Entries Tagged 'Sermons (Joleen)' ↓

Mark 6.30-44

How many of you have been on a picnic this summer already? How many of you have plans for a July 4th picnic? The extended family of my mom’s husband’s family have been hosted by my step-brother Dave each year the past several years. It’s becoming a family tradition, a reunion.

Picnics are fun times to gather together, to visit with one another, for kids to play together – in this case for me to get to know extended stepfamily, which is overwhelming. But each year Dave provides meat for sandwiches: hamburgers, hot dogs, meatballs, Italian sausage – there is variety and there is plenty. And everybody brings a covered dish and it is a feast. A time of celebration.

Dave and Rhonda put a lot of planning into this gathering. This year for the kids there was a with balloon drop with prizes, sack races. They now have a about 8 acres, so there’s a horse and each of the kids got to go for a ride. He always closes out the evening with fireworks and this year he had parachute fireworks he put off before dark so the kids could run after and gather up all these little parachutes. Plan, they do.

The Bible recounts a story of an unplanned picnic. Jesus was traveling around the countryside and one day as he was in a very rural area I large crowd had followed him, some 5,000 men plus women and children. They were hungry to hear what he had to say, to learn from his teaching. They desired to be healed and delivered. They wanted to see the miracles that Jesus could do. They were there all day long until finally the disciples said that they needed to send the people home so they could get something to eat.

Perhaps it was the disciples who were worn out, weary, and hungry. But Jesus had another idea … a picnic. In all of the 5,000+ people the disciples found one young boy with just five loaves and two fish – not near enough to feed this gathering of more than 5000.

But Jesus took the bread, gave thanks for it and broke it. And he divided the fish among them. And not only was there enough to feed the more than 5,000 so that they were satisfied, there were leftovers: there were 12 basketfuls of pieces of bread and fish remaining. They ended up with more than what they started with!

These people were not issued an invitation to the picnic. Jesus and the disciples headed off to get some rest. But when they arrived at this place, the people had followed them, desperate to hear more and experience more.

No, they were not invited, but Jesus as always is compassionate toward all their needs and received them graciously, as a good host. And so it is as Jesus graciously invites us to this table, this picnic he has prepared in advance for us. There is one small loaf; one cup to feed so many. But there is more than enough.

Some of us will come to this table spiritually hungry, and you will be filled. Some of us will come with physical needs, and you will be healed. Some come weary, and you will receive strength. Some will come to this table searching and you will find God’s direction. Some of us will come to this table with doubts, maybe even wondering who and where this God is, and God will be revealed to you. Some will come to draw near to God, and God will draw near to you in all of his fullness.

This is the table of bounty. This is the table that never runs out. Because there is no end to God’s love. We cannot ever go beyond the reaches of God’s love. This is the table where God invites all and all are welcome. This is the table where saint and sinner come. Adult and child. Male and female. Caucasian or not. This is the table where we gather as one and are made one. This is the table where all come poor, with nothing to offer, and we all leave rich. We come as orphans and we become family. We come as homeless, and find home.

As more than 5000 ate and were satisfied, Jesus invites us to come to this table and be satisfied. Again he has provided the feast. When the 5,000+ were fed it cost nearly eight months wages. The cost of this feast was his life. This feast is his body and his blood.

Holy Communion

It seems Jesus was always ready for a picnic. He was always ready to sit down and dine and talk about the important things in life. When he too was human, he was never at a lost for food or the provisions that he was in need of. Though he did not have a place to lay his head, though he did not have much by the world’s standard, people sought him out because he had what they were seeking. He had peace. He had contentment. He was one with the Father. He was obedient to the Father. He was the presence of God. He had healing in his hands. He had an understanding of the Scriptures. He was love. He was kindness. He was compassion. And he still is these things. And people still seek him, or at least they seek these things, perhaps not knowing that He is the source of these things and it is really He whom they seek.

And now as we have eaten at his table, we are filled with Him. We are one with him. We are one with each other. And we are joined as one in ministry to all the world. We have become his hands and his feet. Where we go we carry Christ. We carry his healing. We carry his love and compassion. We have become his presence in the world. As he gave himself for us, we go forth to give ourselves to others. As he counted himself a servant, we go forth to serve one another and the world. As he was sent, we are sent. And as he was given the freedom to choose whether or not he would give his life, we too are given that freedom.

Will you choose to say, “yes” to God’s call and God’s sending? Will you choose to obey? Will you share the feast/picnic? Will you invite someone to share in the picnic? Who will you invite to the picnic?And let us remember that as we invite others to share in this table, we invite them to share in another picnic. For as we come to this table we expectantly await another. For when Christ’s comes in final victory, when he comes to take us where he is, we will feast at his heavenly banquet/picnic.

It is at that banquet that all things will be complete. And it is with that hope that we say, “Come Lord Jesus.”

John 17.20-23

Five Fingers Make a United Fist
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
Source unknown

Acts 2.1
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Acts 1.14
They all joined together constantly in prayer…

Ephesians 4.1-6

KJV, translates the Acts passages “one accord”; together; one mind; one; unity

Many biblical references to oneness
Children of one family; one Father; John 20:17
Disciples in one school; one teacher; John 13:13-35
Sheep in one flock; one shepherd; John 10:16
Members of one body; one head; Eph. 4:15
Stones in one building; one foundation; 1 Peter 2:3, 1 Cor. 3:11-12
From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, 1909, George W. Noble, Chicago

Unity as prerequisite and product
Holy Spirit came as they prayed in unity; Holy Spirit produces unity. (True of holiness, as well.)

