Confirmands and mentors prepared and served dinner for 100 guests at a Community Dinner at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in October.
Another group of Confirmands and mentors will again serve dinner in January.
ADVENT 2009 MID-WEEK WORSHIP
We will gather for worship on Wednesdays at 7:00pm, beginning December 2, for three weeks. Advent is a time to be still and prepare for Christ’s birth.
This mystery of “the immortal word” coming to earth to become a human is called the “Incarnation.” Already in the stories of the Incarnation we see God at work. The theme for our meditation this year is: “What do the incarnation stories in the gospels tell us of the inclusive nature of God?”
As we study Romans and other books we find clearly that Christ died for all. The whole of creation is redeemed by the suffering and death of Christ. If we look closely at the incarnation stories we already can see this inclusive nature by who is invited to share in the story from the very beginning.
Come join us for worship and praise to our God of deep compassion and love!
Brother Bill
Posted in News.
QUIET BAGS – UPDATE
The Family Ministry committee is putting together some “Quiet Bags” to be used by families of young children during worship. We would like these to include quiet items that kids can do during church. Thank you for the donations we have received so far!! We are still looking for some items: books, coloring books, notepads, activity books, sewing cards, stickers. If you wish to donate items (or money to purchase the bags), there is a container in the narthex for such donations.
Please contact Heather Felderman, 557-7379, felds_52001@msn.com if you have questions.
Watch for the bags soon! They will be outside the sanctuary doors in the narthex near the drinking fountain.
AVAILABLE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST
Posted in News.
“Putting Death In Its Place”
ll Saints November 1, 2009
Text: John 11:32-44
All Saints Sunday, a day set aside to remember all those who have died. I doubt if there is a person here who has not been affected by death. This is something that none of us outlive, even Lazarus eventually died. The Saints of our lives, living and dead, fill us with joy and inspiration. This is a time for us to celebrate victory over death or let’s say it this way, “putting death in its place.” Woody Allen once said that it’s impossible to whistle a tune while pondering one’s own death. But that is what we do today, not whistle, but put death in its place. We all have loved ones to remember, so let’s put death in its place.
First of all death stinks. Most of us could list a group of people in our lives that we feel died way to young, and that stinks, for me it was my parents. In our story it was Lazarus who stunk. “Already there had been a stench because he has been dead four days.” At that time they buried them quickly so it was not unusual for someone to rise on their own; in other wards they were still alive. 3 days was kind of the line, “dead as a door nail.” Well 4 days meant that Lazarus was “really” dead. God invaded the stench of death and snatched Lazarus from its jaws. He put death in its place.
Next we see that death causes grief. Mary and Martha were grieving because Jesus had not gotten there sooner. When Jesus sees the weeping he was greatly disturbed and deeply moved, in fact he too weeps, and is disturbed again when he gets to the tomb. The human Jesus showed his emotions. The people watching grieved, “Why didn’t he do something about this, I thought they were friends.”
I can remember in rural Nebraska walking away from the graveside of an extremely sad circumstance funeral, I had broken down and the son, whose father we had just buried came up to me and said, “we forgot that you are human also.” Jesus was human and so are we. Grief, weeping, is natural and healthy. Tears are a way to release pressure. We weep not because of a lack of faith, as some would think, but God has given us a way to deal with this pain. As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” The grief we have is filled with confidence, the confidence of the resurrection. Paul says, “Do not grieve as others do, who have no hope.” (1 Thes4:13) I noticed the two different kinds of grief in my years as a hospital chaplain in the emergency room. All Saints and their families grieve with the hope of the resurrection, which puts death in its place, verses the no hope side. As Jesus called Lazarus out, unbind him, set him free, raise him, so he does for all the Saints, “The saint’s triumphant rise in bright array.”
Death also brings Jesus’ participation. “With a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’” It’s literally like calling a dog, “Here boy.” A strong command. Somehow Lazarus gets out even though he is bound like a mummy, maybe you saw someone dressed like that last night. Strips of cloth everywhere, even his face. “Unbind him, let him go.” Can’t you just see them unwrapping and unwrapping. Can’t you see Lazarus, flailing with his arms, 4 days being wrapped; he can’t get them off fast enough. Kind of like getting your arm stuck in a jacket, I just start flailing. God has power over this death. What is it that wraps up our lives and keeps us from living the saintly life that God would prefer for us?
