Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-21

Numbers 21:4-9

John 3:14-21

“Will You?”

Lent 4 March 26, 2006

We are 4 weeks into our season of Lent — 4 weeks into our
journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem — where
Jesus will die on the cross for our sins.

As we
journey with Jesus and the disciples during this Lenten season, we see the
commitment Jesus made to His mission to die for our sins.

It is
our prayer that we will also get a new vision for being the people God calls us
to be — people who are more committed to Him and to His work in our lives and
in the world.

Both
our Old Testament and Gospel lessons
for today are both calling us to have a right relationship with God —
to turn to Christ – and to turn and give our lives to God.

Our Old Testament lesson leads us to reflect upon how we respond to
such a gracious and loving God who loves us — blesses us — and saves us.

Do we accept His gracious love for
our lives and follow in His ways — or do we continually want to go in the ways
the world lures us — even though it can only bring sin and death?

Our Gospel lesson is one of the most
beloved in Scripture — and gives us a clearer picture of the love of God —
even as it forces us to focus more clearly on our decision to turn to Christ —
our decision of whether we are going to accept God’s gracious invitation for
salvation or not.

READ BOTH
PASSAGES

Ann Weems is a Presbyterian poet who
writes the following poem about the season of Lent:

When Lent comes,

You have to stand out in the open —

vulnerable.

You either are or you aren’t.

You either believe or you don’t.

You either will or you won’t.

When Lent comes,

We find ourselves in a courtyard

Where we must answer

Whether we know Him or not.

Weems. Kneeling
In Jerusalem. p.17

Are we followers of Christ — or
not?

Do we believe in God’s gracious love
for us — or not?

Will we give our lives to Christ – –
or will we not?

When we find ourselves in a position
where we have to say if we know and follow Christ or not — what will we say?

Tough questions.

Questions we would rather not have
to answer.

Questions that call for commitment
— and many times we would rather not have to commit.

We want it both ways.

We want to be able to enjoy what the
world tempts us with — success, job, doing what pleases us, helping others if
it is convenient or if we will be benefited by it somehow — coming to church
if we don’t have something better to do — these are the things the world says
should be important to us. And we want
so much to follow these things.

But — then again — there are also
the things God calls us to do — to give of ourselves, to love God and others
more than anything else, putting the will of God first in our lives, letting
God lead and direct our lives, supporting the worship, work, and fellowship of
the church — and we know that these things are good — and in our hearts and
minds we have to admit that we want to follow these, also.

Can’t we have it both ways?

No — we have to decide.

You either are or you aren’t.

You either believe or you don’t.

You either will or you won’t.

We have to choose.

We have to commit.

And it’s not easy.

It was not easy for the Israelites.

They had been freed from slavery in
Egypt by their gracious, loving, life-giving God — who through Moses had
worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for the freedom of
God’s people.

Still — they wanted to go back to Egypt.

They were not sure the ways of God
— the way of freedom and new life — were what they really wanted.

Egypt was so comfortable.

The food was so good.

So what if they were slaves — at
least they got a decent meal.

Why couldn’t they have the comforts
of Egypt — and the freedom of the new life in God?

They argued with God and Moses.

They accused God and Moses of not
knowing what was best for them.

They rebelled.

And — many died.

The poison of sin came into the camp
of those who God had freed — and many died.
Serpents worked out God’s judgment on those who chose the ways of the
world over the ways of God — and many died.

They could not commit to God —

they thought the price was too great
—

and many died.

Then — they remembered.

They remembered God’s love and
grace.

They remembered the new life and
freedom God offered.

And they repented.

And God responded — again — in
love and grace.

The serpent on the pole was the
antidote to the poison of sin. All who
looked to the serpent on the pole and not at the world would be healed.

But — they had to commit.

Either they would turn to the
serpent on the pole or they wouldn’t.

They had to decide if they would
follow God or if they wouldn’t.

You either are or you aren’t.

You either believe or you don’t.

You either will or you won’t.

We have to choose.

We have to commit.

Jesus understood that.

When Jesus told Nicodemus:

“For God so loved the world

that He sent His only Son ..”

