Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:1-18

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

John 1:1-18

This Year Will Be Different

January 4, 2009

Communion

Happy New Year!

We are 4 days now into a new year – a year filled with new possibilities – new potential – - new opportunities.

Some of you may have made New Years Resolutions – promises to yourself and possibly to others to improve some area of your life.

Maybe some of you have made a resolution to lose weight. That’s one of mine for this year – but it has been one of mine for several years now – with little success.

This year – though – will be different!

Maybe some of you have made a resolution to exercise more. That’s been another one of mine for the past several years – with little success.

This year – though – will be different.

Maybe some of you have made a resolution to spend more time with your loved ones.

Some of you have made a resolution to spend more time with God or in serving others.

We have a tendency to make New Years resolutions.

Some of you may be doing really well with your resolutions so far.

I mean – we are lonely 4 days into the year!

But – then again — some of you may have already be struggling.

And some of you may have not even made any resolutions at all – knowing that they are hard to keep.

But every year – we tell ourselves –

This year will be different.

This year will be different.

I remember one December 31^st when I was with some friends – and we happened to met another friend. This one turned to one of the others I was with and said:

“Well – I know you’re misbehaving today – you’re probably getting it all out of your today – because I’m sure your New Years Resolution will be to behave next year.”

We all laughed.

But – whether you made a New Years Resolution or not – whether you are keeping your resolution so far or not – it can not be denied that it is a new year – and it indeed can be – if we will let it be – a time for new possibilities – new potential – - and new opportunities.

We can truly say that this year can be different.

And – if we let it be – we can truly say that

This year will be different.

This year will be different.

But we have to let it be that for us.

We have to let it be different.

We have to let ourselves take advantage of the new possibilities – new potential – - and new opportunities that may be before us this year – or this year will not be any different than any other.

When I was young I used to want to stay up until midnight on New Years Eve and “see the New Year in”. When I was four we not only were celebrating a new year – but a new decade—the 1960’s! I was just sure that it would be different – look different in some way – and I begged my parents to let me see the new year – the new decade – in. Finally, they decided to let me stay up.

I was excited!

I was ready to stay up to “see the New Year’ – the “new decade” – “ in” – but around 10:00 my tiredness caught up with my excitement.

I decided I would lie down for awhile – but slept through the whole thing.

On the morning of January 1 , 1960 I awoke – disappointed that I had missed the New Year – the new decade — coming in – but raced outside to see how this new year – this new decade — looked.

I think I expected things to look different.

A New Year had come in.

A new decade, for that matter.

Surely things would look different.

But – guess what.

Things did not look different.

Things looked the same.

Disappointed again – I went back inside – and told my parents that I did not know what the big deal was – everything looked the same to me.

Is that how this new year will be for us – just the same?

Is that how it will be for us personally?

Is that how it will be for us as far as our personal relationships with God go?

Is that how it will be for us as far as how we do as a Church – how we serve God in the Church – the community – and the world?

Will 2009 be for us – as individuals and as a Church – just more of the same?

Or – will it be different?

Will we see and take advantage of the new possibilities – new potential – - and new opportunities that lie before us?

Will we commit ourselves to letting God make a difference in our lives – then making a difference in the Church — the community – and the world?

Will this year be the same – or indeed – will it be different?

Will your commitment to God – to the Church –

to loving God with all your heart – soul – mind and strength – and your neighbor as yourself –

be greater – or different – this year?

Or will it be the same?

We all have the opportunities to make it different – but will we?

If you are like us – you have not only been involved in celebrating a new year and maybe making resolutions this week – but have also been involved in taking down Christmas decorations and sorting through Christmas gifts.

You know the process – you go through the gifts – decide which ones you really like and will use – and put the rest away.

Christmas gifts can be very nice – and with many we remember the one who gave them to us every time we see them.

Others are not as special – and are put away – either to be brought out at some other point in time or forgotten about forever.

But – when putting away all the Christmas gifts — there is one Christmas gift we should not just “put away” – should not just put aside and maybe look at again next year.