United in belief
In Jesus Christ; that he was God; that he died and was raised again to life. They witnessed his ascent. They heard his teaching, saw his miracles. They saw every word that he said come true as he told what would happen to him. And now he promised the Holy Spirit … and they believed.

Unity in obedience
Their belief is made concrete in their obedience. They waited. They prayed. They expected the gift of the Holy Spirit. They didn’t know how he was going to come, they didn’t now what exactly to expect; but as Jesus had told about his death, as he talked about the temple being torn down and built up in three days, they knew that Jesus’ word was true even if they didn’t fully comprehend how it would happen, and even if they couldn’t picture what it would look like if it happened.

Do we sometimes overlook God’s action in our lives because it doesn’t look like what we expect?

Unity in prayer
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. -Matthew 18:19

They prayed together; they were brought into unity as they prayed. They believed in the power of prayer. They believed prayer to be communion with God, bringing them into one with God and with one with each other.

Unity in purpose: Mission
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. -Acts 1.8

Their mission is to be witnesses to the world. Their mission is to share Christ with the world. An awesome task, only possible if they are in agreement, only possible with the power, enablement, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. To this one purpose they prayed together.

Unity as witness: love
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. -Ephesians 4.2,3
This verse names four of the Fruit of the Spirit named in Galatians 5.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13.34,35

It is love that binds them together. As they are united in love, this be a witness to a world. John 13 and John 17 above say that this love and this unity will be “that the world may believe.” As love is a gift of the Spirit, it serves to accomplish the purpose of mission: proclaiming Christ.

The love shared between the Father and Son, is now available to believers. A love made visible in the incarnation. A love more full and complete than ever witnessed prior.

Jerome on John
John was known in the ancient church for his concern for love. Jerome tells of John in his extreme old age saying, whenever he was carried into the assembly, "Little children, love one another."
When his disciples got tired of this, they asked, "Master, why do you always say this?"
"It is the Lord’s command. If this alone be done, it is enough."    Jerome Commentary on Galatians at Gal 6:10

You Got to be Together
The Atlantic Monthly (11/94) told about superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men.
“You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music,” Domingo said. “You can’t be rivals when you’re together making music.”
That’s also true in the church.    Leadership, p. 68

In the church, we are not rivals, not as individuals, nor as churches. Our aim and purpose is one. And we do not concentrate on the music, but on God. If He remains our focus and our hearts are open to him, he will bring us into oneness: in belief, in obedience, in prayer, in mission, in love.

Joel 2.28-29

The Berlin Wall
At the end of WWII Germany became divided into occupational zones. The capital city of Berlin found itself divided as well. East Germany had a Soviet-style authoritarian government and many of the people longed for the political freedoms and prosperity of non-communist countries. Many East Germans fled to these non-communist countries via West Germany.

The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 to prevent this mass exodus. The wall became a symbol of Communist tyranny, especially with news of those shot down trying to escape to West Germany.

With the decline of the Soviet Union border restrictions started to relax which culminated in mass demonstrations and eventually the fall of the East German government. President Ronald Reagan will probably be most remembered for saying, “Tear down this wall.” In 1989 masses of East Germans approached and crossed the wall. The were welcomed by West Germans in a celebratory atmosphere. And over the coming weeks the public dismantled the wall.

Jesus Christ tore down walls
Jesus Christ was and is in the job of tearing down walls. The church was commissioned and continues to be at the job of tearing down walls.Jesus ate with sinners. As a Jew, Jesus traveled through the avoided country of Samaria. Jesus allowed women to sit at his feet and be educated. Jesus touched the untouchable (the lepers, the possessed, the unclean). Jesus gathered the children (who in that day were considered of little value and a nuisance) around him and blessed him.

In Jesus there is no age discrimination, no race discrimination, no gender discrimination. Jesus tore down the walls. In his death and resurrection he spiritually tore down walls. When we are baptized in Christ, Jesus tears down the walls that society has erected in our lives.

Galatians 3.26-29

Annual Conference

Annual Conference celebrated anniversaries of the tearing down of walls. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of full clergy rights for women in the Methodist tradition. Just 11 days after the adjournment of the 1956 General Conference Maud Keister Jenkins to receive full conference membership. Maud Jenkins spent 44 years as a full-time missionary to Korea. She received these credentials in abstensia while in Korea.

It also marks 50 years of inclusiveness. You know that the Methodist Church is divided into geographic regions called Conferences and we are a part of the Central PA Conference which reaches north to the New York border, south to the Maryland border, west to Altoona and east of Harrisburg. We are a part of larger section called the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

There was one conference, the Central Conference, that was not designated by geographic bounds, but by race. The Central Conference was composed of the black or African American churches. Until 50 years ago, the Conferences were segregated. In 1956 churches were permitted to transfer from the Central Jurisdiction to their appropriate geographic conference. Mitchell Memorial Methodist Church of Harrisburg became the first congregation in the denomination to do so.