He was telling
about the gracious love of our gracious and loving God.

God offers life.

New life that is abundant and meaningful.

New life where meaning is found in
giving of ourselves for God and others.

New life where the things of the
world become secondary to the things of God.

New life where joy and meaning are
found in the community of the church — God’s people — dedicated to serving
God and others.

New life where there is true freedom
because the things of the world no longer matter.

New life where true meaning is not
found in success, in our job, or in “doing our own thing” — but in giving of
ourselves — loving God and others more than anything else — putting the will
of God above our will — letting God guide — lead — and direct our lives
— and free us from the poison of
sin.

So the question for Lent is:

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ — who heals
us from the poison of sin?

Will you commit your life to Christ
— and let Christ lead — guide — direct — forgive — and save you?

God loves the world so much that He
sent Christ to save it.

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you let Christ save you?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you commit yourself to Christ?

Will you decide to follow Christ —
and not whatever the world is calling upon you to follow?

Will you decide to follow Christ —
and not your own will?

Will you turn to Christ — and not
rebel against Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you give Christ your life?

Will you make the things of Christ
— the things of God — the most important things in your life?

Will you make your personal study of
the Bible — your personal prayer life — and our corporate study of God’s word
in Sunday School — and Bible Study — important for your life?

Will you make our corporate worship
of God important to you?

Will you make our times of service
to the community — and our times of fellowship — important for your life?

Will you quit turning away from
Christ — and begin turning to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

If you will turn to Christ — you
will discover the new life God intends for you. If you will not turn to Christ — but remain living in the ways
of the world — you will only discover sin — death — and hell.

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Lent is indeed a time for us to
reflect upon our response to the love of God — God’s love we see so clearly in
Christ on the cross — and experience so clearly in the forgiveness of our
sins. Lent is a time for us to turn
back to Christ.

Maybe you’ve never turned to Christ.

If not — do it.

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Maybe you turned to Christ 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
Christ — and let Him change your life.

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Maybe you turned to Christ a long
time ago — but like the Israelites you have let the world turn your vision
away from Him.

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

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ — who heals
us from the poison of sin?

A snake on a pole.

A savior on a cross.

Both are symbols of God’s love and
God’s call to us to follow. Both are calls to us to turn to
Christ.

Will you turn to Christ?

You have to decide.

You have to commit.

Will you turn to Christ?

You either are or you aren’t.

You either believe or you don’t.

You either will or you won’t.

Will you turn to Christ?

Will you turn to Christ?

Amen

Exodus 20:1-17, John 2:13-22

Exodus 20:1-17

John 2:13-22

“Get Right With God”

Lent 3  March 20, 2006

 

We are now 3 weeks into the Lenten season —

            3 weeks into our journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem — where Jesus will die on the cross for our sins.

            As we journey with Jesus and the disciples during this Lenten season, we see the commitment Jesus made to His mission to die for our sins.

            It is our prayer that we will also get a new vision for being the people God calls us to be — people who are more committed to Him and to His work in our lives and in the world.

            The passages we have before us today are – from the Old Testament – the 10 Commandments as we have them in Exodus 20 – and – from the Gospel of John – the story of how Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem.

            These passages may not seem to be similar, but as we look at them we might find some similarities – and a call to journey with Jesus and find that the road to commitment leads us to becoming people whose hearts and minds are right with God.  

            Listen to God’s word.

           

READ BOTH PASSAGES

 

Simeon had been a livestock dealer in the temple all his life, and his father before him, and his before him, and his before him — his family had been livestock dealers in the temple for hundreds of years.  He always got to the temple early to claim his spot.  People looked for him there.  They knew him and trusted him.  His cattle and sheep always met the requirements specified in the law for sacrifice. 

            Now he could only watch in dismay as his livestock scattered into the city. 

            He was ruined. 

            Why?

            How had it happened?

            Who was this crazy Galilean, anyway?

            It was then that Simeon saw one of the followers of that crazy Galilean — the one they called Thomas — sitting alone, and shaking his head dejectedly.  Simeon ran over to him and said:

            “Hey — you — don’t  you realize what you people have cost me?”