What do you need to be unbound from? It would have been unfitting for Lazarus to keep wearing the clothes, it is unfitting for the Saints to keep wearing old ways of life, get rid of them. Flail a little bit. Jesus wept, you can flail. Bottom line, whatever it is get rid of it, this was Jesus reaction. “Unbind him, and let him go.” As Saints you are to complete the work of God by helping to liberate people to be free in the world with this wonderful message that death has been put in its place. You help God to set people free.
This started for you in baptism. In Baptism you were buried resurrected with Jesus, and the Lazarus moment was that you were unbound. You are a Saint because you are in contact with a holy God, or we should say the holy God is in contact with you. Baptism snatches you from the chaotic waters of life and cleanses you. In the old days they would take the baptismal water out to the cemetery by the church and pour it on the gravesite as a sign that God has overcome death. Death put in its place.
They were upset because Christ did not get there in time. Perhaps he did this so the crowd would know that God sent him. Their expectations were too low, he came to do more than heal the sick, or postpone death, but to defeat death, to put it its place. This was out of character for Jesus, Lazarus was a friend, but Jesus had bigger fish to fry, bigger victories to win. By invading the death of Lazarus it put death in its place and this event would soon lead to Jesus’ own death and his final opportunity to put death in its place.
CS Lewis once observed that Jesus was either the Son of God or as loony as a fruitcake. There is no middle ground. His teachings and his promises leave little doubt as to who this is; it is the son of God who put death in its place.
“He will swallow up death forever,” Isaiah said. And John says, “Death will be no more.” For all the saints, death has been put in its place. Amen
Posted in Sermons.
Theme: “Ollie Ollie Ox In Free”
Reformation Sunday October 25, 2009
Text: John 8:31-36 Romans 3:19-28
In our neighborhood growing up there were always games in the evening, “Capture the Flag”, “Foxes and Chickens” and my favorite “Kick the Can.” At a Camp in northern Minnesota the kids were really wound up one afternoon, so they played “Foxes and Chickens.” The kids sat in a circle, whispered in their ears if they are a Chicken or a Fox. On the first whistle all the chickens ran and hid, on the second whistle, the foxes chased them. They blew the first whistle, it was bedlam, everyone took off. They didn’t tell any of them to be foxes, everyone went and hid.
The common thread in all these games is “hiding.” If I remember right the joy in these games would not be hiding, but in being found. I always had a good place or two, but after a while you feel like you’re missing all the fun, the joy and laughter of being found.
Today is Reformation Sunday, a day that we look back in church history to Martin Luther and a discovery he made while studying scripture, our 2nd reading and the great phrase from our gospel, “The truth will make you free” Kind of reminds me what you said when those back yard games were over, “Ollie Ollie Ox in Free.” Because of Christ, we are set free.
Some have became arrogant in years since the Reformation – we Lutherans have it right and the Catholics have it wrong. This certainly is not what the Reformation is about. This morning, instead of offending one side or another, I will offend everyone. The wise sage at our text study said this week maybe our theme for today should be, “Free to be not perfect” or “Free to be sinful.”
That we certainly are. So how do we be faithful to the Reformation without being arrogant? Could it be by everyone admitting that we are sinful, not perfect and in need of the grace of God? We would agree with Paul in our second reading, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The heart of what we celebrate today is not some person that lived in Germany in 1517, but the good news of Jesus Christ that makes us free. This is not some church homecoming celebration complete with a parade, but it is about the sacrifice of Christ.
Luther wanted to please God. Impossible to do, but he did not realize that. Fortunately he got some wonderful advice: stop worrying about it and get involved in something, study. Something happened to Luther as he studied scripture, God’s word. He discovered there was a different way to get along with God than what he had thought. It is amazing what can happen when you study the Bible. We have people now studying this same book of Romans on Wednesday night, and during the week online. Many of you are reading the scripture readings for Sunday during the week prior to worship. Just imagine what is and what can take place when we encounter God in this word.
It all started with Luther realizing he was a sinner, a slave to sin we are, as Jesus said. We begin our worship with that reality as well. Notice what they said, “But we are descendants of Abraham.” They were trying to minimize their sin. It’s like the bumper sticker, “Cheer up! I’ve been to hell and it’s full!” Is that our attitude toward sin? “Ahh, no big deal. I’m a descendent of Harry and Margaret, and my brother and brother-in-law are Pastors. What do you mean I need to be free?”