That’s God’s Christmas gift to us –

The Greatest Gift of All

God’s Son – Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ –

as John writes – THE WORD –

the one who is part of the Godhead –

who was with God from the beginning –

who was part of the creating force that created the world. –

who came into the world to show us God –

who came into the world to save us from our sins –

who came into the world to give us life

Jesus Christ – God’s gift to us of salvation – of peace – of love – of justice.

Jesus Christ – God’s gift of Himself to us.

I remember a sign I once saw outside a church in Greensboro, NC before one Christmas that read:

THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

IS NOT UNDER THE TREE – BUT

ON A TREE.

The best gift we can ever receive is not one that will be wrapped under our Christmas trees – but Jesus Christ – the Son of God – who died on a cross – on a tree – for us.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

IS NOT UNDER THE TREE – BUT

ON A TREE.

God’s great gift to us of Himself – Jesus Christ – God’s gift to us of salvation – of peace – of love – of justice.

That’s the greatest gift – isn’t it?

Here’s something to remember for the new year –

If you want the New Year to really be different –

If you want to really see a difference in this year –

If you really want 2009 to not just be the same as every other year –

If you really want things to be different this year –

If you really want your life as a Christina and as a member of Hopewell to be different this year –

If you really want to see and take advantage of the new possibilities – new potential – - and new opportunities that lie before you this year –

You have to open the greatest gift of all —

You have to open yourself up to Christ – and the salvation – love – joy – and peace Christ can bring for you.

When you open yourself to the greatest gift, you life changes.

You experience God’s love, joy, and peace for this life – and salvation for the life to come.

The year – in fact your life – cam not be “business as usual” – but the year – and your life – will be filled with the new possibilities – new potential – - and new opportunities that God will lay before you.

As John writes – you will have the power to become a child of God –

born not of blood or the will of man – but of God

You will be blessed in a special way.

If you will open yourself up to Christ, and let Him change your life, you’ll see a difference in your life. And – a number of us will do that – we will see a difference in the Church.

This year will be different.

Our lives will be different.

The Church will be different.

You’ll be blessed with a different life – a different way to live – and a different way to love God and others.

You’ll be blessed with an ability to share the richness of God’s love – grace – peace – and salvation with the community – indeed a world that is hurting and needs to experience Jesus Christ in a new way.

Jesus Christ – God with us –

God in our midst –

God in our world –

God’s will for salvation – justice – mercy – and peace –

is God’s greatest gift to you.

Jesus Christ is the way to make your life different – the Church different — the community different – the world different.

Jesus Christ is the only one who can give us the assurance to say:

This year will be different.

This year will be different.

Accepting God’s gift – with the salvation – love – mercy – justice and peace Jesus brings – is the way to make your life different – the Church different – the community different – the world different.

As we accept that greatest gift –

as we begin to let God change us – and through us change our Church – our community – and our world – things will indeed be different.

Committing – or recommitting — your life to serving Christ – is the only way you can insure that this year will not be “business as usual” – but will be filled with God’s love and blessings for us as a individuals and as a Church.

Committing – or recommitting — your life to serving Christ – is how you insure that you can take advantage of the new possibilities – new potential – - and new opportunities that God will lay before you.

Make that commitment.

Make it your New Year – or maybe we should say New Life – resolution to accept God’s greatest gift — Jesus Christ – and either commit or recommit yourself to sharing Christ with others.

If you can do that – you will be able to receive – and share the greatest gift God offers — and can have a happy –

no – I think it better to say – blessed –

New year

And new life.

That’s indeed how we can make sure that this year will be different!

Amen.

Jeremiah 12:1-5

Jeremiah 12:1-5

Chosen To Be Triumphant

(Part 5 of 2007 series on Who Are We?)

January 28 2007

For the past month we have been focusing on different aspects of 2 questions that are important for us as individual Christians – and as a Church.

The first is:

Who are we?

Who are we as Christians?

Who are we as a Church?

Who are we?

And the second being:

What are we supposed to be doing?