            “I know.  I know.” said Thomas.  

            “I’ll send Judas over tomorrow to see if we can cover your losses.”

            “What was this all about?” demanded Simeon.

            “I don’t know” replied Thomas.

            “Something set Him off — I’m not sure what.  It’s just that He feels so deeply…”

            “Yea, right.  That’s obvious,” said Simeon.

            “He seemed to think we were committing a crime or something.  Doesn’t He know how the temple operates?  We provide a service for the people — we sell the animals they need to sacrifice.  Without us, no one could sacrifice.  And if they couldn’t sacrifice, they couldn’t obey God.  It’s as simple as that.  So, don’t we deserve to be paid for our services?  Isn’t the workman worthy of his wages?”

            “Sure you are.” replied Thomas. 

            “Don’t take it personally.  I don’t think it was directed at you.”

            “Then what was it all about?  Is He an atheist or something?  Doesn’t He understand the law — that sacrifice is what God commands?”

            “Yes, yes, He knows that.  And no, He’s not an atheist.  Far from it.  If anything, He believes too much.”

            “Then what’s the problem?”

            Thomas pondered this a moment —

            “I don’t know.  It’s strange.  It’s as if He wants people to have a right relationship with God — to live in a right relationship with God — to let the commandments change their lives.  Maybe He’s telling us to get right with God.”

            “Well — I don’t know — all I know is that He sure turned my life upside down.”  Simeon mumbles as he walks off.

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            We are 3 weeks into our season of Lent — that time in the Church year that is meant for thinking about the death of Christ — what it means for us — and what response we make.  It is a time for reflection upon our relationship with Christ — our relationship with God.  It is a time for us to recommit our lives to God and to Christ — to go in His ways.

 

            It is a time for us to

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            Both our Old Testament and Gospel texts for today have that as their theme.  They are both calling us to have a right relationship with God and others.  They are both calling on us to

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            So — what about our Old Testament text?

            How should we view and consider the 10 Commandments?

            As laws written in stone by God — who will strike us down if we attempt to break them?

As 10 laws meant to do away with any fun we might have — or think about having — handed down to us by a God who is a killjoy – – continually spouting forth a litany of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots”? 

            As 10 laws that restrict what we do — handed down to us by a God who is only interested in limiting our actions?

            Or — as 10 rules to closely follow – – to keep track of our obedience to – – and to take great pride in our ability to follow – – while at the same time looking down on those we do not feel keep the Commandments as well as we think we do?

            Both ways of interpreting the 10 Commandments are fairly prevalent – – as rules that restrict us or rules that cause us great pride when we feel we follow them better than others.

            But – – wait a minute.

            Are there other options for interpreting the 10 Commandments – – and other options for visualizing God?

            Surely there must be.

            Let’s take another look at God giving the 10 Commandments to the Israelites and see if we can come up with another way to interpret them — and another way to visualize God.

            God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery.  Through Moses God had worked miracles and mighty deeds that made clear God’s will for freedom for God’s people. 

            I remember several years ago we took the young people to see the movie “Prince of Egypt” – and they were all in awe of the scene of salvation for the Israelites as God parted the Red Sea and the Israelites crossed into freedom

One of them was so impressed he looked up and announced:

            “Now that’s something you don’t see every day!”

            Indeed, salvation is not something you see every day.

            It is not commonplace.

So — what do the Israelites do in response to their freedom?

            They had been freed by God – but now what?

            Should their freedom by the very special occurrence of God’s salvation change how they live?

            Are they to live any differently because they have been freed from slavery by God?

            Certainly.

            The glorious fact that they had been freed from slavery by the power of God acting in a way that is so marvelous and out – of – the – ordinary was to be the deciding factor in how they lived. They were to live differently from others — because God had blessed them with their freedom. 

            But – – how were they to live differently?

            At Mt. Sinai they found out.

             In the fire and the smoke and the quaking of that holy mountain they found out how God wanted them to live.

            They had been freed from slavery by their freeing – –  life-giving God — and now they were to have undivided loyalty to God – – a loyalty that would not allow them to try to manipulate God by carving idols — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – – and that would require them to take a Sabbath day of rest out of every 7 days to remember and worship God. 