Is this our way of hiding, playing games with God? This is not Halloween where we hide behind a mask; God knows who you are when you come to the door, a sinner, in need of more than just candy, in need of God’s grace.
“All have sinned.” Can you believe that? That includes you also. We are by nature sinful and unclean, we are captive, our relationship with God is severed and we cannot free ourselves. This is what Luther tried, and all he got was heartache. In recent months you have heard a great deal about government bailouts. You are beneficiaries of God’s bailout program and you don’t have to give part of it back. I heard on the radio this week a reporter is one who discovers the truth. This is the truth that Luther discovered, this is the truth that Christ made possible, and this truth, this Christ will make you free. Luther said, “Sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive.” This is the truth that Luther the reporter discovered in studying God’s word. Just imagine what you might discover, what truth you then can report to your family and friends.
Sinners, corrupt, broken, a lost cause. Your good works get you absolutely no where. It is the work of God alone in Christ who has come to atone for your sin, to heal that severed artery, to make you one with him. Verse 22 from the Romans reading should say “Jesus Christ comes into you, into all who believe.” This is the Holy Spirit creating faith in you. This is God’s bailout, and you will be free indeed.
There is no reason to hide anymore. Ollie Ollie Ox in free. The game is over. There is no penalty to pay. There are no secrets to hide. The truth is you have been set free from your sins. “And if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Thanks be to God.
Amen
Posted in Sermons.
“For God…”
Text: Mark 10:17-31 19th Sunday after Pentecost October 11, 2009
When our kids went off to college we bought them a small tool kit with hammer, screw drivers, pliers, etc. Another parent got her son a sewing kit, another good idea. A few days before he left the mother sat him down for a sewing lesson. Lesson #1: threading the needle. The boy’s eyesight was fine, good eye-hand coordination, he was going to play tennis in college, but no way could he get that itsy bitsy thread through the eye of that needle. The mother gave up, “We’ll try again tomorrow.” The next night she had a little gadget; she pushed it through the eye of the needle and then attached the thread to it. It was a needle threader.
Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples are astounded, flabbergasted, “So who can be saved?” Jesus says, “For God all things are possible.” This all started with the question “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus uses a hyperbole, the camel and needle. This exaggeration was used to make a point. “You want to know how hard it is.” “How hard is it?” It would be impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, even with a needle threader. For God, it would be possible. How is that possible? Using this imagery we could say God sent Jesus as the needle threader. Jesus threads that impossibility, enabling you to be a part of the kingdom of God.
The key words in Jesus’ response are “For God”, for God anything is possible. First let’s look at the impossible part, you thread. The college student found it impossible to thread that needle. You can’t thread the needle into God’s kingdom, no matter how good you think you are or how successful.
This man who approaches Jesus was a good man; Jesus looked at him and loved him. It was speculated that he was a successful lawyer, no lawyer jokes (we have one coming to speak to us in adult class next week.) From his youth he had lived a holy and obedient life, no doubt he expected a pat on the back from Jesus, “you’re in good shape for eternal life.” Isn’t that normal for us, six easy steps to success, or follow three simple rules for achievement?
This man was sincere, a nice guy, he just didn’t have a fire in his belly. Jesus loved him, saw the potential, but he was missing something. He needed to see someone living an eternal life. Maybe that is what this Jesus is challenging him to do. Our second reading describes it well, “The word of God is living and active.” This young man was being challenged to be living and active.
Have you seen the Cadillac with the license plate, “God is Good.” This was the thought pattern at that time. If you had a lot of riches, as this man did, God liked you. We are rich as well, and there is nothing wrong with that. You can still be a disciple as long as the riches do not become more important or interfere in your relationship with God and living your eternal life. He was told to remove any barrier, and for him his riches were a barrier. He couldn’t do it. He was shocked and went away grieving. But he did not have to. He was working under the promise of what he had to do. He had to thread the needle, he needed to listen to those words, “For God, all things are possible.”
Grace alone will save us, not how much we give up, not how much we achieve. “For God” gives eternal life despite our richness.
Secondly,” For God” threads the needle, for God all things are possible. We don’t thread, that’s impossible; God threads, then all things are possible. The kingdom of God is something you receive, not of your own actions, no matter how many commandments you keep. You will have never done enough, it is impossible. Remember, our riches do not make it possible to thread the needle, our salvation is not a financial transaction, it is determined by what God has given up for us, that would be the needle threader named Jesus.