What are we supposed to be doing as Christians?

What are we supposed to be doing as a Church?

Who are we?

What are we supposed to be doing?

Who are we as individual Christians?

What are we supposed to be doing as individual Christians?

Who are we as a Church?

What are we supposed to be doing as a Church?

We continue looking at answers to these questions today.

We’ve already noted that we can’t attempt to truly answer these questions by giving our opinions of who we are as Christians – or who we are as a Church –

or what we should be doing as Christians – or what we should be doing as a Church.

It’s not really our opinions that matter here – what matters is what God calls us to be – and what God calls us to be doing.

We have to start – not within ourselves – but with God.

So – here are the important questions for us to consider —

What does God think of us?

What does God call us to be – as individuals and as a Church?

What does God call us to be doing – as individuals and as a Church?

To really find answers to these questions we have to look to God – to God’s word – and see what God’s idea is.

We’ve been using the passage in 1 Peter 2:9 as a “springboard” — so to speak — to look at various aspects of who we are as God’s people – how we can be the Christians – the people – and the Church God has called us to be – and how we can do what God calls us to be doing.

In 1 Peter 2:9 we read:

you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

As we have looked at this passage, we have seen that it gives us an answer to the questions:

Who are we?

and

What are we supposed to be doing?

Who are we?

We are the glorious people of God – Peter writes –

What are we to be doing?

We are chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So — we are:

The glorious people of God –

Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

That’s who we are – and what we are to be doing.

But – what does that mean?

It’s the specifics of what that might mean that we’ve been considering for the past 4 weeks and will continue to consider for at least 3 more weeks.

What does it means that we are:

The glorious people of God –

Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

So far we have:

Looked at the first chapter of John – and seen that it means that we are chosen to walk in the light of God – the light of Christ – instead of the darkness of sin.

Looked at Luke’s version of the Baptism of Jesus – and seen that it means that we are chosen for ministry.

Looked at John 2:1-11 – the story of the miracle at the Cana wedding feast – and seen that it means that we are chosen to be the best.

And looked at Nehemiah 8 – where the Law of God is read as it is placed in the rebuilt and rededicated Temple following the Babylonian captivity – and seen that it means we are chosen to worship.

Chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Chosen for ministry

Chosen to be the best.

Chosen to worship.

Four things that being the glorious people of God – chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — can mean for us.

Today I want us to add a fifth thing to this list as we consider Jeremiah 12:1-5 – and see that we are chosen to be triumphant.

We are chosen to be triumphant.

Read scripture

 

What does it means that we are:

The glorious people of God –

Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

We’ve seen that it means that:

We are chosen to walk in the light of Christ –

Chosen for ministry

Chosen to be the best

And chosen to worship

I believe is also means we are chosen to be triumphant.

Through all the struggles – trials – hardships – and sorrows of life – God

has chosen us to be – and strengthens us to be – triumphant.

Let’s be honest here — Jeremiah 12:5 –

“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

is not one of the best known verses of scripture – but I believe it is a great passage.

It is a question God asks of the prophet Jeremiah, but it is a question He would ask of every one of us, also.

Jeremiah begins the 12^th chapter asking God a question – he wants to know why God allows good things to happen to bad people – and seemingly bad things to good people.

It makes very little sense to him.

It does not seem fair.

We raise those questions to God also, don’t we?

“God, why, if you are a good God and a loving God, do you allow bad things to happen to good people?”

Why has this happened to me, God, if you love me?”

You and I ask those questions a lot.

I read about a young Christian singer, Tim Kaufman. Tim traveled the country giving programs and leading worship in many churches. His wife became pregnant – and they shared their joy with churches throughout the country as they traveled. When the babies were born however, one was born blind and the other had to be continually monitored because her breathing was erratic.

We read about these things – and we wonder why.

We experience tragic things in our own lives – and we might ask God – why?

“God, why, if you are a good God and a loving God, do you allow bad things to happen to good people?”

Why has this happened to me, God, if you love me?”

We can ask so many questions of God.

