ends up at the feast — the good and bad — all gathered together in the banquet hall and ready for the feast to begin.

OK — we can presume that the parable is over.

Outsiders are brought in — the good and the bad are gathered together – - God’s gracious invitation has been issued to all and some that we would never expect to be in the kingdom are there — while others we expected to see nowhere to be found. End the story here – Jesus – and you have the perfect parable about the gracious invitation of God for all to come to His feast — His kingdom.

But – - Jesus does not end the parable.
There is more.
Much more.
In fact, the main point has yet to be made.

One of the guests — one of those who has accepted the kings gracious invitation – is thrown out because he is not wearing a wedding robe.
What a silly thing to quibble over.
The king has invited all to his feast – - then starts making demands.
What’s the point?
What’s Jesus trying to say here?
Could it be that Jesus is trying to make us take a hard look at how we respond to God’s gracious invitation to be a part of His kingdom?

God says to you:
“Come as you are!”
But – when you hear God’s invitation to be a part of His glorious kingdom — to come as you are — how do you respond?

Do you refuse to be a part of the kingdom — much like those who refused to come to the feast in the first place?
Are the things of the world more important and more appealing to you than the things of the kingdom of God?

Many refuse to be a part of the kingdom of God – - like those in the parable who refuse to come to the feast.
The things of the world are more important to them. They don’t have time for the things of God. They are too busy making money — buying things — no time now for God.
Maybe later.
What a mistake that is!
What happens?
The same thing that happened to those who refused the invitation to the feast.
Destruction.
Destroyed lives.

You don’t hear about these things much any more.
We don’t like to talk about them.
We don’t like to talk about or hear about judgment. It’s a word we shy away from.
We don’t like to talk or hear about God’s judgment on sinners. We’d much rather talk about or hear about God’s love.
But friends — we overlook God’s judgment at our peril.

God may be a God of love — but God is also a God of judgment. We can not take His love — or His gracious invitation — too lightly — like those who made up excuses for not attending the banquet — or we may find that we may have gained the whole world — but lost our souls.

Or maybe you take God up on His gracious invitation to come as you are into His kingdom — but the fact that you have done that make no difference in how you live your life. A lot of people are that way. They take God up on His gracious invitation — but it doesn’t really matter to them that they have done so. They may make some surface changes to their lives – - but nothing drastic.

Again — sometimes we take God too lightly.

We may accept His gracious invitation — but not let it truly make a difference in how we live.
And again — we do this at our peril — just as the one at the feast without the proper robe.

It’s like the man walking down the street who sees a sign in front of a church that reads:
“Prepare to meet God!”
The man stops in front of the sign – - looks at his reflection — takes off his hat — smoothes his hair — straightens his tie — and — thus prepared — he thinks — to meet God — goes on his way.

Could it be that that is the mistake Jesus is illustrating in the one at the feast who is thrown out because he is not wearing a wedding robe?
Could it be that these are the ones who respond to God — but then do not let God make a difference in their lives — and remain as they are?
Could it be that being a part of God’s kingdom requires more than just saying “Yes” to the invitation?
Could it be that it means changing your life — letting Christ make a difference in how you live your life?
Could God’s invitation mean being accepted “as you are” — but not staying “as you are”?
Could it be that God invites us to “Come as you are” but not “stay as you are?”
Yes — in fact it could be that indeed!

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.
You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.

When she was a teenager, Sally had a “Come as you are party” — her dad went around and “kidnapped” her friends at 6:00 in the morning — and brought them to their house. Of course, they came in their bathrobes — nightgowns — pajamas — their hair in curlers — and so forth. All was well until that afternoon at 2:00 when everyone returned to their homes — embarrassed to be in their bathrobes — nightgowns — pajamas — hair in curlers — and so forth — at that time of day. The party was such a hit that it wa remembered in the “twenty years ago today” column in her hometown newspaper several years ago.

God’s kingdom is a “Come as you are party” — everyone who will accept the invitation is included — but the difference between God’s kingdom and Sally’s party is that in the kingdom of God we can “come as we are” — but we can not “stay as we are.” We must let Christ change our lives.