So the Central PA Conference made history on two counts in 1956 as walls were torn down. And we continue to tear down walls. The mission report was given on Friday. Much of that report was of the ministry through Mission Central. Because of you, $1,747,566 in aid was sent to Katrina victims via UMCOR (100,000 relief kits, 6,000 flood buckets – 1,000 more directly to UM Churches). These supplies came not only from churches from this Conference by 12 other Northeastern Jurisdictional Conferences. And not only from churches, but schools, businesses, government agencies, civic clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and countless unnamed individuals who just dropped supplies off at Mission Central.

Mission Central, a ministry of this Conference, is tearing down walls geographically as materials are received across geographic and church and state borders. Mission Central is tearing down walls as supplies are distributed across state lines as wells as ocean containers sent to the Congo, Guatemala, Africa, and Liberia. You have witnessed the walls coming down as JV students sewed desperately needed school bags.

What walls do we need to tear down?
Maybe it’s these church walls (not literally.) The church is not merely the meeting of people on Sunday morning. We are to be the church outside these walls. We are to carry the message of Christ beyond these walls. Let us continue to allow God to tear down the walls around us and in our hearts. May God open our eyes to the needs around us and give us hearts filled with compassion to reach out those in need. May he give us courage to reach out in love.

Acts 2.1-21

“Can we talk?”
Every now and then, Randy or I will say to the other, “Can we talk?” And we both think, “Uh-oh.” We think there must be something serious we need to discuss. It’s kind of a “what have I done (or not done)?”

Pentecost could be met with the question, “Can we talk?” When the first disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, the first visible signs involved talking. First, they spoke in tongues or in different languages — languages other than their native tongue.

Then, Peter speaks to the crowds, explaining this strange phenomena. He quotes from the Old Testament prophet Joel, saying that his prophecy is being fulfilled.

You’ll recall that last week in looking at the Ascension of Christ, we spoke of how Jesus instructed the disciples would be witnesses, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world … but don’t leave Jerusalem until you receive power from on high; wait, until you receive the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus ascended, he left a great work to be done, a work that every believer today is still entrusted with: being witnesses; making sure every person, every people group represented around the world has the opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ and what he did for all humanity: He is God, come in human form; though sinless, he suffered and died, taking our sins to the cross. And as he rose to life, he brings new life for you and for me.

The disciples witnessed this firsthand. I have witnessed this in my life. You have witnessed it. We see it one another’s lives. And Jesus says, share it with others.

But he also says, that even though he’s left, he sends his Spirit to be with us, to live in us and to guide us in this enormous task.

“Can we talk?”
There are some people in this world who seem to talk incessantly and then there are those who seem to hardly have a word to say and then all those who fall somewhere in the middle. It doesn’t matter where we fall, the call and commission are the same: be my witnesses. So many of us are like Moses and say, “But … I can’t. I don’t know what to say; I’m too afraid” or even that society tells us to keep our faith a private affair.

But Jesus says otherwise, “Be my witnesses.”

Most times our very problem is we get too focused on the I. I can’t. What if we focus on God? What if we focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit, who was given to empower us for this task?

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth ( John 16.12-15)
At the time these words are spoken, Jesus has not died or resurrected yet. Jesus is trying to prepare the disciples for this, but they can only bear so much. They can only take in so much. The Spirit of Truth will continue to reveal Jesus, as the way, the truth, and the life. The Spirit of Truth will help them to understand who Jesus is and the implications of his actions. The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus.

The Holy Spirit Teaches and Reminds (John 14.26)
In John, remind means to recall and to understand. Teaching and reminding are two ways of speaking the same thing. To “teach you all things” indicates the revelation of God through Jesus. There is a progressive revelation of who God is. “All” is the comprehensiveness of the Spirit’s teaching – the Spirit understands all about Jesus and will leave out nothing. Jesus is given the full revelation of the Father. The Spirit gives the full revelation. There is no further revelation. It is the understanding of the revelation that is given and that is needed.

The Holy Spirit Gives Words (Luke 12.11-12)
This passage speaks specifically to defending the Gospel. When you are questioned about your beliefs, the Holy Spirit will lead you in what to say. The two greatest of fears of witnessing is rejection and knowing what to say. To the first, Jesus instructs it is him that is rejected. And he promises that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say. The words may be different for different situations. Each person we share with is unique and the Holy Spirit understands what they need to hear and even when they need to hear it.

The Holy Spirit enables our lives to speak (Galatians 5.22-25)

And last of all, the speech of our lives …We have all heard the phrase, “practice what you preach” or “actions speak louder than words.” Not only our words, but our actions are called to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. Our words are meaningless, unless we live what we speak, or “walk the talk.” We can know about God, but do we know God? Has he transformed our lives?

The fruit of the Spirit demonstrates the moral qualities to be present in the life of the believer. If we belong to Christ, we will be transformed and exhibit character that is Christlike. It is the power of the Holy Spirit who works these qualities in our lives. The Holy Spirit transforms our lives.

This is not a list of laws to be kept; this is not a list of goals to try to develop or attain in our lives, it is evidence the Holy Spirit is present in our lives. It is he who transforms us, bringing about these qualities. The Holy Spirit is Sanctifier, it is he who purifies our lives. The Holy Spirit enables our lives to speak and give witness to God’s presence.