            But — because God had freed them – – they were also to live in a special relationship with others — honoring their parents — refraining from murder, adultery, stealing, lying and coveting — or doing anything else that might keep them from living in this special relationship with God and others. 

            The 10 Commandments were indeed commandments – – but they were not Commandments that restricted what the people could and could not do as much as it freed them to live in a right relationship with God  — to honor and respect and worship God and to treat others with love and honor and respect. 

 

            The 10 Commandments are commandments to live in a right relationship with God and others. 

                        They are commandments to

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

           They are commandments to live in a right relationship with God and others — and that even show us how to do that.  They are commandments that show us how to put God first in our lives — and because God is first in our lives, we live in ways that respect and honor God — ways that do not try to manipulate God or take His Holy Name lightly — ways that take time for God and that take time to worship and remember Him.

            They are also commandments for a special relationship with others — a relationship that honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting.

            They are commandments for special and right relationships with God and others. 

            They are commandments to:

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

It is as if they are saying:  

GET RIGHT RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                             DO IT NOW!

                                                                             GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            Jesus said the same things — and as He walked through the temple that day He seemed to be incensed at the fact that the people were putting more emphasis on the law and the sacrifice than they were on their own personal relationship with God. 

            As He turned the tables over and drove the money changers out — it is as if He were saying that this was not right — that living in God’s ways — letting God make a difference in your life — letting the ways of God make a difference in how you lived your life — was the only right way to live. 

            It’s as if He were saying:

 

                                                                             GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                             DO IT NOW!

                                                                             GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

            That’s still the message.

            That was God’s message to the people of Israel in the 10 Commandments and so many other times in the Old Testament — as well as Jesus’ message throughout His ministry.

 

                                                                       

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

            GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                 

                                                    GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                     DO IT NOW!

                                                  GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            That’s still God’s message to us today.

            That’s still God’s message to you today.

            That’s still Jesus’ message to us.

            That’s still Jesus’ message to you.

                                                                       

                                                                        GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                      GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                       

                                                GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                          DO IT NOW!

                                   GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

 

            The season of Lent compels us to look at our own relationship with Christ — how we are living our lives — and how Christ has called us to live our lives. 

            So — how about it?

            Are you “right with God?” 

            Are you living your life in a right relationship with God?

            Are the things of God — the things the 10 Commandments speak of — vital and important for your life?

            Like the Israelites freed from slavery in Egypt in a powerful action by God — an action you indeed don’t see every day — you have been freed from slavery to sin through the death of Christ on the cross –  – another gloriously powerful action — another action you certainly don’t see and experience every day — but this gloriously powerful action must change your life. 

 

            You must live in new ways. 

            You must live in a new and right relationship with God and others. 

            Do you?

            Do you?

            Do you live a life that shows an undivided loyalty to God – – a loyalty that will not allow you to try to manipulate God’s will to your will  — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – – a loyalty that requires you to take a day out of every 7 days to remember and worship God?

 

GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                  GET RIGHT WITH GOD!               

 

            Not only must you live in a right relationship with God — but also it is also necessary to live in a right relationship with others.

                        Do you?

                        Do you?

            Do you live in a right relationship with others — a relationship that honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting — or doing anything else that keeps you from truly living in a right relationship with others?

            Think about it.

            Think about your relationship with God and others.

            If they are not the “right” relationships God would have them be — let God make them “right.”

           

            Will Willimon  — former Chaplain at Duke University and Dean of Duke Chapel – now a Bishop in the Methodist Church – tells of a dream he once had that he was walking up to the beautiful Duke Chapel and heard quite a commotion.  When he got closer he observed that the beautiful $200 each hymn books – the $2,000 Pulpit Bible  — the hand embroidered paraments and the immense Communion Table was all laying outside the chapel – all broken and crumpled.

As he rushed to see what was going on, he saw Jesus leave the chapel in a fit of anger – proclaiming that people were more important than things – and the chapel had needed to be cleaned out to make more room for Him.

 

            How would Jesus judge us as a Church?