With our riches comes responsibility. The rich man lacked one thing, “go sell everything and give to the poor.” Now he is not asking us to sell everything, but he is asking us to be responsible with the riches we have. We don’t bargain with God; a steward of God’s blessings receives them gratefully and responsibly. William Barclay writes, “We will be judged by how we acquired our possessions and how we use them.” Logically then, the more we have the more responsibility we have. Will we be selfish or generous? We are blessed to be a blessing. Will we be possessed by God’s love and generosity? We are asked to reprioritize. The rich man and the rich people of God, you and I, are challenged to trust God and what is possible rather than our own efforts and what is impossible. Stock tips are either “Divest” or “Invest”. We are to divest of the impossible to invest in the possible. Remember: “For God”, all is possible.
A newly married man asked his wife, “Would you have married me if my father hadn’t left me a fortune?” “Honey,” she said sweetly, “I’d have married you no matter who left you a fortune.”
For God, we have a fortune, called eternal life, and it is clear who left it to us. Amen
Posted in Sermons.
“What Is Perfect?”
Theme: “What Is Perfect?” 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Mark 10:2-16 October 4, 2009
A young man shared the excitement of his engagement with an older friend who had never been married. “How come you never got married?” he asked. “I was looking for the perfect woman, finally I found her, she was spiritually deep, graceful, beautiful, and generous.” “Did you marry her?” “No, unfortunately she was looking for the perfect man.” Many people, some multiple times have tried to find the perfect spouse, and all they find are people with faults and weaknesses. What is perfect?
How many times have we heard the words, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” These words are bittersweet; I would guess there is not a person here who has not been touched by the pain of divorce.
The Pharisees are trying to trick Jesus, test him, trap him, embarrass Jesus in public. He was put in the position the church finds itself frequently, offending someone no matter what he said. What they get, is the beautiful statement of marriage, what it was meant to be. Going back to the words of Genesis.
So first of all we have the original intent of marriage, what’s perfect. I don’t think Jesus really wanted to argue about divorce, but instead point to what marriage should be, marriage as God intended. Self-giving love that reflects the love and compassion of God. God joining and no one separating. Promises honored. A commitment made, why a commitment, you all know by now there is no perfect men or women. We are all sinners. So when you have two imperfect people in a relationship, there will naturally be challenges. It will require total commitment on the part of both, that was God’s intention. One billboard said this, “The wedding was nice. How about inviting me to the marriage. Signed -God” There is that additional ingredient that God intended, make God a vital part of the marriage.
What is perfect? Well 2ndly, we are not. Marriage involves imperfect people. Divorce involves broken people, living broken lives, in a broken world; it is the evidence of how desperately we need God’s healing grace. One pastor said, “Divorce is not evil, so much as it is unfortunate and damaging.” The damage it does to those involved. Jesus is concerned about the damage control, the breaking of the law is minor compared to the concern Jesus has for those involved.
I don’t believe two people pledge their love with the intention for it to fall apart, or create a family with the hope of destroying it one day. Divorce is tragic, but Jesus would never want it to be seen as the end of the world. Grace, love, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, kindness, and a host of other practices can bring new beginnings to these situations. As Christians we can cope with the implications of divorce in the family, the workplace, the church. Jesus then uses the example of a child’s trust, loyalty, innocence. Divorce may be legal, it may be necessary, but it is never something we should easily dismiss.
We are not perfect, but God is, the God of Genesis is the same God that deals with you. You see the nature of God displayed in this text, a God that keeps promises, commitments, covenants. That brings us to our last point, “You have as God that Keeps promises.”, perfectly. In this passage we see the nature of God. Someone said this story is not about divorce, but about God, a God with no limits.
God brings people together, and desires they stay together, and this even includes “the little ones.” This story shows the difference between God and you. You have limits, you make promises with the good intentions of staying together, but people disappoint, become trapped, addicted, distant, and estranged. Nobody wants a divorce, but you do have limits, finding it impossible to keep promises and they are broken for “Good” reasons. Human beings with limits, fortunately the love of God does not have such limits. You might separate from God, but God never separates from you. You may come to the limits of your ability to love, but God does not come to the same limits.