But – God many times does not seem to answer our questions.

When Jeremiah questions God, God does not answer his question – but instead God asks Jeremiah a question:

“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

God many times asks us the same question.

If you can’t make it through what’s happening in your life right now – what are you going to do if worse things happen?

Part of what it means that we are the glorious people of God – chosen to show the world our glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – is that

We are chosen to walk in the light of Christ —

Part of what it means is that we are chosen for ministry

Part of what it means is that we are chosen to be the best

Part of what it means is that we chosen to worship

Part of what it means is that we are chosen to be triumphant

God does not ask the question in Jeremiah 12:5:

“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

to discourage us or frighten us, but to strengthen and encourage us. I believe this question God raises shows that He is training each one of us, in the face of a troubled world and of all sorts of difficulties, to be triumphant – to triumph in holiness. He has us competing against footmen, for someday, in his perfect plan, He is going to call us to compete against the horses. He’s teaching us to walk, not to stumble, and then to run on the level plains of the Jordan, because someday He’s going to call upon us to face the Jordan in flood stage.

And he wants us to be triumphant.

He is choosing us – training us – to triumph.

We are chosen to be triumphant.

Now – the Jordan River isn’t much of a river. It’s only about 200 miles long. It starts in the high country of Mount Hermon, which is always in snow and is some 9,000 feet high, the highest point in all of Israel. It flows sort of sluggishly through overgrowth and thickets until it arrives at the Dead Sea, some 1,200 feet below sea level, the lowest point in all of the world. At it’s widest point it’s only about 6 feet wide! The Jordan isn’t much of a river – until the snows of Mount Hermon begin to melt quickly in the spring, and the water would come rushing down the river, and it would overflow its banks.

In the thickets along the Jordan were wild beasts that would be driven out by the flood into the villages.

So – God is saying: “I’m teaching you to walk on the level ground, because someday I’m going to call you to stand for me and face the consequences of a flooded Jordan.”

Many of us do not accept this as something to frighten us. Many of us do not want to live a life that is dull and unchallenging. We want a sense that our life has counted for something. We want to compete against the horses. We want to be able to stand in the flood of the Jordan.

I believe God teaching Jeremiah — teaching us – that He has us in a training program to triumph in holiness in order that we might be used by Him in a troubled world.

We are chosen to be triumphant.

In 1 Peter 2:9 we read:

you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

Chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Chosen for ministry

Chosen to be the best

Chosen to worship

Chosen to be triumphant

Jeremiah 12 actually begins with a conclusion:

God is good.

In 12:1 Jeremiah begins with the statement:

You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you.”

What does that mean?

It means “You are always right.”

Just drop a couple of letters.

Jeremiah begins with a conclusion:

“You are always righteous, O Lord. You are always good.”

How great it is that God cares about us and is our heavenly Father!

As Christians we can look at situations in life by looking at them in light of the fact that God is worthy of all of our praise and service—that God is always good.

And so Jeremiah begins with a conclusion: “You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you.”

Having begun with this conclusion, however, Jeremiah goes on to a complaint. As he begins to think of his problems, of injustice in the world, of the challenges facing him, I believe his complaint leads him to a wrong premise.

The complaint begins at the end of verse 1:

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why, God, do the wicked prosper?

Why do I see these things going on all about me, and you seem to do nothing about it? Rather it seems that you’ve planted these people and caused them to prosper.

Do you see the wrong premise here?

God has not planted the wicked. The wicked can never have a sense of assurance that around the corner doom and judgment are not waiting for them.

In Psalm 1 there’s a contrast between the godly person and the ungodly person. We’re told that the godly person’s delight and excitement are in the law of the Lord, and in his word “he meditates day and night.” A godly person, excited by the Word of God, is looking day by day to see how that verse of Scripture that he’s studying may apply to the opportunities, challenges, decisions, or problems of the day. A righteous person delights in the Word of God in the sense that they are always looking for ways to apply their faith to the challenges of life.

What brings you “delight” in your life?

