RWJ/Pottersville UMC 09/30/12 Sermon - “What are our stumbling blocks?” (Growing in faith series, Part 5 of 6)

Sunday 09/30/12 RWJ/Pottersville UMC

 

Sermon: “What are our stumbling blocks?”                       

(Growing in faith series, Part 5 of 6)

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 124

Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:38-50                        

 

          Good morning brothers and sisters! I greet you in the name our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you have all had a blessed week and I am happy to be worshipping with you here this morning!

          This morning I am continuing on with my six part series called the “Growing in faith series.” In the first week of this series, I talked about “Walking our faith vs. Talking our faith,” and fulfilling the mission of the Christian Church changing the world for Jesus Christ. The following week I gave a message called “Faith without works is dead,” and in this message, I talked about how doing good works for God is a means of God’s love and grace that we express to the world. In week three of this series I gave a sermon called “Would you deny Him?” In this message I talked about denying Jesus Christ. At times we all deny Jesus Christ, but He calls us to serve Him and all people. Last week I gave a message called “Who is the greatest amongst us?” In this message I talked about what are world would look like if we saw all people as equal spiritually. That we are all children of God, and that we all need the grace of God.

          This week however, as part five of this series, I want to talk about our stumbling blocks. In fact, the title today’s sermon is called, “What are our stumbling blocks?” Or to say it differently, what are those things that keep us from being all God wants us to be? What are our vices, our sins, or the struggles that trip us up? In the Psalm reading this morning, the Psalmist or writer of the Psalm said, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” and then continued on with how Israel was saved and protected by God. How many times has the Lord been on our side? How many times have we said, “Clearly God was with me during that?”

          Yet we still struggle, and yet we have stumbling blocks. We all have our crosses to carry in this world. Why some struggle with alcohol addition, why some struggle with gambling, while some commit adultery, and while some steal as there vices we may never fully know. The reality though is that we all have our stumbling blocks. In fact, I want you during this sermon to think about your individual stumbling blocks. What are they? Further, how can we remove these stumbling blocks or these strongholds? Also why do we have the stumbling blocks we do? Are our stumbling blocks worse than others? Why do we have the stumbling blocks we have, when it seems like no one else does?

          I believe sometimes that God gives us stumbling blocks to test our faith, but sometimes these stumbling blocks come from the devil. The Apostle Paul in scripture for example had that famous “thorn in his side,” even though no one knows exactly what that thorn was. So, some stumbling blocks I think come from God to grow and test our faith, but some come from the devil. When Jesus was in the desert the devil tempted him. The devil said “turn these stones into bread.” The devil said, “I will give all the kingdoms of earth if you will but bow before me.” The devil went on to tempt our Lord in many other ways as well. Jesus did not stumble though. Jesus did not succumb to temptation. I would encourage you that when you struggle with the stumbling blocks that you have that are not from God, that you do not tackle the devil on your own. In fact, I would tell you to not even engage Satan, as we cannot beat him. But Jesus can! When you feel Satan tempting you with one of the stumbling blocks he has given you, this is what I want you to tell him, “He rebuked you!” “In the dessert Satan, Jesus Christ rebuked you!” The devil has no authority over you, because He rebuked him. Remind the devil of this the next time he tells you that aren’t good enough, that you aren’t smart enough, that he tries to convince you that you are weak, or not able. You tell that devil “depart from this place,” “for He rebuked you.”

          In the Gospel of Mark reading this morning, Jesus said do whatever you need to do to avoid your stumbling blocks. Do what is necessary to fully serve the Lord, and to tell Satan, “He rebuked you!” Sometimes though, telling Satan that “He rebuked you” isn’t enough. This is why in the coming weeks I am going to be discussing and attempting to implement small covenant groups in this church. These small covenant groups will be groups where you and some of the members of this church get together weekly or periodically, whether for dinner, or coffee, or whether you do this every Sunday after church at lunch with each other. In these small covenant groups we have the opportunity to have a bible study, to pray, and to talk with one another about our struggles, to encourage one another. You see we all struggle, and we need to be in covenant groups with each other to grow and stay connected more fully to the Lord. I am as of right now projecting on starting a small covenant group the 4^th Saturday of every month in the church parsonage in Johnsburg. More details to come in the next couple weeks about this. I think these small groups will not only help us to keep our stumbling blocks in check, but they will help us grow together as a family, and they will help our church grow.

          I have a vision for this church, and when I was in Ohio this past week, I heard the Lord whisper in my ear “I am not done with these communities.” I envision a church where we have small groups that meet with regularity, where we monthly dish to pass dinners that I have already started, where we have times to come together as family, like the movie nights I have implemented. I have already seen new people come into this church, and I have a vision brothers and sisters that we keep growing! In the next couple of months, I am going to be looking into Sunday school curriculums and the possibility of having at this church, yes I said this church, Sunday school again. Some of you might be saying, “Well pastor, that all sounds well and good, but can we really accomplish this?” I would ask those people, do you trust Him? Do you really trust Him? Did he not rebuke the devil? Why can’t we grow? Why can’t we have a Sunday school? Why can’t we have small groups? Why can’t we have dish to pass dinners and movie nights? Why can’t this church grow by 20 or by 30 people? Why not?

          Sometimes, I think this is the devil whispering in our ears, “your church can’t grow, and it will die eventually.” I say to that devil, “He rebuked you!” I remember hearing a Billy Graham quote about the Lutheran and the Methodist Church some time ago. Billy Graham remarked that the Lutheran Church and that the United Methodist Church are “sleeping giants.” “What if,” he said, “they awoke?” For He rebuked him.

          As we consider our own sins, our own stumbling blocks, and our own struggles, I would encourage you to repent to the Lord, and repent to each other. Ask almighty God for forgiveness for what you have done and ask Him for the strength to turn from those sins, and really on your brothers and sisters in the Lord for strength to grow and overcome your stumbling blocks.