God loves you, a limited being in a limitless way; you have a God who forgives failures, who loves you despite your limits to love in return. It is obvious that God is on the side of the vulnerable, whether that be the women or the ‘little ones’. God heals the brokenness, and reaches out to the most vulnerable. God works with both sides, hearing the words of repentance as they turn to God and the new hopes and dreams for their lives. God welcomes those who do not matter, those who could not stand for themselves.
The gospel ends with Jesus receiving the little children. The disciples thought they were a nuisance, but Jesus refused to send them away, he receives them, hugs them, blesses them. This is what’s perfect. God did not forbid them. Children are dependent for safety, care, feeding, shelter. How dependent are you? Dependent on whom? Fortunately for us, God is good at keeping promises; in fact God’s perfect at it.
The same Jesus, who picks up little children, puts his hand upon them and blesses them, will also take you, give you his blessings and life will be better forever. Amen
Posted in Sermons.
“God’s Side”
Theme: “God’s Side” 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Mark 9:38-50 September 27, 2009
It is no surprise to many of you that I love to talk about sports. And I hope it would be no surprise to you that I also like to talk about faith. Some athletes like to combine those, almost giving the impression that God made it possible for them to win. A small church college hung a sign on their side of the field, “God is on our side.” I guess my thought is that God doesn’t choose sides or a certain player, God probably could care less. Or we could say that God is on both sides. For 22 years I listened to invocations at the beginning of the Air Force football games, usually the prayer included safety for both teams and doing their best. The exception would be when we played Notre Dame or BYU.
Maybe the side for us to consider is God’s side. If on God’s side, first of all you side with Christ. The end is near; Jesus had warned that, it confused them. They were confused about greatness as well. If on God’s side, greatness involves serving others, humility, hospitality. Confusion I understand, the more I studied this story, the more confused I got. The disciples had been given the power of driving out demons, but had recently failed. (9:18) Then along comes someone no one knows, who casts out demons in the name of Christ. He’s not one of them, the in-group, so they try to stop him. God’s on our side. They are not like us, they don’t believe the right things, or live the right way. Do you ever sound like that?
Surprisingly, Jesus is open to this. The disciples are thumbs- down, he had not been through the classes like they had, yet Jesus tells them differently. Jesus tries to make it simple - “Whoever is not against us is for us.” God’s side is not arrogant or exclusive, “Widen your circle, boys.”
We as Christians have been accused of being cliquish, and that is probably a fair criticism. We gravitate toward those with the same likes and dislikes, the same prejudices, our own little group. We often forget to gravitate to Christ. We are the chosen people of God, but we are not chosen over or above or greater than others. John said, “We tried to stop him because he was not following us.” Excuse me, following who? God’s side, side with Christ. That’s what this unnamed man did, on God’s side; he acted “in the name of Christ.” ” In my name” Jesus says. By doing that he declared publicly his affiliation, his attachment, his link with Jesus, and whose side he was on. A thumbs-up to Jesus. This could mean a drink of water. God doesn’t care about labels, only serving, loving neighbors, even enemies, in Jesus’ name. This is our affiliation.
Being on God’s side will next require surgery. Playing football in high school I got a ruptured spleen. They removed it in the middle of the night or I would have bled to death. If something threatens our existence, the doctor will eliminate it, and without hesitation. If we have a sin, a stumbling block, something that is preventing us from being on God’s side, isn’t that an emergency? Or do we put it off, thinking it will go away, out of sight out of mind?
A stumbling block, literally, is a scandal, a temptation to sin. It’s like cheese in the mouse trap. Doing that is so bad that a millstone, a millstone is so heavy that a donkey is needed to pull it, is hung around the neck and thrown into the sea. A person on God’s side is not to be a stumbling block. You are not to obstruct the faith formation.
This week our confirmands met their mentors, the mentors are not to be stumbling blocks but another aid in the faith journey of these confirmands.
When a child is leaning how to walk it is a constant process of stumbling. Our lives continue to be a path of stumbling. Sin is a reality. You walk along on God’s side doing your best to follow and suddenly you do a face plant, like the kids you must get up and go again. This hyperbole teaches us to get rid of the obstruction, operate, do surgery, and it will affect all of our life, hand, foot, eye. If our hands distract us, then discipline is required, If it is our feet, then we must go where God wants us to go, if it is our eyes, then we must focus on God’s side. We are not literally cutting off or plucking out, but being on God’s side means exercising self-discipline.