The person in Jesus’ parable at the feast without the wedding robe had not done that. He had come as we was — bu he had stayed as he was. In God’s kingdom, we can come as we are — but we can not stay as we are.

It’s a “Come as you are — but don’t stay as you are” party.

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.

Most of you know that this past week I was at the National Church Transformation Pastor’s Conference in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida. We talked about a lot of things – and I got a lot of practical ideas about leading a Church through transformation and revitalization. The main point I learned, however, is that Church transformation only happens when the Church leaders and members commit to having their lives revitalized – transformed – and changed by Christ. I will share a lot of different ideas with you in the very near future – but here is the starting point –

If we are going to be transformed as a Church, we are going to have to be transformed as individuals.
If we are going to be a Church that serves God and makes a difference for God in the community and the world, we are going to have to be people who serve God and make a difference for God in the community.

The first step is to let God make a difference in your personal life, then share that with the Church – the community – and the world.

Amy Vanderbilt is definitely no theologian — but some of her pointers for good etiquette are quite helpful. Vanderbilt insists that — when you are at a party — you follow the lead of the host.

Indeed, as part of God’s great banquet — the kingdom of God – - we need to follow the lead of our host — our host being none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus accepts us as we are — but then can change us.
In our lives we must show the changes Christ can make by repenting of our past and letting Christ change us.
We must show Jesus’ love in our lives — we must show that we are a part of the kingdom of God by letting the kingdom of God completely change us. Putting on the robe of love and righteousness by reaching out to those in need — in the simple ways and also in the more difficult ways.

Indeed, in responding to the invitation of Christ we can “Come as we are” but not “stay as we are.”

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.

You can come as you are –
But you can’t say as you are.

Let Christ change your life.

Follow Christ’s lead in how you live your life.

Not doing so is just as risky as not accepting Christ.
Not letting Christ change how you live brings the same results as not accepting Christ’s invitation.
Not letting God change your life and make a difference in what you say and do will get you in the same place as those who never accept the invitation at all.
Come.

Come as you are — but don’t take it lightly.
Let your life in Christ change you. That is the only way for salvation.

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.

Flannery O’Conner wrote a story entitled A Good Man Is Hard To Find. In this story, one of the characters makes the statement:

“If Jesus really did all He said, then there’s no other response to make
but to throw away everything and follow Him.”

Indeed, that’s the only way to respond to God.
That’s the response to make to the God’s gracious invitation.

Throw away everything — and follow Him.

You can come as you are –
But you can’t stay as you are.
Amen.

Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:1-16
Thank God That God Is God (And We Are Not)
September 21, 2008

This fall we are looking at some of Jesus’ teaching from the Gospel of Matthew.
We began by looking at Matthew 18:15-20 – and saw how Jesus teaches us to deal with conflict – while walking in love. Last week we looked at Matthew 18:21-35 – and saw how Jesus teaches us to forgive others – and how we can do that. Today we move on to Matthew 20:1-16 – and see an amazing story about the love and grace of God.

Listen to the world of God

Some of you – like me – may remember Chevy Chase when he was part of the regular line up on “Saturday Night Live”. One of the skits he would do almost every week would be a satirical look at the weekly news. He would always begin by saying:
“Good evening.
I’m Chevy Chase – and you’re not!”

That line still gets laughs.

If I were to teach a class entitled Religion 101 one of the first lessons may be entitled:
God is God – And You Are Not

Maybe you remember the CitiBank credit card commercial from a few years back featuring a decent-looking guy sincerely “telling it like it is.” He tells the story of the family vacation, while scenes from that outing flick by on the screen. The family goes on a trip, stops at a souvenir tourist trap and the kids want a zillion pieces of plastic junk. The guy narrating sighs and states:
“So I pay. I’m the Dad. It’s my job”
More vacation scenes flash across the screen. The family stops at a touristy restaurant. After everybody chows down, the guy again concludes:
“So I pay. I’m the Dad. It’s my job.”
The concluding scenes go by with the family car breaking down and a mechanic coming out to fix it. Yet another sigh from the long-suffering father:
“So I pay. I’m the Dad. It’s my job.”

It’s true — sometimes.