          In closing this morning, I have a short story that I feel illustrates our sins and our stumbling blocks. Here is the story. A reporter went to hell and heaven to see what they were like to report back to the world. In hell there was a massive banquet table, and yes not in heaven, but in hell. This banquet table went on as far as the eye could see. On this banquet table there was every good food you can imagine. Think of the best Thanksgiving spread that you have ever seen and multiply this by ten. The food on this table would be like nothing you had ever seen. Yet the people at this banquet table in hell were starving. They had not eaten in weeks, or months, or even years. There punishment for their evil and wicked ways was to starve and yet not die, but yet at the same time see all of the food. It was interesting though that the reporter noted that the devil gave each person at the banquet table a long spoon to eat with. Yet each spoon was too long to pick up food and then reach back to put it in their mouths. Some of the people tried to choke up on the spoon, but the devil would always stop them when they tried. So the only way the devil would let them eat was with this long spoon, yet it could not reach their mouths. These people were angry, and were all focused on their own hunger.

          To the reporters surprise though when he went up to heaven, there was the same exact banquet table, with the same exact food. Interesting that the devil had all of this in hell and that God did exactly the same thing. Just like the devil, God gave the people long spoons to eat with, and the same rules applied to the saints at this banquet table, as it did to those damned at the banquet table in hell. It was interesting though, that in heaven all the people at the banquet were well feed, and happy. How could this be though the reporter asked God? How could the exact same circumstances be in place in heaven as in hell, yet those in hell were starving? God looked at the reporter and smiled. Then God simply said, “Look at them, what do you see?” As the reporter looked, he noticed that one saint got a spoonful of food and reached it across the table to feed someone else. In fact, everyone at this banquet table did this. God then smiled and looked at the reporter and said, “You see My saints are well feed, because they feed each other.” In hell it didn’t and wouldn’t have ever even crossed the mind of the damned to feed each other.

          You see, we need to feed each other brothers and sisters, or we will starve. We need to tackle our stumbling blocks not only before God, but before each other. So this week think about what your stumbling blocks are, go to God with them, and go to each other with them. As I continue to develop our small covenant groups, I ask you to consider what we could do for the Lord if our stumbling blocks were removed. May we love each other in the name of Jesus Christ this week. Amen and halleluiah.

           

 

RWJ/Pottersville UMC 09/23/12 Sermon - “Who is the greatest amongst us?” (Growing in faith series, Part 4 of 6)

Sunday 09/23/12 RWJ/Pottersville UMC

Sermon: “Who is the greatest amongst us?”                       

(Growing in faith series, Part 4 of 6)

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 1                          

Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:30-37           

          Good morning brothers and sisters! I greet you in the name our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you have all had a blessed week and I am happy to be worshipping with you here this morning!

          This morning I am continuing on with my six part series called the “Growing in faith series.” In the first week of this series, I talked about “Walking our faith vs. Talking our faith,” and in this message I talked about how much Christian Churches as a whole could accomplish for our communities, our country, and the world, if our churches were filled with people. If we had large churches that were filled with people that gave generously of their time, there gifts and talents, and there resources, we would have more than enough resources to provide for the poor and all those in need. In my second week of this series, I gave a message called “Faith without works is dead.” In this message, I talked about how we as individuals cannot work our way into heaven through good works. Doing good works is important though. As Christians, we should do good works, because we are new creations in Jesus Christ. Out of this great love and blessing that God has given us, we must bless others to the glory of God. Last week, I gave a message called “Would you deny Him?” In this message I talked about denying Jesus Christ. We have all at different times have denied Jesus Christ through both our thoughts and our actions. When we see someone in need, when we see someone suffering, and when we can help someone and we don’t, then we deny Jesus Christ.

          As we think about all that the church could become in walking our faith, as we think about the good works that God calls us to do, and as we think about doing to the good works and doing the service that God has called us to do, the question I have for you this morning, is “Who is the greatest amongst us?” I mean who here is the greatest? In exploring this question, I would ask you to think of five historical persons other than Jesus Christ, who you would say are the best people that have ever lived. Just think about this for minute. On my short list would be Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, Saint Augustine, Abraham Lincoln, and the Apostle Paul. I am sure I could come up with many more names, as I am sure that you all could come up with more than five names, as well. Anyone here have any names that I didn’t have on my list of five names? Thank you for sharing.

          I think in our culture we tend to rank people by who is the best, and by who is the worst. I think of the recent Olympic Games in London. For many of us, the focus was on who is going to be the best. Who is going to win the gold? We very much live a culture, of “who is the best,” and “who is the worst.” This idea of who is the greatest, I think is not new. In fact, in the Gospel reading from Mark this morning, Jesus’ 12-apostles got into an argument over who was the best apostle. Have you or your kids for example, ever gotten into an argument over who is the best NFL quarterback in history? I am sure that you can think of a few names right now, if you’re an NFL fan. Interesting though, what Jesus says to his apostles in the Gospel reading this morning, in response to their argument over who is the greatest.

          Jesus said if you want to be first or the best, you must be last. Jesus also said “you must be a servant all to people to be the best.” Jesus then said that you have to have faith “like a small” child to really know Him. In looking at this, Jesus said the best comes in last, the best is a humble servant, and the best must trust Him like a small child. When looking at this scripture then, I would ask you this morning “who is the greatest amongst us?”

          In the reading of the first Psalm this morning, God called up us to live righteously. God calls us too love others, and to not be wicked to each other. How can we really love each other and Jesus Christ though, if we think that we are better than each other? I think to really be righteous, to really be Godly we must do our best to love all people with the love of Jesus Christ. We must realize that Jesus Christ wants to be in a relationship with us all.

           Think about this church specific church for a minute, who is the greatest in this church? Who is the best Christian here? Is it you? Is it you? Is it that person? What if none of us are the best? What if we are all equal before almighty God? What if we began to view each and every person as a creation of the hands of God? After all, were we all not made at the potter’s wheel of the master? Are we all not sinners? Are we not all in need of the grace of God, and the salvation of Jesus Christ?

          So I ask you then, “who is the greatest amongst us?” Is there a greatest amongst us? I remember when Billy Graham’s wife died, he said something to the effect of, “I hope when I get to my wife lets me live in one of the rooms in her mansion in heaven.”