Jesus never ripped off anyone’s foot, ear or eye, even though many deserved it, but his hands and feet were pierced. So on God’s side you hear the winning words, “Your sins are forgiven.” This is a form of purification. Salt and fire that Jesus mentions have the ability to purify. God’s side, last of all, provides purification, seasoning. Purifying happens when you purge your sin, when you wash out, flush out, when you eradicate. What great images come to your mind? On God’s side we have salt as a seasoning. You are seasoned to live differently than others, a humble servant, spiced up with the characteristics that set God’s side apart. And those who are seasoned in that way will be at peace with one another.
The beauty of God’s side is that ministry is accomplished in ways that you would not have even thought of, and by those you don’t even know. God’s side works in God’s name. That is something to get excited about and, yes, even talk about. To that we give a thumbs-up. Amen
Posted in Sermons.
“You’ve Been Blessed” … “And God Thinks You Are Great”
Text: Mark 9:30-37 16 Sunday after Pentecost September 20, 2009
Reality shows, what a phenomenon. I don’t get it.
Do people want to be the survivor, the most talented, the dancer, the biggest loser, the star, the hero, the greatest? Are the disciples having their own reality show? Jesus just told them for a second time that he was going to die. Which one of them will be the survivor, the most talented disciple, the star, the hero, the greatest?
My dilemma, what do I use for a theme? America’s Greatest Servant? You’ve Got Talent? Our Stewardship theme is “Blessed by God to be a Blessing”, so should it be, “You’ve Got a Blessing?” What I settled on was, “You’ve Been Blessed.” And you have, you’ve been blessed beyond measure, beyond anything that any reality show can shower upon you.
They are walking along in their home territory; the death had been predicted. You know how groups walking together get separated. They no doubt hung back from Jesus so they could share their frustration about his death; who’s going to take over, which one of us will be the leader, which one of us will survive and be the greatest, preoccupied with themselves, they were. This story kind of reminds me of riding in a car with kids. I just did that with the confirmation class Friday night. Somehow they think the front seat can’t hear what the back seat is saying. The disciples must have thought Jesus couldn’t hear them talking. So they get to the house, which many scholars believe Jesus used frequently for teaching purposes, as he does again, “What were you arguing about, not talking about, but arguing?” When you get caught at something, often you have nothing to say, and this was the case.
Jesus continues to teach, “You do not become great in God’s eyes by competing or achieving, but by humility, God’s blessings and loving others, by serving.”
Visualize what’s next: a bunch of guys sitting around being taught and Jesus knocks their socks off by bringing in a child. Children were nobodies in that culture, down there with women; nonentities, invisible, non-persons, and not only does Jesus hold the child but he takes it in his arms. What is wrong with him? What was he thinking? He was thinking like God would think, he was thinking like a servant. A servant takes care of others, even children, loving them, embracing them. This was something done by people of low stature. A servant, blessed by God, will make sacrifices for others, giving of themselves, putting aside their own interests without ever drawing attention to themselves, maybe that is why Jesus kept telling them to tell no one, don’t draw attention to me. This story emphasizes the importance of this child, but perhaps more importantly it emphasizes the role of the servant. Those blessed by God to be a blessing.
A number of years ago I attended a class on customer service at Disney University as it was called then. The premise was people don’t mind paying more if you give them quality service. Jesus paid the biggest price possible, the quality of his service was of the highest standard and that is what he expects of you. That will be great.
You have been blessed and you have opportunities to serve, to minister, and that is what we will look at now.
As I have been speaking the Ministry opportunity forms have been passed out. Please don’t open them yet. If you are visiting, this is not our normal procedure. If you are a Wartburg student or not a member we invite you to fill one out, or follow along. If you need something to write with, please let an usher know. I will go through this form, you may fill it out as we go or at the end of the service, follow along, or take it home and bring it back next week.
Corrie Ten Boom said, “You just collect roses, the praise and compliments, during the day, put them together in a bouquet, at the end of the day get on your knees and say, “Here, God, these were yours all along. I just held them for you.” You are blessed by God to be a blessing. Then you will get a sticker that says, “God thinks you are great, and that’s all that counts.” Amen
Posted in Sermons.
“Your Take Home Quiz”
Theme: “Your Take Home Quiz” 15 Sunday after Pentecost September 13, 2009
Text: Mark8:27-38
School has started so let’s take an assessment of where we have progressed in the learning process. We are a few weeks into the semester; it’s time for a pop quiz. The ushers will hand them out, please pass them down the row, one for each person. Leave the extras at the end. Please don’t start until I tell you.