There may be a lot of answers to that question.

But — does the Word of God ever excite you?

Does it ever delight you?

Now, I’ll admit I’ve sat through a lot of boring classes – studies – and even sermons – I’ve even taught some of them and preached some of them. But if the Word of God always bores you, if it always puts you to sleep, then—you’ve heard of taking a yearly physical—maybe it’s time to take a “spiritual” to see if there’s something wrong with you in your walk before God.

What’s the description of the godly person?

Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and they are like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

Now, the contrast is, the ungodly are not like that.

They can never be certain.

There are never any roots.

The ungodly are like the chaff, which the wind is driving away

But a godly person is like a person planted by the rivers of water.

Do you see the wrong premise that Jeremiah has come to?

He’s been asking God the questions with his complaint:

“Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? It seems as if they are planted.”

We fall into that same trap many times.

But that’s a wrong premise.

It’s not the wicked that are planted.

It’s those who follow God who are truly planted by the good hand of God your Father.

It’s those who follow God that God watches over and is caring for.

It may seem that the wicked prosper, but they’re just like the chaff, which the wind drives away.

But wherever those who follow God are, whatever their circumstances, whatever the difficulties they face, even when the Jordan is overflowing – so to speak – they are planted and sustained by the hand of God.

Do you see that one of the joys of knowing God through Jesus Christ – of knowing that God is your Father – is that whatever the difficulty, whatever the challenge, whatever the circumstance, you can know you’re not like the chaff, which the winds of circumstance and chance blow away. You’re like the tree planted by rivers of water.

you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

Chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Chosen for ministry

Chosen to be the best

Chosen to worship

Chosen to be triumphant

Jeremiah 12:5 is not a familiar passage of scripture – but it is a great passage – and a challenge.

“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

This is a challenge.

What does God say in those moments of confusion, when with tears in your eyes, you want to cry out, “Why?” “

He says: “Trust me.”

If we persist in asking “Why?”

It’s as if God were saying: “Because I’m doing something in your life.”

Yea – Jeremiah 12:5 is a challenge to us.

“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

God is training you to triumph in holiness so that you can stand in the midst of pain and sorrow – and stand with others who are hurting – and – triumphantly – show the glories of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God has chosen us to be triumphant.

How can we have any impact upon the world when we are under its confusion, following its ways and its philosophy? No matter how we wish, we can’t make a difference. But God is training us be triumphant – God has chosen us to be triumphant — to be used by God as part of the solution in the world instead of part of the confusion in the world.

So do you see the challenge before us?

God wants to train us to be triumphant in the trials – troubles – and sorrows of life. If we will be obedient to God – if we will have faith in the hardships – trials – troubles – and sorrows of life – we will triumph – and we can share the love of God with others who are going through trials – troubles – and sorrows.

So – who are we as Christians?

Who are we as a Church?

What are we to be doing as Christians?

What are we to be doing as a Church?

you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

We are the glorious people of God –

Called to show the world our glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This means that we are:

Chosen to walk in the light of Christ

Chosen for ministry

Chosen to be the best

Chosen to worship

This means that we are:

Chosen to be triumphant.

Amen.

Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 12:20-33

JEREMIAH 31:31-34

JOHN 12:20-33

“IT’S TIME!”

LENT 5 APRIL 1, 2006

READ SCRIPTURE

We are 5 weeks into our season of Lent – 5 weeks into our journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem – where Jesus will be crucified for our sins. As we journey with Christ on that road to Jerusalem, we see His commitment to His task. As we journey with Him it is our prayer that we will become more committed to Him.

This is a time for reflection upon our relationship with Christ — our relationship with God.

This is a time for us to recommit our lives to God and to Christ — to living in His ways.

This is a time for us to turn to Christ — and recommit our lives

to following Him — to being the person He calls us to be.

It is a time for us to see the new life God offers us through Christ — and accept it — and live in God’s new ways.

New life.

This is the message of Lent.

New life because of the death of Christ.

New life through a new commitment to Christ.

That’s the message of our texts for today.