“Can we talk?”
Yes, we can talk, with the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit. Let us invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, to dwell within us so that we may be emboldened as witnesses to Jesus Christ. Then we can talk. He will give us the words to speak, He will give us a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ and God the Father, He will transform our lives so that they speak that we belong to Jesus Christ.

Introduction
This past Thursday was Ascension Day, and today Ascension Sunday. I have never done a sermon on the Ascension, so I don’t know what images that conjures up in your mind, but I know for some it conjures up pictures of the Amish and Mennonite communities gathering at Greenwood Furnace or other such parks for a day of picnicing. During the Reformation, Ascension Day was celebrated as a feast day in the church and it seems the Amish and Mennonite are still keeping that tradition. Ascension Day is the celebration of the ascension of our Lord, Jesus Christ, from earth into the heaven. Luke gives an account of the ascension in both his books. It is the bridge between the books of Luke and Acts.

Luke 24.44-53
Acts 1.1-11

Have you ever had to leave someone for a period of time, to go on a trip perhaps? Or maybe you remember sending your child off to their first day of school? Or maybe a loved one knew they were dieing … It’s at those times people say the things that matter most. They are preparing the other for departure or a time of separation.

Jesus knows he is leaving. He has 40 days with his disciples. And he now comes to the last. What are his last words? What does he want the disciples to remember? What are the most important things for them to know?

Jesus says three things to his disciples:

1. Jesus points to the OT scriptures that are fulfilled in his suffering, death and resurrection, bringing forgiveness of sins and this, to all the nations.
2. The disciples are witnesses of these things. They are to tell others what they have witnessed.
3. But not until the receive "power from on high" or as Acts makes clear, they are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

It is the second of these which we will look at today.

Be Witnesses
Be witnesses to all nations beginning in Jerusalem (Lk 24)
Be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1) (ever-widening circle.)

Witness – the disciples are eye-witnesses. They lived with Jesus; they witnessed the miracles, they witnessed his dying and death, some placed him in the tomb, they witnessed the empty tomb, and now for 40 days they witnessed Christ among them. Jesus revealed from the Scriptures that this was foretold, he explained why it happened this way. And now they are commissioned to tell what they have witnessed, not just to those who are like them or those who are in their city or those who are in their nation or people group, they are to witness to all nations, all peoples.

As this community of believers is commissioned to this work, so are we, as the community of the faithful. We are called to witness to our neighbors next door and our neighbors across the world. And there is still a work to be done. I find it phenomenal that what was witnessed in Jerusalem has now circled the globe. It is amazing that you can go to BibleGateway.com and the Bible is in about 25 different languages, and in some languages it appears in different versions. But we still have work to do.

The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism was formed in 1974 to bring an awareness to the need and work toward world evangelism. During that time 2/3 of all humanity was estimated unevangelized. A commentary writer estimates that only 30,000 full-time Christian workers are at work among the 1.8 billion members of the twelve thousand unreached groups.

A UM News article, recently stated that the UM is now seeking to send more missionaries, after they ceased in 2002 because of a shortage of money (investment income.) If we really believe this is what the church is about, that was a terrible a mistake. The UM is looking to send at least 20 new missionaries. There are currently 229, including 50 within the US. I believe if we really are going to take Jesus’ last words to heart, we must do better.

A commentary writer states, "He is not mentioning an optional ministry activity for individuals with crosscultural interests and churches with surplus funds. The Great Commission is the primary task the Lord left his church. The church must always be a missionary church; the Christian must always be a world Christian."

On May 10, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Houston Area became president of the Council of Bishops. In her acceptance remarks, Huie spoke of her yearning to return to the time when Methodism was seen as a movement instead of an institution.

As a movement, we reach out beyond our borders, beyond our comfort zone. We will have a concern for all peoples. Our Wesleyan roots point us to cross other seas. Wesley himself came to the colonies as a missionary. Methodism is in the US today, because of missionaries from England.

Mission that cares for the physical
The disciples asked one last time in Acts 1.6, “now are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel?” The disciples understood that restoration to be spiritual, political and social. Our Wesleyan heritage also points us to care for the whole person.

World Vision Summer 2006 issue states:
In developing countries, 6 million children die each year, mostly from hunger-related causes.
In 2002, an estimated 608 million people were caught in disasters—almost one in 10 of the world’s population.
What are the main causes world hunger? *Armed conflict is now the leading cause. Fighting uproot families from their homes and farms, leaving them hungry and without access to their own food sources. *Natural disasters. *HIV/AIDS. *Finally, poverty and hunger lock people into a vicious cycle: the poor are hungry, and hunger traps them in poverty.

The United Nations established Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which would reduce extreme poverty in half by 2015 and eliminate it altogether by 2025. Less than 1% of US federal international humanitarian assistance. 2% of charitable donations and 2% of Protestant denominations giving goes to foreign missions.

$40-$70 billion a year is needed to achieve the MDGs, but we spend $20 billion a year on ice cream; $26 billion on jewelry. It would cost each American 50 cents a day to reach this goal.

Good News in Mission
Equip (a John Maxwell ministry) indicates
*In China, 35,000 people per day are giving their hearts to Christ.
*In Iraq, four churches in Baghdad run over 1000 each in weekly attendance
*In Iran, more people have given their hearts to Jesus than in the previous 1500 years! Over 2000 house churches have been started there by university students who are new followers of Christ.
*Therefore the need for the Million Leaders Mandate. (which is being established in China as we speak.)