          I think that we might get different rewards in heaven, but aren’t we all fallen? Aren’t we all broken? You see I think as Christians to really grow in faith, to really grow, we must see all people as equals. What a hard thing to do isn’t it? This does not mean we should not respect our elders, that we should not respect our leaders, our bosses, or that we all have the same amount of possessions or money in life, but it does mean on a spiritual level that we all equal before almighty God. Everyone sitting here today was made at the potter’s wheel of almighty God, and so we are all in need of God’s grace and salvation. Imagine a church where we see all people who come through this door as equally children of almighty God. I remember hearing the famous boxer Mohammed Ali say “I am the greatest!” Certainly one could argue that he is the best boxer ever, but spiritually I would argue that we are all spiritually on the same playing field.

          A good analogy for this is thinking about Calvary or Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. The Roman centurions nailed him to the cross, and then raised the cross up into a hole so that it would fall into place. Imagine if you were at the crucifixion. Imagine if you tried to reach up and touch the cross of the savior. Would a tall person be able to touch the cross better than a short person? The reality is that the ground at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ is level. We can call access the life saving message of Jesus Christ’s Gospel, and we can all touch the cross. For the ground at the foot of Jesus Christ’s cross is level. We are all God’s children, and Jesus Christ beacons us all. He wants us all. He wants the tall, the sort, the person who society has rejected, the person who struggles with addiction, the person who has made some bad life choices. Jesus Christ wants us all. Our challenge then in growing in our faith is to “love all people into the Kingdom of God.” By this, I mean that most people come to the faith and come to know Jesus Christ through loving relationships with His believers. If we really love all people, and we really see everyone as equal at the foot of the cross, then I think our church will grow. I think that people would come here on Sunday morning not because they were forced to, not because they felt that they had to, but because they wanted to. They would say that I love going to this church! I love the people here! They love me so much and treat me so good! They accepted me in with all my flaws and all my vices! I fell at home here! This is my place of peace!

          I hope and pray that we can all continue to grow in faith to make this church a place that is so loving, that is so biblical, and that is so focused on living the Gospel of Jesus Christ that our church grows tremendously.

          I want to close today with a story. This story was told by a well known speaker. Here is the story: A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" The hands went up in the air. "Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started grinding it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, crumpled and dirty and asked, "Now who still wants it?" Again the hands went up into the air." The speaker then said, my friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was worth $20 regardless of what I did to it." Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know but by who we are!

          So this morning brothers and sisters let us realize that we are all God’s children. We are all broken people, but we are all loved equally by God. In fact, you cannot do anything to make God love you more than He loves your right now. As one pastor said it once, “God knows all about you, and He loves you just the same.” Let us this week seek God, grow in faith, and love all people as children of God. Praise God and Amen.

RWJ/Pottersville UMC 09/16/12 Sermon - “Would you deny Him” (Growing in faith series, Part 3 of 6)

Sunday 09/16/12 RWJ/Pottersville UMC

Sermon: “Would you deny Him?”

(Growing in faith series, Part 3 of 6)

Scripture Lesson: Proverbs 1:20-33                           

Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:27-38           

 

          Good morning brothers and sisters! I greet you in the name our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you have all had a blessed week and I am happy to be worshipping with you here this morning!

          This morning I am continuing on in my six part series called the “Growing in faith series.” In my first week of this series I talked about how as a church we need to do our best to “Walk our faith vs. talking our faith.” I talked about how if our churches were full of people who gave generously then we would have more than enough resources to serve the community and meet the needs of those who are without. I talked about how the Christian Church could fully take care of the needs of the poor and be the strong center of this community if we really worked at it. Last week, I talked about how “Faith without works in dead.” Specifically, I talked about how if we are going to fully live the gospel of Jesus Christ that we must do good things for the Lord. We must serve the Lord and do good things for others, because almighty God has called us to love others in the name of Jesus Christ. When we give we receive, and we should do good things for others, because we love to serve the Lord. We are so blessed when we give, and we should give freely because the Lord so freely gives to us and blesses us.

          Today the title of my sermon is “Would you deny Him?” By the title of this, I mean would we deny Jesus Christ? When I say deny Him, we might think of a variety of things. We can think of the Apostle Peter, when he denied Him three times. We can think of the Apostle Thomas when he doubted Jesus. When he said, that he would not believe unless he put his own fingers in the nail holes and spear wound of Jesus Christ. What up about the rich man that refused to sell everything he had and follow Jesus? In fact, in the gospel according to Mathew in chapter 19:16-22, it says:

          “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

Jesus then said in verse 24 of the same chapter, “Again I tell you, 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." In this instance the rich man denied Jesus Christ. He denied the savior, the Messiah. This does not mean that we all have to sell everything we own and give all of our money to the poor to follow Jesus Christ. I think some people like missionaries are called to do that, and the rest of us are able to support those folks called to these special ministries.

          While these are big examples of denying Jesus Christ though, don’t we all deny Him at times? In the reading today from the book of Proverbs it talked about seeking wisdom from God. I think that we need to listen to the still small voice of the Lord, and that we need to seek him in all things. For if we don’t listen for Him, than how can we truly follow Him? In the Gospel reading this morning from Mark, Jesus said to one of His disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They gave all sorts of answers, such as John the Baptist, Elijah, and a prophet. The apostle Peter however, said to Jesus “You are the Messiah.” Later in the scripture, Jesus then said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up there cross and follow me.” Jesus then goes on to say, “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?”

          So Peter said that Jesus was the savior, the Messiah. What did Jesus mean though, when He said, “take up there cross and follow me?” Jesus I think was calling not just for believers, but for disciples. What is the difference you might ask? Believers have accepted Jesus Christ as there Lord and savior, but disciples live for the Lord. You see we can accept the Lord, or we can live for the Lord. I think many people in many instances have learned a Christianity that is centered on the idea created by our Methodist Church founder John Wesley, called “Cheap grace.” When we merely accept the Lord, and that’s it, it’s cheap grace. We have accepted Him in our hearts, but not fully, it’s cheap grace.