Our Old Testament text almost shouts the promise of new life as Jeremiah envisions the renewal of the covenant — the promise of God to love — guide — bless — and save the people — if the people would follow God.

Our New Testament lesson has Jesus saying that it’s time to have that covenant renewed within us.

Listen to God’s word.

READ BOTH PASSAGES

The poet Ann Weems writes:

GOING THROUGH LENT

IS A LISTENING.

WHEN WE LISTEN

TO THE WORD,

WE HEAR

WHERE WE ARE SO

BLATANTLY

UNLIVING.

IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORD,

AND HALLOW IT

INTO OUR LIVES,

WE HEAR

HOW WE CAN SO ABUNDANTLY

LIVE AGAIN.

Weems. “A Listening.” Kneeling In Jerusalem. p. 33

Jeremiah wrote:

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

Jeremiah 31:33

Jesus said:

“THE TIME HAS COME

FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED.

WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME,

AND WHERE I AM,

THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE, ALSO.”

John 12:26

IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORD,

AND HALLOW IT

INTO OUR LIVES,

WE HEAR

HOW WE CAN SO ABUNDANTLY

LIVE AGAIN.

Our Old Testament text almost shouts the promise of new life as Jeremiah envisions the renewal of the covenant — the promise of God to love — guide — bless — and save the people — if the people would follow God.

But — that’s where the covenant — the promise — broke down.

If God promised to love — guide — bless — and save the people if they would follow Him — what would happen if they would not follow God?

Would the world be destroyed — as in the days of Noah?

Would all die because of the poison of sin — as many had died in the wilderness when they were bitten by the poisonous snakes?

What would happen if the people did not follow God?

That’s the question of the Israelites in captivity in Babylon.

Years after they had reached — taken — and settled in the Promised Land they found themselves enslaved again — this time in Babylon.

Why?

What happened?

Could it be that they had forgotten the promise of God to love — guide — bless — and save them if they would follow Him?

Yes — it could be that indeed.

The people of God had forgotten to be God’s people.

They had forgotten their part of the covenant — and now — once again — they were captives.

What now?

What would happen now?

What could happen now?

Would God do something?

Could God do something?

What would God do?

What could God do?

Apparently something new was needed. The covenant wasn’t working. It had to be changed. It had to be made new. But — could it be made new? Could there be a new way for God to guide — love — bless — and save them — and for the people to follow God?

Jeremiah envisioned a renewal of the covenant with God.

A way for the covenant to be “keepable.”

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

God was going to renew the covenant — not because the people deserved it — but because God loved the people — and deeply wanted to love — guide — bless — and save them — and deeply wanted them to follow Him.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TIME

What an exciting — beautiful promise God makes to God’s people in captivity. When they had looked at God’s covenant — God’s promises to them — all they could see was how badly they had failed. But now God gives them a way to see new life. The renewal of the covenant wasn’t going to come by some new laws — or even some new promises — it was going to come when the people let the promises of God — the uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love of God change their lives.

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

JESUS ANSWERED THEM:

“THE TIME HAS COME

FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED.

WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME,

AND WHERE I AM,

THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE, ALSO.”

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

In the death of Christ, the time has come.

In the resurrection of Christ, the time has come.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

That’s the message of Lent —

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Friends – it’s time for each of us to hear God’s promise of new life — a life where God changes our hearts and we know God.

It’s time for you to hear God’s promise of new life — a life where God changes your heart — and you know God.

Too many times we are all like the Israelites — forgetting how to be the people God has called us to be — forgetting to be God’s people — forgetting to act in God’s ways. And we have become captives — not to a government of foreign people as the Israelites were to the Babylonians — but we have become captives to sin — to the things of the world — the things that keep us away from God — the things that keep us from living in God’s ways. We have become captives to sin — and find it hard to become free.

It’s time for freedom.

It’s time to let God’s will begin to truly make a difference in your life.

Through Christ on the cross — you can be free from sin — and God’s new covenant can be written upon your heart.