Conclusion
A call for worship: Luke closes with the disciples worshiping, filled with great joy, praising God in the temple. They have witnessed a great thing. They celebrate the reign and rule of Jesus Christ as he returns to his throne. Ascension Day is a day of celebration!

A sending forth: This introductory section of Acts ends with angels appearing and asking, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?" Ascension Day is day of sending, we are to go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, to continue the work that Jesus began, to continue the work the first disciples began.

Ephesians 4.29

An overview of the verse:
Bad talk:
Do not use talk that is unwholesome, foul, dirty, abusive. Swearing, vulgar, gossip, talking down to others, tearing others down or belittling, finding fault.

Good talk:
Say nice things: give compliments, be cheerful, tell the truth, put on a positive attitude. Edify: build up.

Ministers grace:
Not just that they benefit another but they are words of grace. We know that grace is a gift. Our words should be gifts, like giving presents away. Florence Littauer talked with children about this concept, one little girl aptly spoke, “our words should be like little silver boxes with bows on top.” And thus when Florence Littauer put this into writing she named her book: “Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement.”

“Is it edifying?”
This teaching and book arose out of a family practice in the Littauer family. When raising their family they liked to memorize verses that were practical to everyday life – verses that they could teach their children and that would effect their behavior and interaction with one another. This verse encouraged the family to speak positive rather than negative words to one another. Their words to build up, to do a favor for the recipient. At times they would ask one another, “Is it edifying?” If someone said something sarcastic or negative, they asked, “Is it edifying?” Even a parent was allowed to be questioned by the child, “Is it edifying?” So common was the practice that one day their overheard their son explaining it to a friend who was over to visit: “If she asks you ‘Is it edifying?’ that means you’ve said something bad. The best way to get out of trouble is to say you’re sorry and watch what comes out of your mouth from then on.”

Ephesian Church
Apparently the Ephesian Church was having some problems saying bad things to one another. And the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church:
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

In the church, we should watch our words. In our homes, we should watch our words. In the workplace or school, we should watch our words. Wherever we are as Christians, we should watch our words. As Christians, we should communicate differently.

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. -Matthew 12.34

Florence Littauer speaks of many kinds of boxes: toy boxes, gift boxes, secret boxes, mailboxes, flower boxes, school boxes, stolen boxes special boxes, boxes of peace, safe-deposit boxes and boxes of broken dreams.

Gift Boxes/Stolen Boxes
Encouraging words are remembered more than material gifts. Those of us are  older can quickly look back over our lives and identify probably both those who gave us gift boxes of encouragement and also those who spoke words of discouragement and hurt to us. There is such power in our words, those words live on in us. Words have the power to both make a person and destroy a person, especially our children and youth, when they are at impressionable ages.

Career
As young people choose careers, they may choose a career according to where they have been encouraged or discouraged. Some of us have grown up with boxes of broken dreams because what we didn’t do what we really wanted to do with our lives because that path was always discouraged for some reason or other.

Church
The week before last, Sarah Ayers accompanied me to Valley View to play the piano for the Chapel service. In talking she mentioned conversations she and Lindsey have had with other college students and how many of them are turned of to the church because basically because they did not receive encouraging words, they did not receive gift boxes. But their boxes were stolen away. What they had to contribute was not accepted. They were not made to feel a part, a significant part of the Church. In Sarah’s reflection she very much voiced an opposite experience for Lindsey and herself, of how the church has supported and encouraged them. May we continue to make our children and youth welcome and embrace them as the church.

I, personally, remember both the person who sat in the back of the church and would not even look at me when I sang a solo. (And you will remember my telling you how shy I was as a young person - that was like putting a bullet in me.) And I remember the person who took me aside after service one day, and spoke an encouraging word.

We can give boxes, we can steal boxes. Our children can come home from school on top of the world because they received a school box, an encouraging word from a teacher, and we can either uphold that box or we can smash boxes that box.

Receiving Boxes
Some of us are better at receiving boxes than others. Some of us will give silver boxes away and it will seem that the person rejects that silver box. There can be many reasons for this.
~Some people who have not received silver boxes along life’s way, do not know how to receive silver boxes. It may take repeated attempts on your part until they will actually receive the box.
~Some people may have consistently received negative words, even abusive words all their life (or physical/sexual abuse) and to tell them something positive about themselves, they don’t believe it. They reject your good words because they cannot see the good in themselves.
~Sometimes people have just learned some bad news or they aren’t feeling well.
~Sometimes it may be their personality (Personality Plus)
~as Christians, they believe it is not right to accept a compliment.

At one point Littauer asks, “Have you kissed a frog today?” You know the fairy tale where the frog when kissed turns into a handsome prince. Our words have the power to do just such a thing. Sometimes our words open up a possibility for people to live into. Littauer tells as story of a daughter and mother-in-law. This young woman always had trouble choosing a mother’s day card because her mother-in-law was not that picture perfect woman. But she began sending her cards that told of the mother-in-law she wished she would be and her mother-in-law soon began exhibiting those traits.