            Would He say that we had our priorities in the right places – or that we needed to do some “cleaning” to make more room for Him?

            How would Jesus judge you as a Christian?

            Would He say you had your priorities in the right places – or that you needed some “cleaning” to make room for Him?

 

            Would Jesus’ message to us be that we were “right” with Him – that our relationships with Him and others were what they should be?

            Would Jesus’ message to you be that you are  “right” with Him – that your relationships with Him and others were what they should be?

           

Do you live in a right relationship with God – a relationship based on an undivided loyalty to God – – a loyalty that will not allow you to try to manipulate God’s will to your will  — or to take God’s Holy name lightly – – a loyalty that requires you to take a day out of every 7 days to remember and worship God?

            Do you live in a right relationship with others — a relationship that puts honors all people and shows honor and respect by not killing, committing adultery — stealing — lying — or coveting — or doing anything else that keeps you from truly living in a right relationship with others?

            Think about it.

            Think about your relationship with God and others.

            If they are not the “right” relationships God would have them be — let God make them “right.”

            As we go through this season of Lent – and journey with Jesus towards greater commitment to Him – one thing we must remember is:

 

                                                      GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                                                                      DO IT NOW!

                                                 GOD WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

           

                           GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

                        GET RIGHT WITH GOD!

 

AMEN

 

 

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Mark 8:31-38

GENESIS 17:1-7, 15-16

MARK 8:31-38

“WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?”

LENT 2 MARCH 12, 2006

We are now 2 weeks into the Lenten season —

2 weeks into our journey with Christ and His disciples as they journey to Jerusalem — where Jesus will die on the cross for our sins.

As we journey with Jesus and the disciples during this Lenten season, we will see the commitment Jesus made to His mission to die for our sins.

It is our prayer that we will also get a new vision for being the people God calls us to be — people who are more committed to Him and to His work in our lives and in the world.

We have before us 2 passages today — one Old Testament invitation from God to Abram — the other — from the Gospel of Mark — an invitation from Jesus to the disciples — both are invitations to greater commitment to God and His will in our lives.

Listen to God’s invitation to Abram — the disciples — and to you.

READ BOTH PASSAGES

Our Old Testament lesson for today is — like our Old Testament passage from Genesis 9 last week — an example of God making a covenant — a promise for life and for blessings. However, this today’s lesson is different in that here we have an expectation — a demand — to go along with the blessing. God makes a covenant — but here Abram must respond to God — and in responding to God he is changed. His name is changed — but not only his name — his entire life is changed and he is never the same again.

Our Gospel lesson for today is another invitation from God.

This time the invitation is from Jesus — and it is for the disciples to take up their cross and follow Him to Jerusalem. It is an invitation to make the things of God and Christ important to them.

Two invitations.

One to Abram.

The other to the disciples.

What did responding to God mean for Abram?

It meant he would have to believe something that was downright unbelievable. God had promised him children before — God had promised to make him the father of many nations — a blessing for all the world — but now — well — he was 99 years old. Surely God didn’t expect him to believe that he was going to have children — any children – – much less that many nations would come from him at this age!

But — guess what?

God did intend for him to believe that!

God did intend to keep His promise!

As unbelievable as it may have sounded — God intended to keep those promises He had made to Abram.

For Abram, responding to God meant he had to believe in God.

But — responding to God also meant he had to follow God.

For — you see — God not only called Abram to believe in the promise of children and nations — God also called Abram to follow Him.

He called Abram to follow.

He had called Abram to move from Ur — then Haran — into a land he did not know — a place that was unfamiliar.

God called Abram to leave his family — his familiar surroundings — all he knew — and go where God would lead him.

God called Abram to follow.

So — not only did responding to God mean Abram had to believe the unbelievable — it also meant he had to follow God into places that were different — that were dangerous — that were demanding of him — purely and simply because God called him to do so.

And — how does Abram respond?

He believes.

He goes.

He laughs at God’s promise — but he still believes.

He still goes.

And his life is never the same again.

He begins living his life under the guidance and direction of God.

He is changed.

Even his name is changed.

He takes on a new identity because he has been called by God — and has responded to God’s call.