          When we embody “Cheap grace” we deny Him. When we see someone suffering and we can help them and we don’t, we deny Him. If we seek to serve our own interests and our wants, not others, or the church, what difference will that make if we as Jesus Christ said, “Gain the whole world and lose our own soul?” I don’t visit the sick and shut-ins for example, just because I am supposed to, but because if I don’t I deny Him? Because I love Him and all of you so much, I do what I do. Not because this is a job, not because I love to drive 4-hours to get here, but because I serve the Lord. But do we really trust Jesus Christ? I mean really trust Him?

          Last night at the RWJ Johnsburg UMC we had our first movie night. We saw a great Christian film called “Facing the Giants.” I arrived early to attempt to try to navigate the technology for the movie. Luckily I had help! I then went into the basement to pop some popcorn for the movie night. The church basement had several people in it toiling and decorating for my welcoming party this afternoon. I was so touched by the fact that these loving people of the Lord sacrificed their time and energies for my wife and I. Melissa and I have felt truly loved by you all since we have been here. Well I have anyway. You will have to ask my wife herself!

          I also had a large clergy meeting yesterday with our district superintendent Rev. Bill Mudge. I joked with Bill and said, “You know Bill my wife and I would move up here full-time if you would give me a bigger position.” Bill knew I was joking of course, and he knew that I want to stay at the two churches I am pasturing as long as possible. Bill then smiled and said though, “I’m not planning on moving you from those churches anytime soon, because they love you too much.” I then smartly looked at him and said, “Well I guess the checks I gave them have cleared then!” Being the youngest clergy person by far at this meeting by at least 20-years, Bill wanted my insight for the clergy group as to how to grow our churches.

          Here is what I said to him. I said “first of all, I don’t just want people to come to church I want disciples of Jesus Christ. I want committed Christians who want to change this community in name of Jesus Christ.” He then said, “Well Paul how do you think we do that?” I then said, “We love each other radically in the name of Jesus Christ.” He then said, “What do you mean radically?” I then said, “Bill we love everyone that comes into this church. We love them whether there drunks, drug addicts, covered head to toe in tattoos, black, white, purple, big, small, or anything else.” I then said, “And we do this, because every human being on this earth was crafted at the potter’s wheel of Almighty God, and because died for us all. If we are all creations of God, then Jesus died for all of us, and who are we to judge someone else? For when we don’t welcome all people into the house of the Lord to worship Him, then we deny Him. When we judge someone who comes in here, and we think we are better than them, then we deny Him. When we decide that certain people’s sins are greater than others, then we deny Him.” To God, I believe that sin is sin, is sin. I do not believe that there are degrees of sin. I believe all sin is sin. I think that if we seek to grow our faith and to grow our great church, that we must do this with the radical love of Jesus Christ. We should seek to live the gospel of loving God and our neighbor, and through us may people see Him. Imagine if every person we saw for the rest of the day today in our minds looked like Jesus Christ. What if, to take it a step further, we literally thought that every person we saw today was in fact Jesus Christ? How would we treat them? How would we love them? What if the homeless man on the street is really an angel from heaven? Do we deny Him? Are we really ready to love like this?

          I envision a church and a faith were people love all people who come through the door of the church, a church where we really and truly love people for Jesus Christ. Whenever we don’t love someone, then we deny Him. A church where we boldly and unapologetically preach the Word and where we are all loved greatly. A church where you are comfortable here, a church you love coming to, a place of peace, a place of joy, a place of family. When we don’t strive for all of these things, do we not deny Him?

          I want to close today with a good story. The story concerns a Christian monastery that had fallen upon hard times. Once a great order, as a result of waves of anti-monastic persecution in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the rise of secularism in the nineteenth, all its branch houses were lost and it had become decimated to the extent that there were only five monks left in the decaying mother house: the abbot and four others, all over seventy in age. Clearly it was a dying order.

          In the deep woods surrounding the monastery there was a little hut that a rabbi from a nearby town occasionally used for a hermitage dwelling. Through their many years of prayer and contemplation the old monks had become more spiritually aware, so they could always seem sense when the rabbi was in his hermitage. "The rabbi is in the woods, the rabbi is in the woods again " they would whisper to each other. As he agonized over the imminent death of his order, it occurred to the abbot at one such time to visit the hermitage and ask the rabbi if by some possible chance he could offer any advice that might save the monastery.

          The rabbi welcomed the abbot at his hermitage hut. But when the abbot explained the purpose of his visit, the rabbi could only commiserate with him. "I know how it is," he exclaimed. "The spirit has gone out of the people. It is the same in my town. Almost no one comes to the Jewish synagogue anymore." So the old abbot and the old rabbi wept together. Then they read parts of the Torah or the Old Testament and quietly spoke of deep things. The time came when the abbot had to leave. They embraced each other. "It has been a wonderful thing that we should meet after all these years, "the abbot said, "but I have still failed in my purpose for coming here. Is there nothing you can tell me, no piece of advice you can give me that would help me save my dying order?"

          "No, I am sorry," the rabbi responded. "I have no advice to give. The only thing I can tell you is that the Messiah is one of you."

          When the abbot returned to the monastery his fellow monks gathered around him to ask, "Well what did the rabbi say?" "He couldn't help," the abbot answered. "We just wept and read the Torah or Old Testament together. The only thing he did say, just as I was leaving --it was something cryptic-- was that the Messiah is one of us. I don't know what he meant."