Conclusion
As God encourages us we are called to encourage one another. As we come to know God’s unconditional love, we are called to share that love with others.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. -Psalm 19.14

Psalm 22

Introduction
This is a Psalm of lament, which as most turns from lament to praise. It is a Messianic psalm, especially evident in vv 16-18, sometimes called the Fifth Gospel account of the crucifixion. This doesn’t discount it’s present setting, a psalm of David, where David is in trouble, even near death and is calling out to God. Turns from not sensing God’s presence to praise, knowing God is there, and finally to answered prayer. Today, I want to look at a few verses that speak to the family.

Forefathers/mothers trust
4 In you our fathers put their trust;
       they trusted and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you and were saved;
       in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

Trust is a confession of confident hope in God’s love. In the psalmist’s time of need, he remembers the trust his forefamily had and how God delivered them.

Who in your family are your first generation Believers? Who in your family first came to know Christ and laid a spiritual foundation for your family?

In my family:
Loose family reunion: strong spiritual presence
Aurandt family ancestor, church planter in the area (planted three Lutheran churches – Waterstreet, Yellow Springs, St. John’s)

Creator God/stewardship of parents
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
       you made me trust in you
       even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast upon you;
       from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 139
God as source, as Creator.
Trust at an early age, the psalmist credits God with this.

“I was cast on you”
Infant Baptism: giving of a child to God. In continually lifting that child up in prayer.

Also translated: “you have entrusted me to my mother’s breast” Parenthood is an act of stewardship. God has given the gift of a child - his child, his creation - to you. He has entrusted the care of that child to you: the physical care, the spiritual care. For that child to be raised so that one day he/she may like the psalmist say, “you brought me out of the womb” and “you made me trust you”

If we believe that we each have been placed here for some work. That God has uniquely gifted us for participation in the body of Christ and to share Christ with world. Then as each child is born into this body, we recognize that God has some purpose for that child. As a congregation, as a parent, we must continually give that child to God and his purpose. We must pray first that that child will know Christ, as Lord and Savior and secondly, that God will guide that child to walk in way God has prepared. That God will reveal his will for that child’s life. And that’s a prayer that every parent should pray, no matter what age, what stage of life, their child is at.

Future Generations
30 Posterity will serve him;
       future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
       to a people yet unborn—
       for he has done it.
Tied to vv 4-5 with the trust of our ancestors

My mother’s salvation story: dad working in the strip mines, living in Pottersdale. Mom, by herself, singing “He washed my eyes with tears”. Mother never sat me down and said, "Now I want you to know this story." I came to know it because it was such a large part of who she was. She recalled and gave thanks for her salvation. I beleive a part of why I am here today is because of her story and the spiritual foundation she laid.

Why are you here today?
Who sowed those seeds in your family? Who laid a spiritual foundation for your family?

What kind of spiritual foundation are you laying for your family? What of your life is going to be remembered? What signs of commitment to God are regularly evident in your life?

One day we will all be gone, but these pews will be filled with people yet unborn, because you lived a faithful life, because you laid a spiritual foundation.

“He has done it.”
It is the work of God; no work of our own. “He has done everything.” Each generation will join in telling the story of redemption and of God’s kingship. As a messianic psalm, it tells a part of redemption’s story. Jesus died on a cross for us, so that he could bring us new life, eternal life. As v. 26 says, “may your hearts live forever!” And as we join in the telling of this redemption story, we add our own personal story, we tell our family’s story – what God has done for them; what God has done for us!

Ephesians 2.1-10

This passage about what God has done in Christ Jesus, not just through Jesus, not just with Jesus, but in Jesus. Your and my destiny is incorporated in that of Christ.

Vv 1-3 are a description of our pre-Christian past. We were dead … in sin. The spirit that was at work within us was the spirit of darkness, of evil, he who worked disobedience. All of us lived here at some point, following our sinful nature. We were objects of wrath – we deserved God’s wrath, God’s punishment. Paul takes a serious look at sin, but he goes on to look at God’s mercy.

Because of God’s love and God’s mercy, God made us alive in Christ. We are no longer dead.

There is a union portrayed in this passage – a union of us with Christ – a union in which we participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And Paul doesn’t stop there … that union also allows us to participate in Christ’s exaltation; that is, we are seated with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. We have a sharing in Christ’s triumph over the cosmic powers.

This echoes to what we talked about two weeks ago in looking at the passage that precedes this. In Ephesians 1.17-23, we specifically looked at Paul’s prayer for believers to know …  God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority, power and dominion …”

Being in Christ, we share in his sufferings, but we also share in his triumph, his victory, in his power.

As believers, we are transferred into a new dominion, which began in the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ. We, too, are raised to a new life. We are now freed from the things that once held us captive, that once tied us down, that once had us bound. Those things no longer control us. For we belong to Christ, and we are in Christ … so as Christ was nailed to the cross, our sinful nature was nailed to the cross; as Christ was raised from the dead, we, too, are raised from death to a new life … in Christ Jesus. It is all in Christ Jesus. It is all by God’s initiative, by God’s grace, through faith (believing). It is a gift. It is nothing we have done, but by what is done by God in Christ.

I recently saw an ad for the Unitarian Universalist Church, which stated, “Deeds, Not Creeds.” Take a minute and think about that phrase. Would you choose that as the slogan for your church?  What are creeds? The Apostle’s Creed (UMH 881) is a statement of what we believe. Although the Apostle’s Creed is not word for word in the Bible, everything stated in it is biblical. It is a concise statement of the Gospel. Creedal statements appear in the New Testament writings; they appear as early as the first century church.