Nothing about him is the same anymore.

He has heard God — and he has responded — he has been changed.

What about the disciples?

What did responding to God — responding to Christ — mean to them?

Like Abram — it meant leaving everything they knew — families — livelihoods — and following Christ.

But — where were they going?

They may have not been too sure.

Maybe they thought they were going into Jerusalem to take over the Roman government.

But then Jesus says — no — he was going to Jerusalem — but it was not to take over the government — his mission was to be crucified on the cross.

Wait a minute — Peter seems to be saying —

this may be more than what I bargained for.

I’m not too sure of this cross and denial of self.

Are you sure — Jesus?

Are you sure you must be crucified and die?

Yes — Jesus is sure.

He is also sure that if they or anyone else want to follow Him they must get behind Him — get in step — and follow Him. Not only does Jesus have to go to the cross — but those who want to be His followers must take up their crosses, too. Not only must Jesus give of Himself — but those who would follow Him must give of themselves, too.

Quite a demand Jesus is putting upon His disciples.

And how do they respond?

Even though they may not fully understand — they follow.

They let Jesus teach — lead — and guide them and finally they do have their lives completely changed — and they give of themselves just as Jesus gave of Himself.

God called Abram to follow — and he followed — even though God’s promise was unbelievable and he had no idea where God was leading him.

Jesus called the disciples to follow — and they followed — even though they weren’t at all sure of what it would ultimately mean for them.

What about us?

What about you?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

God calls us to follow and believe just as He called Abram.

God calls you to follow and believe just as He call Abram.

Jesus calls us to give up all and follow Him just as He called the disciples.

Jesus calls you to give up all and follow Him just as He called the disciples.

That call to deny self — take up the cross — and follow is just as real for us as it was for the original disciples.

It is just as real for you as it was for those who originally heard it.

So —

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

God still calls you to believe and follow.

Jesus still calls you to deny yourself and your will — and let His will be what gives your life meaning.

Jesus still calls you to follow His will — not your own.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

When Peter first heard Jesus talk about going to Jerusalem and dieing he was appalled — not just for what it would mean for Jesus — but probably for what it would mean for him, too. Peter may have reasoned that – if Jesus were going to have to take up a cross and die — what would be expected of His followers — or more specifically — what would be expected of him?

The same?

He tried to tell Jesus that it must not be that way.

But what does Jesus tell him?

Get behind Me.

Get in step.

Get in step with Me.

Follow Me.

Let My will be yours — don’t try to make your will Mine.

Jesus still calls us to do the same things.

Get behind Me.

Get in step with Me.

Follow Me.

Let My will be yours — don’t try to make your will Mine.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

Lent is a time for us to think about our response to God.

God — who calls us to follow Him — to believe Him — to have everything about us changed by Him.

Christ –who calls us to get in step with Him — who calls us to follow Him — who calls us to make His will ours.

It is a time for you to think about your response to God and Christ.

God calls you to follow and believe in Him — to let your life be changed by Him.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

Christ calls you to get in step with Him — to follow Him — to let His will be yours.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

Do you follow God and Christ?

Has Christ changed your life?

Do you live differently — in a new way — because God has called you to do so?

Are you “in step” with Christ — following Him — letting His will be yours?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

God calls you to be different because of your faith in Him.

Christ calls you to be different because of your faith in Him.

Are you?

Are you ‘in step” with Christ — with His things —

is your prayer life — your study and meditation on God’s word — your participation in church worship — Sunday School — Bible study — fellowship times — outreach times — in step with Christ’s will for your life?

Is the way you live your daily life — your words — your actions — your thoughts — the way you spend your time — the way you treat others — the way you reach out to those in need — in step with Christ’s call to deny yourself and let Christ be in charge of your life?

Are all the aspects of your life in step with Christ?

If not — let it be.

The only way to find true life in this world and salvation in the next life is to be in step with Christ.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

God called Abram to follow — and he did — and his life was changed.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

Jesus called the disciples to follow Him — to give of themselves — to get in step — to let His will be theirs — and they began to follow.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

Christ is calling us to be changed — to be different– to get in step with His will — to let His will be ours.