Through Christ on the cross, you can be the person God has called you to be all along.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

It’s time for you to see Christ on the cross — and the new life God promises because of the death and resurrection of Christ.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

It’s time for you to let God touch you in a new way — to let that uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love of God change your heart and change your life.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Will you let it happen?

Will you let yourself be renewed — made into a new person — by God?

Will you let God do away with that part of you that is not all that interested in the things of God — the things that make for a Christian life — and renew your heart so that the things of God are the most important things in your life?

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Will you let God — in His uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love change your heart and change your life?

Will you let God change you so that His will is the most important thing in your life — and the things that make for the Christian life become the most important things for your life?

Will you start letting the things of God be the important things in your life?

Will you?

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

You can’t put it off any more.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Letting God change your life — letting the uncompromising — unending — never take “no” for an answer love of God change you is the most important decision you can ever make. Making that decision can give you eternal life in heaven. Failing to make that decision only leads to eternal life in sin — and in hell.

Let God write His law upon your heart.

Let God change you.

Do it now.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME.

Maybe you’ve never really let God make a difference in your life.

If not — do it.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Maybe you turned to God a long time ago — but it never really meant a lot to you — and never changed your life. If that’s the case — turn to God — and let Him change your life.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

Maybe you turned to God a long time ago — but like the Israelites you have forgotten what it means to truly be the person God has called you to be.

If that’s the case — use this as the opportunity to turn back to Christ.

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME.

Lent is indeed a time for us to reconsider our relationship with Christ — and recommit ourselves to Christ.

Indeed —

GOING THROUGH LENT

IS A LISTENING.

WHEN WE LISTEN

TO THE WORD,

WE HEAR

WHERE WE ARE SO

BLATANTLY

UNLIVING.

IF WE LISTEN TO THE WORD,

AND HALLOW IT

INTO OUR LIVES,

WE HEAR

HOW WE CAN SO ABUNTANTLY

LIVE AGAIN.

Weems. “A Listening.” Kneeling In Jerusalem. p. 33

BUT THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT

I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:

I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM,

AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,

AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

“THE TIME HAS COME

FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED.

WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME,

AND WHERE I AM,

THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE, ALSO.”

IT’S TIME

IT’S TME

AMEN

EASTER 2005

Jeremiah 31:1-6
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-18
Can You See The Lord?
Easter
March 27, 2005

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

You can tell it in the beauty of the sanctuary.

You can tell it in the beauty of the music.

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

You will be able to tell it in the fellowship we will be able to share at the breakfast.

All these elements work together to make this day the high point of the Christian year for us. But what really makes it the high point of the Christian year is the fact that this is our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus — and the new life He gives us — new hope for new life in heaven as well as new hope for new life here and now.

All three of our lessons this Easter day witness to the amazing fact that God is making our lives — our world — new. God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous. God is changing us — and our world — in the resurrection of Christ. By the resurrection of Christ our lives — our world — can be changed — they can be made new.

Easter is a time of hope and joy.

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

Can you imagine the joy — the hope — Mary must have felt as she encountered the risen Christ?

She must have felt all hope was lost as she came to the tomb –

Jesus — whom she had followed and in whom she had placed all her hopes and dreams — was dead — and it must have seemed that all her hopes and dreams of a better way of living — a new life — had died with Him. All her hopes and dreams must have seemed to have been buried with Jesus. She must have felt alone — and like there was no way that she could get new hope for her life.

But then — she encountered the risen Christ.

There is a new hope.
There is a new joy.
There is hope for a new and different way to live.
Just when she least expected it — God gave her new life — and new hope.
There is hope for a different life — life that was much more meaningful and joyous than she had ever dared imagine before.

As she ran back to the disciples with the news that she had seen the Lord she may have been confused — maybe incredulous — maybe even scared — but she also must have felt hope.

Hope that Christ was with her.
Hope that things could truly be different.
Hope that her life could truly be changed.
Can you imagine what hope and excitement must have been in her voice as she announced to the disciples:

“I have seen the Lord!”