          In the days and weeks and months that followed, the old monks pondered this and wondered whether there was any possible significance to the rabbi's words. The Messiah is one of us? Could he possibly have meant one of us monks here at the monastery? If that's the case, which one? Do you suppose he meant the abbot? Yes, if he meant anyone, he probably meant Father Abbot. He has been our leader for more than a generation. On the other hand, he might have meant Brother Thomas. Certainly Brother Thomas is a holy man. Everyone knows that Thomas is a man of light. Certainly he could not have meant Brother Elred! Elred gets crotchety at times. But come to think of it, even though he is a thorn in people's sides, when you look back on it, Elred is virtually always right. Often very right. Maybe the rabbi did mean Brother Elred. But surely not Brother Phillip. Phillip is so passive, a real nobody. But then, almost mysteriously, he has a gift for somehow always being there when you need him. He just magically appears by your side. Maybe Phillip is the Messiah. Of course the rabbi didn't mean me. He couldn't possibly have meant me. I'm just an ordinary person. Yet supposing he did? Suppose I am the Messiah? O God, not me. I couldn't be that much for You, could I?

          As they contemplated in this manner, the old monks began to treat each other with extraordinary respect on the off chance that one among them might be the Messiah. And on the off chance that each monk himself might be the Messiah, they began to treat themselves with extraordinary respect.

          Because the forest in which it was situated was beautiful, it so happened that people still occasionally came to visit the monastery to picnic on its tiny lawn, to wander along some of its paths, even now and then to go into the dilapidated chapel to meditate. As they did so, without even being conscious of it, they sensed the aura of extraordinary respect that now began to surround the five old monks and seemed to radiate out from them and permeate the atmosphere of the place. There was something strangely attractive, even compelling, about it. Hardly knowing why, they began to come back to the monastery more frequently to picnic, to play, to pray. They began to bring their friends to show them this special place. And their friends brought their friends.

          Then it happened that some of the younger men who came to visit the monastery started to talk more and more with the old monks. After a while one asked if he could join them. Then another. And another. So within a few years the monastery had once again become a thriving order and, thanks to the rabbi's gift, a vibrant center of light and spirituality in the realm.

          What is the point of this story brothers and sisters? How do we love each other to grow in our faith, and to grow our church? What if, just what if you are the Messiah? Or you? What if the man you see on the street corner today is the Messiah? Let’s go forth this week, treating everyone so wonderfully because they could all be the Messiah. Praise God and Amen.

RWJ/Pottersville UMC 09/09/12 Sermon - “Faith without works is dead” (Growing in faith series, Part 2 of 6)

Sunday 09/09/12 RWJ/Pottersville UMC

Sermon: “Faith without works is dead”

(Growing in faith series, Part 2 of 6)

Scripture Lesson: James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17

Gospel Lesson: Mark 7:24-37      

 

          Good morning brothers and sisters! I greet you in the name our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you have all had a blessed week and I am happy to be worshipping with you here this morning!

          This morning I am continuing on in my six part series called the “Growing in faith series.” In the first part of this six part series I talked about “Walking your faith vs. Talking your faith.”  In this message, I spoke about how the Christian Church as a collective whole can better live out its mission for Jesus Christ. That if we as a church and a community of believers truly walk our faith, then we could make sure all those who are disadvantaged and struggling would be looked after. If more people who believe, but are not in the church, would come and take up the cross of Jesus Christ with us daily, we could really change this community and the world for Jesus Christ!

          This morning though, I want to talk about serving people, as I did last week, but specifically I want to talk more about what we do as individuals. I want to address the incorrect idea that we can work our way to heaven. That whoever does the most good deeds for the Lord is the winner in heaven. That Jesus has a “Good Deeds” ticker, and we are somewhere are that numbers board. Given this then, how do we get to heaven? What purpose if any do we do good works? As the scripture from the Book of James said this morning, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?” In this scripture, I think James is saying faith is good, but why stop at just faith? I mean after all, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior we have salvation don’t we? According to Paul’s Epistle or letter to the Romans in chapter 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness combined with our faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We know then that faith is enough. By faith we accept the grace of almighty God, and we are justified before the Father on the Day of Judgment.

          Here is what I don’t understand though? How can some believers, know God, accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, and do nothing with that? I mean most believers know what Jesus has done for us, know what Jesus did for countless people while he was alive on this earth, and yet some of us are content to just keep our faith locked up in a small box in our house. On the other end of the stick, some people feel inclined to do good works for the Lord day and night, feeling they are never good enough before almighty God. For me, I do the good works I do, not because I am seeking good favor from people, not for a pat on the back from people, but I do what I do because I feel compelled by almighty God to serve. How can we be saved by Jesus Christ, and not have an inner drive to serve and love one another? In accepting the life saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are we not filled? Are we not loved beyond all comprehension?

          I serve not because I seek favor from people, not because I am trying to over write old wrongs or old sins, but I serve because Jesus Christ has called me by name. He has said, “Paul my son, will you serve my people?” “Will you as scripture says, “feed my sheep?” I hear Jesus whispering to me in moments of doubt, “live my Gospel.” “Feed my sheep.” Do I believe that if the Lord took me home right now that I would be justified before Him, because of my faith in Him? Even, if I had no good works? I do. I can imagine the Lord looking at me in heaven lovingly in such a moment though, saying “Paul you had faith in me, so you may enter. Hey Paul, just one thing though before you enter though?” Then I turn back and say, “Yes Lord?” Then He says, “Paul why did you not do any of the kind and loving things that I taught you to do? Paul did you not love me enough to serve my people? Was my sacrifice not enough for you?” James in his epistle or letter, said “But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” Good works do not get us to heaven brothers and sisters, but if they are done for the Lord and the Lord alone, the Lord will bless us for this service. I can imagine the Lord saying in this instance when I enter heaven. “Paul you weren’t perfect. You were a sinner. You could have done more, but you did so much to serve me. Well done my good and faithful servant! Enter into glory my son!”

          Let me tell you something about me. I love it, I love, when I see someone’s faith grow. I love it when I see tears of joy roll down someone’s checks because they know Him! Many of us in this church might feel like all we do is serve the church, and that we do, is do, and do some more. You know at the Moravia/Locke United Methodist Church that my wife and I attended for seven years before I came here, I served in a multitude of ways. I ran youth groups, taught Sunday school, lay lead, preached, ran car washes, was part of the United Methodist Men’s Club, and I did many other things. I didn’t receive any pay for any of this work, other than baked goods from the women in the church! This was actually a pretty good payment though! I thought at the time that always did what I did for the Lord and the Lord alone! Sometimes though, now looking back, I realize that I did some of what I did, out of obligation. Or out of a desire to get an earthly pat on back. There were times when I told Melissa, “honey I’m tired out.” I have been “doing and doing for the church, and I am tired out.” I felt like the work I was doing was all for not. In fact, I said to my wife at times, “why am I doing all of this for the church?” She in her great wisdom and higher intelligence then mine said, “I don’t Paul why are you?” I mean it’s a competition is it? Whoever serves the most wins right?