Christ is calling you to be changed — to be different– to get in step with His will — to let His will be yours.

Fred Craddock is a Methodist minister and teacher of Homiletics at Candler School of Theology. He tells a story about a boy in his hometown who would believe anything he was told.

Someone could tell him: “The schoolhouse burned down. We’re not having school tomorrow.” He’d believe it.

Someone could tell him they were giving away free ice cream at the town hall. He’d get excited — “Really? Ice cream?” and off he’d run.

Someone could tell him the President was going to be in town the next day – and he would spend the night at the train station so he could get a good look at the President when he arrived.

Craddock says he remembers one time the preacher preached a sermon on how God loved us and wanted us to follow Him. He says after the sermon – the boy came up to the preacher and wanted to give His life to God. He believed what the preacher said – this time it was not a joke – and he made his response.

God loves you.

God called Abram to follow — and he did — and his life was changed.

Jesus called the disciples to follow Him — to give of themselves — to get in step — to let His will be theirs — and they began to follow.

God still calls you to follow.

Jesus still calls you to follow Him — to give of yourself — to get in step — to let His will be yours.

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

AMEN

Genesis 9:8-17

GENESIS 9:8-17

I PETER 3:18-22

MARK 1:9-15

“THERE IS NEW LIFE”

LENT 1 COMUNION MARCH 5, 2006

Today is the first Sunday in Lent.

Lent — that season of the church year when we focus upon the new life God offers us in Christ — and how we can respond to God’s offer by a new commitment of our lives to God and to Christ. We focus on the new life God offers us in Christ by focusing on the death of Christ — for it is the death of Christ that gives us new life. Of course we also know that Christ rose again – but unless we focus on how He gave His life for us – we will never truly understand the victory He gives us. And — as we focus on how Christ gave His life for us — we reflect upon how we can give our lives to Him.

We are also beginning a journey of sorts today as a Church in that our Gospel passages for the Season of Lent focus on Jesus’ journey on the road to Jerusalem. As we “travel” – so to speak – with Jesus – I believe we can hear God’s call to us to travel our own roads with Him towards greater commitment to Him.

As we gather around God’s table to begin our journey down the road to commitment today, we will see that following the road to commitment gives us the promise of new life – and a new beginning for our lives. God’s covenant with Noah from an Old Testament and Epistle viewpoint are before us – as is the Gospel lesson on the baptism and temptation of Christ.

READ SCRIPTURE

These are stories of new life — of new creation — of new beginnings — stories where there is new life.

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

For Noah — the waters of the flood had subsided — but had completely destroyed the world.

All its inhabitants were dead — except for

Noah

His wife

Their sons Shem — Ham — Japeth

Their wives

8 people.

8 people and 2 of every kind of animal — male and female — enough to begin again the work of populating the world.

So – from the destructive waters of the flood –

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

But — why was all this necessary?

Why had God destroyed all living creatures — except for those in the Ark?

Because people had turned away from God.

The author of Genesis tells us something we really should not have to be told — wickedness was great upon the earth — and every inclination in the hearts of people was evil.

This should not surprise us.

The created had forgotten the creator — and so the creator God decides to start over.

The flood comes — and kills every person and animal except for those in the Ark — but there is new life. Even from the destructive waters of the flood.

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

Does the flood really change things?

Are Noah and his family really all that different from all those people killed in the flood?

No

They sin.

They forget God.

Nothing really changes

Or — does it?

Something changes — something is different.

What is it?

Noah looks — and there is a multi-colored bow in the sky.

Why?

Something is different.

What?

What’s different?

In a sense – God has changed.

In a sense — God is different.

God chooses to change.

God chooses to do something different.

God makes a promise — a covenant — to no longer destroy — but to save life.

So — there is something different.

God — who had sent the flood to destroy all people — promises to never destroy all of life again.

“Never again.” God says

“Never again”

“Never again”

New life indeed emerges from the destruction.

Hope indeed emerges from devastation.

Hope for new life comes from mass death.

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

God sets the bow in the sky to be a constant reminder to God and to us that God has promised to no longer destroy all of life — but to save life.