Sometimes we are in charge, it’s our responsibility, and the buck stops squarely in front of us. And although we may grump and grouse about those times, most of us kind of like knowing that we are in control of what is going on and what is coming up next.

In fact, we like it so much that we tend to try to take over the reigns of control when we are clearly no longer qualified to be running the show.

We try to act like we know what we are doing – when really we don’t.
We try to be in control of things we have no control over.

At times we try to be something we are not.

And usually we get in trouble when we do that.

You know – sometimes we even want to act like we are God – or worse than that sometimes we act like we can tell God what to do – or who to love and who not to – or what is right and what is wrong.

We are constantly tempted to — as I like to put it — “play God.”

Why do we so quickly forget that the most basic lesson in Religion 101 is this:
“God is God … and we are not.”

Maybe we need to have a basic conversation with ourselves every morning. I read not long ago of a minister who urged his congregation to revisit the conversation in John 1 between John the Baptist and the crowds when they asked him if he was the Messiah. John replied – emphatically – “I am not the Messiah”

Maybe every day we need to look in the mirror and tell ourselves – emphatically – “I am not the Messiah!” – or “I am not God”

“God is God – and I am not”

“God is God – and we are not”

Over the centuries, forgetting this fact has led to countless tragedies, large and small, personal, national and global.

– Adam and Eve thought they had godlike freedom … they did not.
– Saul thought he had godlike impunity … he did not.
– David thought he had godlike authority over who lives and dies …
he did not.
- The Israelites thought they had godlike exclusiveness … they did not.
- Peter thought he had godlike loyalty …he did not.
- Saul of Tarsus thought he had a godlike mission to wipe out Christians … he did not.
- The Romans thought they had godlike ruling power … they did not.
- The Europeans thought they alone had a godlike image … they did not.
- Americans thought they had a god-like manifest destiny … they did not.
- Hitler thought he had a godlike right to take over the world … he did not.
- Medical science sometimes thinks it can play god … it cannot.
- Cyberspace computer whiz kids sometimes think they have a godlike
grasp of our minds and souls … they do not.

God is God, and we are not.

What that means is that we have no right to decide who God will love – how God will act – or what God will do.

He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.

Sometimes we might want to question what God does – or look at someone and say: “Certainly God could not love them!”

But – it’s not our job to tell God what to do – or who to love and who not to – or what is right and what is wrong.

He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours. He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.

Let me ask you a question:

What if you got to heaven and found out that God had decided to let everybody in?
How would you feel about that?
Republicans, Democrats, doctors and dope pushers, lawyers and lay-abouts, merchants and murderers, hookers and horse thieves.

How would you feel?
Well, certainly that will never happen! you might think.
But – that’s our opinion.
God might have a different opinion.
Who God loves is God’s decision.

He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours. He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.

David Leinenger is a Presbyterian minister in Pennsylvania who tells the story of some controversy that surrounded a First Anniversary September 11 service hat was held in the town where he is pastor. It seems that they decided to have a community wide interfaith service to mark the 1 year anniversary of the tragedy. This was fine –- but not with everyone. David was quoted in the local paper as saying it would be open to all religious faiths – and that representatives from many religious faiths would take part in the service. Well, he began to get letters – one of which read:
Dear Pastor Leininger,

While visiting in Northwest Pennsylvania last summer (from my present home in Tampa), I read a newspaper article concerning your invitation to the Director of the Islamic Cultural Center in Jamestown to speak to your church members.

A week or so ago, once again visiting the area of my birth, I read of the Warren Area Ministerial Association’s plan to hold a Sept. 11th memorial service at the Library Theatre. In this article you are quoted as emphasizing that “It will not be just a Christian service. Instead, it will help people of all faiths to ‘reach to the depths of their souls and their own understandings of the God of the universe.’”