          No this is not true, and instead we should serve because almighty God has called us serve Him. In the Gospel of Mark reading this morning, Jesus cast out an unclean spirit in a girl, and made a deaf man hear and speak clearly. Jesus healed, feed, loved, rose people from the dead, and restored hope where hope was lost.

          We can’t be Jesus 100%, but we can seek to be like Him. We can love each other, preach the Gospel, and serve the needs of our neighbors. For the Gospel says plainly when Jesus spoke the greatest commandment. In the Gospel of Mathew 22:37-39, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Many of you here today might say though, well pastor what of sin? What of judgment? Make no mistake scripture says that our sin, and our wrongs will be held to account on the Day of Judgment but we know we are as the Book of Romans says, “Justified by faith.” While we must constantly seek to not sin and repent to the Lord daily, we are justified by faith. So you can see then how it is easy to over serve, and I’m sure you can also see how it’s possible to under serve. You might say then, “What is the best method Pastor for doing good works?” Here is my answer to you. Number one always start with daily prayer, and take a moment of you own personal silence everyday to listen for the Lord. In fact, tonight throw your shoes under your bed tonight. This way when you get up tomorrow morning, you will have to start your day on your knees. As I heard a preacher say once, “When you are on your knees your taller than trees.” Second read the scriptures every day, and third be with the people of God. In the process of all that, do what the Lord has led you to do! Don’t go crazy with service if you have not been called to! If you do you will just burn yourself out, and then you will not be any good to anybody. Even Jesus in the Gospels took time to rest. Sometimes the Gospels would say things like “Jesus went off on his own and rested.” “Or Jesus took some of the apostles and rested.”

          You see the point of this sermon is that we cannot work our way to heaven. Heaven according to scripture is open if you but believe. We do however think that baptism and communion is essential. By being baptized you are part of the church, and by taking communion you are spiritually fed. In my mind these two are not negotiable. They are required for moving towards the fullness of our faith. This is why I think many folks who are not church folks, often still get their children baptized, because they see the necessity of it. I know an older pastor who used to joke around by saying, “If you have a new family with young children that you don’t want in your church, and you want to get rid of them, baptize their kids.” I said to that pastor, “Well what does that mean?” He of course was joking, but he said, “Sometimes in my churches a young family would start to attend for awhile, and after baptizing their sons or daughters, they would stop coming.” People didn’t want to take their faith to the fullness of what Jesus Christ wanted.

          You see, just because many don’t come to church, I still think many out there believe. Yet many have accepted this baseline faith in Jesus Christ. They say, “I believe.” Yet they might not be involved in any of the charities and good works of the church. Jesus’ brother James would probably say to them, “you faith is dead if you don’t live it.” You see we serve the Lord not for “Heavenly brownie points,” but because he has called us to serve. To me this in an entirely different way of looking at good works, and one that is not seen as “working our way to heaven.” We serve not to get to heaven, not because we fear condemnation, not to cover all our old sins, but because the love of Jesus Christ has swelled up in us and has compelled us to love and serve others! We should preach the Gospel not out of fear, but because scripture says, “there is no condemnation for those who believe in Christ Jesus.”

          I want to serve Him daily. Not because I hope to get a bigger mansion in heaven, because I am born again, I am a new creation in the Lord! He has changed my heart, my mind, and my soul! I am compelled to serve Him! Jesus gave everything to me and continues to. If I did not serve Him with works, I would feel like an imposter.

          I put on these glasses, these silly glasses, to prove a point. You can see through this pair of funny glasses. You can see the reality. Jesus can also see the reality. Jesus wants us to grow in our faith. Jesus wants us to grow closer to Him, and one of the ways we do so is by serving Him. You see works don’t get us into heaven, but they can grow our faith. They can make us more Christ like. I remember when Billy Graham’s wife died, and he said something like, “There is no doubt in my mind that my wife has a mansion in heaven. I just hope she has saved one bedroom for me.” I have debated this with other Christians. Are there different rewards in heaven? Will Mother Theresa for example, have a bigger mansion in heaven than me? Maybe she will. I get to go to heaven though. You see our good works don’t get us to heaven, as we can all get to heaven. Does God reward us in heaven though differently for our service?” I think so, but I agree with Billy Graham, that a room in my wife’s mansion would be good enough! So let us this week try to do just one more nice thing for someone else. Imagine if we all did more acts of random kindness for each other. Imagine if the love of Jesus spread, imagine what it would do to the hearts, minds, and souls of these communities. We are His hands and His feet. Let us do good works, but do them because we are called to do them, not because we are obligated or told we have to do them. Let us do them for Jesus and Jesus alone. You see this picture. We serve because of Him and because of Him alone.

          I want to close today with a short funny story. An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the old man had carved on one of his rowboat oars the word “faith” and on the other rowboat oar the word “works.” Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man, being a well balanced Christian and glad of the opportunity for testimony, said, “I will show you.” So, he dropped the oar named “faith” in the water and pulled the other oar called “works” out of the water. They went around in circles. Then he dropped the oar in the water named “works” and began to pull the oar called “faith” out of the water, and the little boat went around in circles again---this time the other direction, but still in a circle. After this demonstration the old man picked up Faith and Works, and putting both oars together in the water, sped swiftly over the water, explaining to his inquiring passengers, “you see, that is the way it is in the Christian life. Dead works without faith are useless, and faith without works is dead also, getting you nowhere. But faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress, and blessing.