When you start, put your name on your paper, Make sure you are in the right class, this is “Confessions 101”, the instructor is “Jesus of Nazareth.” This class meets “daily”. There is only one question to our quiz this morning. “Who do you say that Jesus is?” You’ll notice we did not hand out any #2 pencils; that’s because this is a take home quiz. Notice the location of Jesus’ class; they were not in a synagogue or church, but out in the world. It would be easy for us to take the quiz here, confessing what we believe as we are surrounded by our classmates and symbols of our faith. So here you have it, “Your take home quiz.” You may put it aside for now.
The common word in our readings this morning is “Teach” or “Teacher.” The perfect thought for Rally Day, we crank up the teaching ministry of our congregation with Sunday School resuming.
We all have images of Jesus, for many of us they were learned in S.S. With the new curriculum “Spark” we hope to spark these images in the young people God has entrusted to us. What will they take home?
First we see that Jesus utilizes a common teaching technique, question and answer. They answered like many of us do stating what they had heard other people say about who Jesus was. Their answers were complimentary of Jesus.
They mention some heavy hitters, John the Baptist, Elijah. But Jesus, being the wise teacher that he is, wants a different answer, so he gives them a take home question: “Who do you say that I am?” The class brown nose and over achiever Peter answers, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus then teaches about what is ahead for the Messiah, suffering rejection, death, and resurrection. Peter tries to teach Jesus a thing or two about what should happen to the Messiah. What a joke, Peter teaching the teacher. Many have tried that, and it usually doesn’t help the person’s grade. Jesus teaches yet again, as Johnny Carson’s Karnack used to say, “Wrong, fish breathe; you are influenced too much the by the evil world around you. You’re not of the right mind.”
You can’t really blame Peter; he was heavily influenced by the curriculum used for his teaching. The Messiah was to be a descendent of David who would restore God’s people ruling over a time of peace, and then come again at the end to judge the enemies. This confusion is understandable. He made a big sacrifice to follow, leaving his successful fishing business; he had gambled his future on this Messiah. Up to now it had been a good decision, what a trip it had been, casting out demons, healing sick, cleansing lepers, calming storms, raising the dead, feeding the multitudes, walking on water, they were on a roll. So the answer that he was the Messiah seemed obvious. What was not obvious was the suffering and death part, not a part of the lesson plans he had been taught. Messiahs save you from suffering, death for him is unthinkable. I’m going to drop this class, I don’t like the content.
Let’s get back to your quiz. Your answer results in your actions, isn’t that what James has been talking about?
Your actions let everyone know how you answer this question, you can’t drop this course, every believer must answer this question. Who is this Jesus for you? We all have spiritual amnesia or Alzheimer’s, we forget who he is, we slip a little when we are not in class. The first few weeks of school are frequently review. That’s why you can’t cut this class called worship; it makes your amnesia, your Alzheimer’s worse. We come together to be taught, to confess, “I believe in …” and we should do it each week. “Let us stand together,” as Isaiah said.
So we have this take home quiz, fortunately Jesus gives us the answer sheet, that is the 2nd teaching point today. The answer will involve suffering and a cross. The focus of Jesus’ teaching moves to authority and power, the focus now becomes his rejection and death. This switch disturbed the class. But Jesus is faithful to the curriculum that God had laid out in the syllabus and off to Jerusalem he goes. To do this Jesus uses tact, tact is to make a point without making an enemy. To deny oneself is to take up the cross and follow. CS Lewis said it this way, “out of ourselves, into Christ, we must go!” To lose our life for the sake of the gospel. That’s how we respond to the quiz.
This Messiah will suffer, Peter didn’t like hearing that, and we are no better, you don’t hear that word much in our worship services. But he suffered – as a follower of Jesus you will be taken to the cross. As Dietrich Bonheoffer said, “Only the suffering God can help.” Suffering, bearing crosses, losing one’s life is what a messiah does.
At age 98 Pablo Casals, perhaps the greatest cellist, still practiced 5-6 hours a day. “Why?” he was asked. “Because I think I’m making some progress.” We continue to be taught, we can always learn, every day we have a take home quiz, “Who do you say Christ is?” Luther began each day confessing his faith, not a bad idea. Keep learning. You don’t let your children stop. Please keep making progress as to who Christ is for you.
Posted in Sermons.