“Deeds, Not Creeds” tells me that if there is not a statement of belief, then they must not believe in anything … but they do believe in one thing, according to this slogan … they believe in deeds; they believe in doing good works.

Look at what Paul says in this passage about deeds. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We just talked about how we are in Christ. That salvation is accomplished through the work of Christ. That it is not by anything we do. And now Paul says the same thing about good works or deeds, that these were prepared in advance for us to do. We do not do deeds by our own initiative, but again it is God’s initiative. It is by God’s plan. It is by God’s enabling, by God’s grace.

Salvation comes first, then works. Belief in Jesus Christ and what is accomplished by God through his life, death and resurrection comes first. Being found in Christ come first. And then, as Christ exemplified a life of good works, we too are raised to a life of good works.

Paul knows the temptation of falling back on our strength, relying on our own resources. And when we have a natural gift, it is easy to rely on that natural gift. But Paul warns against this. His emphasis here is on that which is accomplished in and through Jesus Christ. To impact the world for Christ, we must be found in Christ. There is a phrase I came across as a musician, “He who sings, prays twice” (attributed to Augustine). The meaning is you don’t rely on your own talent or ability. A person can sing words about Christ, but is the anointing work of the Holy Spirit that touches hearts and lives with those words. That can be applied to any gift or talent. My sermon is just a bunch words, unless submitted to God and anointed by his presence. A meal prepared for someone in need, can just be a meal, or it can be done in prayer, sent forth in prayer, asking God to bless the household which receives it. That is ministry.

In conclusion: we are found in Christ. Who we are is a gift of God. God reached out to us, in Christ Jesus. In Christ, we die to our sins; in Christ we are raised to a new life; in Christ we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Through this gift of God, in Christ we do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 1.17-23

Persistent Intercessory Prayer
vv17-18a
Paul is praying a prayer of intercession, a prayer for others, specifically for the Ephesians. But it is my prayer for us and I want you to make it your prayer for yourself, for other believers and for this body. It is a persistent prayer, "I keep praying." He continues to make this his prayer. It is a prayer for illumination, for God to reveal or make known three things to the Ephesians.

Prayer for hope, rich inheritance, and power.
vv18b-20
Hope: a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
Inheritance: looks forward to the consummated kingdom of God, that which is expected after the Second Coming of Christ
Power: four words are used of power and also a demonstration of that power is pointed out.
Dunamis: the inherent power of God, that which belongs to him because he is God. It is the power to accomplish, to perform miracles.
Working: superhuman power
Strength: force or power to overcome what stands in the way, dominion.
Might: exercise of power

Similarity, not difference, is of importance. Four words are used to demonstrate this ultimate power. This power that is above all. This power that is different than any other power that you have encountered. Paul doesn’t stop at these four words to describe this power byt says that this power was demonstrated as God … raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the heavenlies.

What power do we know that can overcome death? We know that medicine has limited power, but it is just that, limited. There is only so much that doctors can do. But this power overcomes death. Jesus is the first fruit. That power of God is demonstrated in him. Many saw him die. Many witnessed to his resurrection. There is no doubt of his resurrection.

50 days between Easter and Pentecost celebrate the time Jesus spent with the disciples after the resurrection. Many saw Jesus:

1 Corinthians 15.3-7

Power over …
vv21-22a
Power over all things. Names four things again and goes on to say every title, and also at any time.
All subjected to Christ. All is under Christ. All must obey Christ. All is under Christ’s control.
Universal dominion.

Power for …
v 22b
This power demonstrated in Christ, this exaltation of Christ over all things is for the Church. It is God’s gift to the Church. It is for the benefit of the Church.

Church is filled …
v 23
The Church is filled with Christ. Filled to fullness. Are we full of Christ?
Full of Christ’s presence, Christ’s power. Full of Christ’s life, his gifts, his blessings.

The Church manifests Christ to the world, only as the church is filled with Christ.
Through the power of God in our lives we can live victoriously in our living in our personal lives.
Through the power of God given to the Church, we can impact our world for Christ.

Living in the Resurrection Power
We don’t have to settle for the status quo. We don’t have to settle for mediocrity.  Sanctification is going on to perfection. Sin remains in our life, but no longer does it reign (D&DR). Just as Jesus reigns over all things, he reigns in our lives. He reigns over temptation, over sin, over anything that would hinder our relationship with God and with others.

Dunam and Dunam Reisman point out that it’s about asking the right question: “Our usual response to the question as to whether a Christian sins is, “Of course!” But the more important question is whether a Christian has to sin. The answer to that is a resounding no!”

Through Jesus Christ sin is conquered. He has taken our sin to the cross and raised us to new life, victorious life.

We glorify God by living sanctified lives; lives that overcome. Christ died so that we can be victorious. Living victorious lives is our way of saying thank you for what he did for us on Calvary.

Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Drove him to rely upon God. It was a source of humility: he gloried God and not self.

God is calling us to greater things … in his power, in our personal lives and in the life of his body, the Church. He is calling us to impact the world around us. If we want God to reveal his power to us, we need to step out where he can display that power. We need to step out where we rely on him and not ourselves. We need to serve in ways where we need to rely on his strength rather than our own abilities. His supernatural power is that which empowers us to do more than what we can accomplish on our own. God wants to defy circumstances, common sense, and logic. That is the power that Paul experienced and is praying that the Ephesians experience. That is the power I want to experience in our midst!