          This week brothers and sisters let us do one more nice thing for someone else, but not just to do it. Let us do one more thing for someone this week, and may we do the thing we do this because God has called us to so. Because brothers and sisters “Faith without works is dead.” Praise be to the Lord. Amen.

RWJ/Pottersville UMC 09/02/12 Sermon - “Walking your faith vs. Talking your faith” (Growing in faith series, Part 1 of 6)

Sunday 09/02/12 RWJ/Pottersville UMC

Sermon: “Walking your faith vs. Talking your faith”

(Growing in faith series, Part 1 of 6)

Scripture Lesson: Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Gospel Lesson: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

          Good morning brothers and sisters! I greet you in the name our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you have all had a blessed week and I am happy to be worshipping with you here this morning!

          This morning I am starting a series called the “Growing in faith series.” The first of six parts of this series is called “Walking your faith vs. Talking your faith.” It is certainly true that on Sunday morning we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and praise God. Yet, this is a safe place to do so isn’t it? We won’t be persecuted here. After all, this is the house of almighty God, and this is where we come to worship Him. What do we do out there in the world though? Are we as reverent out there in the world, as we are in this place? Why is it so easy to talk the faith, but not walk the faith? After all, the Apostle Paul struggled with this reality? The Apostle Paul said in his Epistle to the Romans in chapter 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” You see just like the Apostle Paul we struggle to walk the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Walking our faith is challenging at times, especially in our very individualistic culture. We seem to live in a culture sometimes that doesn’t show any caring and compassion for anyone.

          What if though, we made sure as a church that our poor were taken care of? What if we made sure that our poor were clothed? What if we were able to house our poor? You see next week, I am going to be talking about why we do good works for Jesus Christ, but this week I am talking more on the large scale or holistically. What I am asking is why we need the government to take care of our poor? Why can’t we do it? This is a tough question. What if this and other churches had a surge in membership? What if these new members gave generously? What if there time, there gifts and graces, and there resources were used to build the kingdom of God in this and the surrounding communities? What if, many people went to this church, and what if we all gave generously? Would need as many government social programs? Could we take care of people better, cheaper, and more efficiently than the government? I believe we can, as the church did it for years. Don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating that the government should not help poor, I have just seen the system we live in, and it is broken. It has become bloated and ineffective. Where are the people of God in all of this?

          My concern in the modern day is that many people in this country no longer put their faith in Almighty God, but rather they put their faith in the government or the State. For many Americans, the State has become God, as many longer come to God and his church when they are in need, but they go to the State. The State will provide for them, and as a result faith according to many people is not needed. The erosion of our churches, our church memberships have all had the result of less giving and less serving. Certainly these needs in our communities are still highly evident. Who has assumed these needs in the place of God’s Church though? The Christian Church has been largely replaced I believe by the State, because for many in America, the State has become God. Many people might say “In the State we trust,” not “In God we trust.” I remember a couple of years ago learning about the YMCA. Has anyone here ever been to the YMCA? When I was youth worker for a non-profit organization I took some of my kids there all the time! We had a lot of fun, and it kept my boys out of trouble. I didn’t realize until a couple of years of ago that the YMCA means the Young Men’s Christian’s Association. Did anyone know that? When I went into a YMCA a couple of years ago though, I looked through all of their literature. This included literature on the YMCA, there programs, and etc. Yet at this particular YMCA that I visited, I couldn’t find anywhere the title the “Young Men’s Christian Association” anywhere in the literature. I was really perplexed by this. I remember a few weeks later I heard the song “YMCA” by the Village People. I am not going to be singing and dancing to this song in this sermon, just to let you know! In that song though, as many of you know the lyrics say, “You can get yourself clean, you have a good meal.”

          I remember calling my step-father Mike Therio and asking him, “why do the Village people say this in the “YMCA” song? I mean I have never seen the YMCA do that.” Mike told me that the “YMCA used to do this.” In fact, he said that “they could even house you for the night, you could also eat there, and you could clean up and shower there.” I in no way want to demonize the YMCA, but I have never seen a YMCA that offers these sorts of services. The question though is why do we no longer provide these charitable services? I think there are two reasons for this. One, people don’t give like they used to, and two this function of the Young Men’s Christians Association has been assumed by the State. There are some YMCA’s that still seem to espouse a Christian image, but I personally have yet to see one myself.

          Here is another example of this type of situation. Let’s look at the institution of Catholic Charities, which I greatly love and support. My good friend in Pine City, NY the Rev. Bill Vallet is the Senior Pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue United Methodist Church. This church is right near Elmira. Many of the folks near the church have significant struggles with poverty. Through his church, they have a food pantry and a food program that literally feeds 137 families a week! This ministry literally feeds large and small families a meager diet every week of everything they need to get by! In working in conjunction with Catholic Charities and other organizations, this church literally gets pallet after pallet of food in every week. You see they feed the poor. Here is the reality though, from what I have learned, most Catholic Charities are about 60-70% funded by the government. You can check this and correct me if I am in error. Why is this funding situation the reality though? Because Christians don’t give anymore like they used to, so we have conceded this to the government or the State, as well.

          We live in a country with many believers who find it unnecessary to attend church, serve the church, support the church, or be connected to the church in any way. Yet many of these very same people are angered at our rates of taxation, constant fees for everything, and restricted rights and freedoms. Yet many of these people of faith, who watch a re-run of a “Billy Graham Crusade for Christ” in there recliner on Sunday morning think they are being faithful Christians. While we might have faith, and have the salvation of Jesus, are we walking our faith? Do you think if we had lower taxes, and higher church memberships and giving, that our country would be much better off? To me know, and maybe it is just my opinion, the trend is going in the other direction.