I read a story not long ago about a boy named Tommy who was visiting his grandmother. His grandmother read him a Bible Story every day. One day she read him the story of Noah and the flood –- emphasizing the beautiful rainbow and God’s promise in the rainbow. It was a beautiful, sunny day that day – but later in the day Tommy’s grandmother noticed him staring at the sky.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Oh – I’m trying to find the rainbow” was Tommy’s response.

“Well, Tommy” his grandmother told him –

“we don’t see rainbows on sunny days like this – but only on cloudy, rainy days – when the sun breaks through the clouds to remind us that God is with us.”

Indeed, God sets the bow in the sky to be a constant reminder to God and to us that God has promised to no longer destroy all of life — but to save life – and to remind us that even in our most cloudy days – our most trying times – He is with us – and there can be a new beginning – there can be new life.

In the Gospel passage before us Jesus emerges from His baptism and testing preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God our need to repent.

Just as new life came from the waters of the flood — the proclamation of new life came from the waters of Jesus’ baptism.

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

And so – I believe our question as we begin this season of Lent – this journey on the road to commitment — is this:

How can we respond to God –

How can respond to Jesus – and make this new beginning – live this new life — God has promised to Noah — and offers to us through Jesus Christ?

How can we respond to God – who promises in the rainbow and through Christ to always be with us?

How can we respond to God’s promise of new beginnings – and new life?

We can give of ourselves to Christ.

We can hear His call to repent and believe.

We can turn from sin and turn to God.

We can believe that God — and only God — can save us from our sins and give us new life — a new life of hope for this life and the next.

We can live like we believe that new life is indeed possible – that new beginnings are indeed possible — and that God does indeed save us.

We can live in that new life — that new way –God’s way — that God makes possible for us.

We can begin to pay more attention to our relationship with God.

We can begin to pay more attention to our prayer lives — our worship — our commitment to God’s ways of doing things and less to our way of doing things.

We can live the life of commitment – believing that there is always new life – always new beginnings.

Many believe that Lent is a time to “give up” things.

I’d rather see it as a beginning — a time to begin new things — rather than a time to end — a time to give up things.

I’d rather see it as a time for new beginnings and new life.

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

We can begin a new relationship with God.

We can begin a new commitment to God — to His will — to His work.

We can begin a new commitment to our prayer lives — to our personal study of and reflection upon scripture.

We can begin a new commitment to our corporate worship as a church — to our corporate study of God’s word — to our corporate fellowship times which build us up as God’s people.

We can begin living the new life God offers us.

This can be a beginning.

A beginning of new life for us.

A beginning of new ways to live.

A beginning of new commitments.

If you won’t begin to live the new life God offers then you can not experience God’s plan of salvation for you. God makes the offer — but we have to choose to accept it or not. Accept it — and receive God’s salvation.

If we will not begin experiencing new life — new commitment – to God and our Church then our Church will indeed suffer.

If we do not begin living this new life and living out these new commitments in our families — in our communities — in our world — then our families — our communitites — and our world will suffer.

More than all of this, though, is that if we do not begin to live in the new life and living out new commitments to God we will suffer.

But — because of God’s promise to Noah – that rainbow that promises that God is with us at all times of our lives –

because of God’s promises to us through Jesus Christ –

we can have new life – and live lives of new commitments.

Because of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ –

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

And — when we feel that we can not live this new life God calls us to live — when we feel tempted by the world — we can come to God — to Christ — who was tested in the wilderness — and yet waited on by angels — who was tempted — and yet did not sin — and who can strengthen us to live this new life He calls us to live.

Through Jesus Christ –

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

Come to the table.

Receive strength for your new life – and let us receive strength for our new lives together.

Receive strength from God and from Christ.

As we partake of the sacrament it is as if we are waited upon by angels.

There is strength for times of testing.

There is strength to discover God — who wills to save and not destroy us —

There is strength to see that there is new life.

There is strength for us on our road to commitment.

Come — see — and experience that there is indeed a new beginning.

Come – see – and experience that there is indeed new life.

There is a new beginning.

There is new life.

AMEN