As a Christian who believes in the whole Bible as the truth of God, I strongly take issue with this position of yours. We Christians are to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and none other! As you must know, Jesus said (as quoted in John 14:6), “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The woman continued trying to tell Leininger who God could and could not save. She may have been trying to tell God who He could and could not save.
But – you know — He’s God. That’s His job.
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
When we think of the number of times we try to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love – it’s scary!
You don’t think you try to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love?
Well, let me ask you this.
Do you choose who you will pay attention to and who you will not?
Do you choose who you will speak to and who you will not?
Do you choose who you will feel sorry for – help – and show God’s love to – and who you will not?
Isn’t that a form of trying to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love?
Do you ever judge someone – saying: “We can’t waste our time reaching out to that person – they are a hopeless case!”
Isn’t that a form of trying to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love?
As a Church – do we treat everyone equally – showing God’s love to everybody equally?
If not, isn’t that a form of trying to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love?
Who God love and who God forgives and who God includes in His kingdom is God’s business – not ours.
He’s God. That’s His job.
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
But we “religious people” keep trying to “play God” or judge who God can and can not love – or tell God who He can and can not love. We keep trying to do God’s job for Him. And we don’t do a very good job of it.
Maybe that’s why – as we read the Gospels – we see Jesus having more trouble with and more controversy with “religious folks” than folks who were not very religious. In the parable told in this week’s gospel text, Jesus provides a glimpse at the difference between God’s will and what we might want God’s will to be. The landowner’s generosity is bestowed on these last-hired laborers for a reason known only to him. He does not explain or apologize for the accounting system that lavishes the same wage on everyone hired, regardless of the amount of time logged on the job. The only response the landowner has to the disgruntled first-hired workers is “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?”

Is God not allowed to do what God chooses with what belongs to God?

God is God, and we are not.
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
Maybe we would not pay the last laborers hired last as much as the first. But it’s not our job to question why the landlord decided to do it that way.
Maybe – if we were God – we would not love all people – regardless of who they were – what they had done – how they had lived their lives.
Maybe – if we were God – we would not forgive all people – regardless of who they were – what they had done – how they had lived their lives. We might say to someone: “I’ll never forgive you! You don’t deserve it”
Maybe – if we were God – we would not call upon our people to show our love to all people – - to feed the hungry regardless of why they are hungry – to help those in need regardless of why they are in need – to show love even to the most unloveable people.
But we are not God.
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
God is God – and we are not.
It’s not up to us to tell God who to love – who to forgive – who to show mercy to – and who not to love – who not to forgive – who not to show mercy to.
He’s God. That’s His job.
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
God is God – and we are not.
It is only up to us to live the Christian life in the best way we know – and show God’s love and mercy – God’s forgiveness – God’s compassion – to all people – whether we think they deserve it or not.
God is God – and we are not.
God has commanded us to reach out to all people with His love – welcome all into our fellowship – invite all into our fellowship – and show His love to all people – whether they are people we would normally reach out to or not.
God has chosen to show His love to those He has chosen to show His love to.
He’s God. That’s His job.
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
Our job is to follow – not lead. Our job is to show His love as He calls us to – not as we would want to do it.
God is God – and we are not.
But – here’s the thing — I am glad that God is God – and that we are not.
If we were God – if people were God – if God judged us by the standards we set for others – we would all be in trouble.
None of us would have a chance.
The truth is that we all have been in the position of the laborers who were hired last but got as much pay as everybody else.
The truth is that we all have been dependent on someone who showed us God’s love – even when we did not deserve it.
The truth is we all continue to depend on God’s gracious love for our salvation.
There’s a story of a man who lived a wild life – until he gave his life to God. He finally attended Seminary – and upon graduation was ready to begin his ministry. Being a Presbyterian, he had to be examined on the floor of Presbytery before he could accept the call to the first Church he would serve. While being examined, he talked about God’s love for sinners and how – in his ministry – he wanted to share God’s love with all people. Finally – someone asked him if he thought everyone would be saved.
He replied:
“I don’t know if God will save everyone. But I do know he saved me when everybody else had given up on me – and if he could do that, he could save just about anybody.”
Yea – I thank God that God is God – and we are not.
God has freely forgiven us. It’s not up to us to judge who else God will love – or forgive – or show His grace and mercy to –
He’s God – we are not.
That’s His job – not ours.
He’s God – we are not.
He’s God. That’s His job.
Our job is to follow Him and show His love – His compassion – His grace – His mercy – to the world – to all people.
No – it may not be that way we would do it if we were God.
That’s why I thank God that God is God – and we are not.
Amen.