          We must continue to reach out to people and invite them to church. In fact, I would ask that everyone here this morning invite at least one person to church next Sunday. If that person enjoys the service ask them to come back, and then invite someone else! Imagine if we had many new people, and imagine if all of these new people were willing to give of their time, their gifts and talents, and their resources. Could we effectively provide for many of the needs of our people in this and the surrounding communities? We need massive government and bloated system of taxation, which clearly isn’t working? I know for some of you this is a tough topic, but the reality is there will always be people in need. The question is then, is how do we address this need? Do we continue to raise taxes, do we continue to concede more power to the State, or would we rather have strong thriving churches that provide for the needy? Imagine we had soup kitchens, several massive food pantries, housing options, and other essentials. If provided educational programs in the church to educate and train people to re-enter the work force. I know that many churches used to have these programs. I know that on some level this is to a great extent what the Adirondack Community Center is doing. The question though, is can the Christian Church take care of the people who need it?

          I believe we can, as we have in the past. When we truly walk our faith, we go to church, we are actively part of the church, and serve the community. For many of us here, I am really not talking to you here this morning, this is more to challenge or grow our faiths. I am more talking to those people who are not here this morning. This is where we come in. Let’s preach the Gospel to them, invite them to church, and show them our faith in Jesus Christ! Do we believe that God and His Church can do great things? Are we willing to invite people to church and serve them?

          There is a man in the church I used to attend before coming here named Ed. Ed is physically disabled and had a fence in his yard that was in bad shape. The United Methodist Men’s club became aware of this fact, and decided to go down and repair Ed’s fence. Ed as it turns out had grown up in the church, but stop going when he felt that church didn’t really do much to help people. Ed was so touched by this service to Him by our United Methodist Men’s club, that he attended our church one Sunday. The people were so kind to Him that he eventually joined the church. Ed is by no means a rich man, and by those men serving Him, he saw Jesus Christ in them. He was brought back to faith, and is now active in the church. The more we are able to serve our poor and struggling, the more we truly walk our faith. For we are living the Gospel, and showing what Jesus Christ has done for us!

          You see I think that many people in the modern day feel that church doesn’t care. That the church isn’t concerned about them. The reality is we are, and we want all people in this community and surrounding communities to be transformed by Jesus Christ and work to make our communities better! The problem though is that many churches like this are small, and you brothers and sisters already do so much for God and His church. In fact, some of you probably feel burnt out at times by your very active service to the church. If some of those folks who believe yet never go to church became active in the church though, imagine what we could do. This reality has nothing to do with me, but in reality has to do with this and surrounding communities saying, “Wow that church practices what it preaches.” We then as one pastor put it once, “love people into the Kingdom of God.” The Christian Church used to provide for the poor, and I think we can do it again, do it better, and do it more efficiently than the State!

          I don’t want you think that I am anti-government, but instead I am pro-God, and pro-church. I think in the modern day many live in fear in this country. We worry about losing our homes, about money, our health, the future, and etc. When someone moves into the neighborhood most people rarely great that neighbor anymore and like a good Methodist bring them a covered dish! Instead many fear and worry about who or what that new neighbor is. If people put their dependence in God and His church though, we then become a community of faith. We see the needs of others, and we give what we can. If we have food we give to those who need it, and we essentially become more of barters. This does not mean that everyone will get rich or not have to work. We have to work, because isn’t that why God created Adam for? God created him to work the garden. I think though, that no one should go hungry in this community or any community! I think the church if it were strong again could provide for our people! I mean after all what did we do years ago? You might not have been rich, but likely had food, some clothes, and usually a roof over your head. You had the basics. I think a strong Christian Church community could provide these basics, and I think we could do it better than the State!

          We must as our scripture reading says from the Song of Solomon this morning view the beauty of God coming! We must trust the Lord, and we must see His greatness! We must believe, and “Walk by faith, not by sight.” We must walk our faith, by encouraging and sharing our faith with others. We must show people why we live the Gospel. Why we serve the Lord! In the Gospel reading today Jesus challenges the Pharisees on eating with “defiled” or unclean hands. You see Jesus ate with sinners, fed the 5,000, and promised us our daily bread. We are not promised great wealth, a mansion, and 5 cars. Rather we promised our daily bread, God’s grace, fellowship, and Lord willing a roof over our head. I often wonder brothers and sisters what would happen if our churches were filled and all of these new people gave generously? Would we have enough to care for our people? Could God’s church accomplish this goal? I believe it can. I believe our communities would once again be strong and more self-reliant.

           I want to close this morning with a story about walking our faith. This story was told to me in my seminary summer class by our teacher. Dr. Len Erb. Dr. Erb has devoted his whole life to Jesus Christ and serving the poor. We were debating in class one night in June on how to best serve the poor, help the poor improve, get the poor to work, and to solve our problem of people being dependent of the government. Dr. Erb said something remarkable in this debate. He said, as some students were saying we don’t have enough social spending, while others were saying to cut almost social spending, he said, “what about God’s church.” I said what do you mean Dr. Erb? He smiled as said, “what about God’s church?” I said, “Look Dr. Erb I am sure all of us in this country would like to greatly reduce social spending, but we will always have poverty. If we don’t give people the basics, then are prisons will continue grow bigger and bigger. It is an unfixable problem.”     Dr. Erb then smiled and said again, “What about the church Paul?” I said Dr. Erb, “most of our churches are small and are struggling, and no offense sir, but what do you mean our churches?” He said, “Paul our churches can provide for the welfare of our poor.” I said to Dr. Erb, and I can’t believe I said this, “No offense sir, but how would you know?” This is bad thing to say to man who has been in ministry for over 40-years! What he then said completely blew my mind. He said, “Paul my wife and I raised three children in inner-city Syracuse serving the poor there for 30-years.” He then said, “I have seen the church serve the poor, seen people be changed in Christ. I have also seen the government time and time again come in and make a terrible mess of things.” He then said, “Paul why can’t we walk our faith, and put our trust in God and His church again? Can’t we provide for our own people?”

          Well as you can imagine, I ate a large helping of humble pie that night! I know these things might not be as simple as I am saying to you here this morning, but I pray for revival! I pray that we the people of God serve our poor and needy in the name of God and His church, versus a secular State. Ask yourselves as you go throughout your week “How I can I walk my faith better this week?” I would also challenge you this week to invite one person to church next Sunday. Next Sunday I will be talking about why specifically we do good works for God. Be blessed brothers and sisters, for He is risen! Amen!