What a message of joy and hope that must have been!

“I have seen the Lord!”
“I have seen the Lord!”

Friends — this is hope.

As we gather around the Lord’s table on this Easter morning — and as we celebrate the Sacraments — there is hope.

There is hope for our lives — there is hope for our families — there is hope for our community — there is hope for our church — there is hope for our world — because of the risen Christ.

Because of the risen Christ — there is new life.

Because to the risen Christ — there is hope.

Because of the risen Christ — there is hope and new life when we least expect it.

We can see the risen Lord.

Can you see the Lord?
Can you see the Lord?

Can you see the hope — the new life — the love the risen Lord offers us?
Can you see the new life God gives us — especially when we least expect it?

Can you see the Lord?
Can you see the Lord?

If so — act like it!

Let the joy of the risen Lord infect your lives — how you worship — how you fellowship with each other — how you share God’s love with the world. Let the world know that you see the risen Christ.

Let the surprising love of God that renews us and gives us new life — especially when we least expect it — give you such joy that the world will see it and wonder what has happened.

Let it make a noticeable difference in your life.

If we have seen the risen Christ we can not keep that fact a secret among ourselves. We can not keep the new life and new hope God offers us through the risen Christ a secret to ourselves.

We must put it into the world –
we must put it in the way we worship –
we must put it in the way we fellowship –
we must put it in the way we reach out into the world with God’s love –
we have to bring to each other and to the world the message Mary brought to the disciples.

“I have seen the Lord!”

Can you see the Lord?
Can you see the Lord?

Has your life been changed by an experience with the risen Christ?
Have you experienced the Lord’s love in a new way?
Have you let Christ make your life new?
Have you experienced God’s new life — especially in a way you never expected it before?

Can you see the Lord?
Can you see the Lord?

Easter has a clear message.

Because of the resurrection of Christ — our lives — our families — our community — our church – - our world — can be made new by our God who makes all things new — even when — or maybe it‘s better to say especially when — we least expect it.

Let the message of Easter change your life.
Let the message of Easter change how you live.
Let the message of Easter change how you relate to all people.
Let the message of Easter truly change how you live.

Let the message of Easter give you hope for life — life here on earth and life the future life in heaven.

Have you ever been sailing?

If so — even though you may not realize it — you may have encountered one way to illustrate the hope of Easter — the new life and new hope God gives us — even when we least expect it.

Paul Willis, pastor of The Cathedral Of His Glory in Greensboro,NC tells a story of sailing with his grandfather off the coast of North Carolina when he was a young boy. One day as they were sailing the wind stopped — the sea became a dead calm — and their sailboat began floating aimlessly in the water. Try as they might, they couldn’t get the ship to head in the direction of home — and it was getting dark. Young Paul panicked — and did not know what to do. He knew they couldn’t swim to shore — they were much too far out.

What were they going to do?

His grandfather knew that all they could do was wait — and — being an experienced sailor and fisherman — he knew the wind would begin blowing again.

Darkness fell — and still no wind.

Young Paul knew they were doomed.

Grandfather knew that the wind would come back in time.

Finally — late into the night — grandfather woke Paul and told him to trim the sails. Paul did not understand why — the wind was still not blowing — but off in the distance he heard a faint sound. The sound became stronger and stronger until finally he could feel the wind. With the sails trimmed, the boat made its way home.

Willis likens the unexpected — to him — wind to the new life God offers us.

Just when we think things are at their worst –
there is the wind — the Spirit — of God — giving us new life –
new hope — for our lives.

It happened that way for Mary and the disciples.
It happens that way for us.

Indeed, that is the message of Easter.

Feel it.
See it.
Believe it.
Experience it.
Live it.

See the new hope God gives.
Celebrate the new hope God gives.

Can you see the Lord?
Can you see the Lord?

See the hope!
Sere the life!
See the Lord!

Come.
Let us experience the risen Christ.
Let the joy of the Easter message change your life — and through us change the world.

Come — and see the Lord.

Amen