John 20.1-18

Do you like Easter? We all look forward to Easter don’t we? Easter is a sign that spring is here or on the way. We look forward to everything turning green and the first flowers are coming up. The first of my tulips bloomed just this week! We look forward to this very special day of worship. Little girls look forward to getting all dressed up in their Easter dresses. The kids get to have Easter egg hunts and they look forward to hunting for Easter baskets on Sunday morming. We look forward to family visiting and gathering together for an Easter feast – always the traditional ham dinner at our home. And we get to talk and sing about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s a glorious time all around.

Do you like Easter? Yes, we probably all like Easter. But, do you know there would not be an Easter without the previous events of Holy Week. We probably like to hear the story of Easter more than the story of Holy Thursday or Good Friday, but without them there would be no Easter. Holy Week is the story ~of betrayal … by a friend, a follower. A story of the arrest of Jesus, of false accusations, of injustice, of beatings, abuse, and mockery. Holy Week is the story of a death sentence, undeserved. Death on a cross – a death which is despised, cursed, one that brought shame. It was an embarrassment for the family, for anyone that knew or associated with that individual. And this crucifixion was a scary time, for at midday darkness fell over the earth, creation was ripped apart by a devastating earthquake.

Do you like Easter? Oh, yes, Easter makes those events of Holy Week bearable because we know Easter is coming. Easter a day of celebration, a day of new birth (symbolized in the egg, the lambs, the chicks, the bunnies.) Easter is a day filled with hope. It is a day we anticipate.

But we can’t have Easter without Holy Week. We can’t have the resurrection story without Good Friday. We can’t have an empty tomb with out the cross. There is no new life without death.

We come to Easter to celebrate the promise of new life, a new life that was bought with a price.

My life and your life was the price; we were the ones who deserved to die. But Jesus stood up and said, “I’ll die instead.”
“Put their sin on me.”
“Put Joleen’s sin on me.”
“I’ll die for her.”
“Put … you supply your name … I’ll die for him and for her.”

All we have is sin to give. During Lent we looked at the 7 Deadly Sins: pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, lust, gluttony. Jesus came to die for those sins.

But we learned in Lent, we can’t just give our sin to Jesus; we give ourselves to Jesus and Jesus takes our sin. We have to yield our lives, surrender our lives and he takes our sin and then we experience Easter!

Easter comes alive in us … Jesus raises us to new life. Jesus plants within us a seed, which if we continue to nurture, we grow more and more like him – we come more and more to life.

Trees need rain and nourishment; they don’t gain leaves overnight – so we slowly, steadily grow as we nourish our new life with God’s Word and prayer and worship and community, and service.

Do you like Easter? Do you like the thought of coming to life – being transformed into the person God originally intended you to be. Sin distorted that person and now as Jesus takes the sin away, our lives are like a piece of silver that is black with tarnish, and Jesus removes the tarnish (with his blood) so that once again his reflection is seen in our lives.

Do you like Easter? If you like Easter, I have a surprise for you. There’s going to be a day kind of like Easter, except different. It’s a resurrection day, too.

1 Thessalonians 4.13-18

There is another resurrection day! There is another Easter, per say. Jesus was the first to rise from the dead to live forever, to live for all eternity. There is a day coming when all who have experienced death will rise again to a life that will last forever. And those of us who are still living will be caught away never to know a physical death. Isn’t that exiting?

Do you like Easter? Easter is a promise that Jesus will come again. Jesus conquered death and as he conquered death in the physical realm, he will conquer that death for us, but that promise is yet to be fulfilled. The spiritual life that he brings us is a foretaste of that which is to come.

In the new life that you have now in Christ Jesus, you still experience hardships, you may experience illness, living in this world where there are those who have not yet accepted Christ, sin will brush against you. You will experience temptations yet.

But the promise of the second coming is a promise that you will not experience those things ever again.

Revelation 21.4-5a
Easter is a promise that as Jesus brings us new life in the present; he will bring a completeness to that new life at his second coming.

Do you like Easter? You are really going to like this day! Not only will our salvation be complete, our life completely restored, but Jesus exaltation will be complete. We, as believers, exalt Jesus now; but not everyone believes, not everyone worships Jesus, and we as believers all fall short of the complete and total worship that is due Him.

Philippians 2.10-11

We like Easter today, and we are here to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are here to give him the worship that is due him. But you and I know that there are those today who are not worshiping; there are those who a grateful for a long weekend, for another day off from work. But there is a greater day of worship coming, when "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess!" Won’t that be a glorious day? Jesus will get the full worship he deserves. The actions of his death and resurrection will be fully recognized as being done willingly out of his love for us. Those who do not believe, will believe. Those who have placed their trust in other things, will see Who deserves their trust, their faith, their commitment.

Yes, if you like Easter, you’re really going to like this day!

Knowing this day is coming, keeps Easter alive all the year through. It keeps the celebration alive in our hearts. It keeps our hearts focused on things eternal. It helps us order our lives according to what is eternally significant. It reminds us of the new life that is birthed in us and continues to grow in us preparing us for that day, when like that first Easter, when Mary saw Jesus, we, too, shall see Jesus face to face.