Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - First Sunday of Advent - 11/30/14 Sermon - “Watch out! Stay Alert!” (“Signs He is coming” series: Part 1 of 5)

Sunday 11/30/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Watch out! Stay Alert!”

(“Signs He is coming” series: Part 1 of 5)          

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Gospel Lesson: Mark 13:24-37                     

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this the first Sunday of our Advent Season. The Advent Season is a season of anticipation in the Christian faith, because we await the Messiah, we await the savior. In fact, the word Advent in Latin, is “Adventus,” meaning “coming,” as we await Christ’s coming. In this way, we await the “coming” of the one who would come to teach us and show us a better way of living and of being. We await the one who would die for us, so that we may live. Advent then, is a season of waiting. A season of anticipation, as we say, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

          You see, in the times that Jesus was born into, the Jewish people, the Israelites lived under the oppressive yoke of the Roman Empire. For the lands that are in modern day Palestine and Israel were once a province of Rome. The people of Judea paid heavy taxes, they were told that they had to swear allegiance to the Caesar that ruled the Roman Empire at the time, and Judea was even ruled for a time by the Roman governor and prefect Pontius Pilot.

          The Roman Empire controlled and dominated the Jewish people and Judea. The people of Judea harkening the words of prophets like Isaiah and Micah, and harkening the world of the Psalms regarding the coming Messiah, were taking the prophetic claims from these and other books of scripture to look for the clues of the anticipated coming of the Messiah. When will Emmanuel come and save us, they said?

          In all of these ways, in this Advent Season, and into Christmas Eve, I am beginning a sermon series today, called the “He is coming” series. I call this sermon series, the “He is coming” series, because Advent and Christmas is about the hope and the urgency of the Messiah coming to release the captives, to give sight to the blind, to heal the sick, to change the world, and to die for us.

          Advent and Christmas then, for many of us are seasons of hope, of joy, of anticipation, and of rebirth, as we await “Emmanuel” the promised one, the one who would change the world forever.

          With all of this said, the first part of this five part series is called “Watch out! Stay Alert!” For Christ commands us in this morning’s gospel reading to be watchful and alert of God’s presence in this world, of him, and of his second coming.

I remember reading a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in which he spoke about “the fierce urgency of now,” in reference to civil rights for African-Americans. In fact, Dr. King said this, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”

          You see if Christ is really our standard, if he is really the center of our lives, then we are called to live and do the things he taught us, right now, as tomorrow is not promised to any of us. We therefore, need to embrace in our own individual contexts, as Dr. King said, “the fierce urgency of now.”

          When Ebola broke out in parts of Africa, the United Methodist Church responded immediately. When our brothers and sisters in the Buffalo area got buried in snow recently, our United Methodist Church conference responded almost immediately. For we realized “the fierce urgency of now.” Do we this morning realize “the fierce urgency of now?

          So while Jesus is coming soon to save the world, his actual birth already happened over 2,000 years ago. Many in Jesus’ era were awaiting his birth, yet we are merely awaiting the memory of his birth, as he was born, and already did all that he did.

The only thing that we have yet to see then, is the return of Christ. If one believes that Christ will return to this earth in accordance with the scriptures, then this is what we are being “watchful” and “alert” for. We called to be “watchful” and “alert,” for “the fierce urgency of now.”

          Yet, within all of this, we still are called by Christ to build God’s kingdom until his return. You see, if we truly profess to believe that Jesus Christ will return in glory one day, then this does not let us off the hook to build God’s kingdom in the here and the now, as we await his kingdom to come.

          Until we die and leave this earth, or until the Lord returns then, we must daily live with a sense of “the fierce urgency of now.” We must continue daily to give our lives and our hearts over to the risen Christ, and we must then work to build his kingdom, as we await his kingdom to come.

          Building this kingdom means feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, loving all of God’s people, regardless of who or what they are, and building communities and a world, where we can strive to have peace, love, and prosperity.

          While I don’t think that we will ever fully get there until the Lord returns though, we are called to build a world of justice, equity, and balance, and we are called to do it now. A world where we do everything possible to avoid war and violence, a world where no one starves, no one is sold into slavery, and grace, peace, mercy, and justice prevail.

          As we “Watch out!” and “Stay Alert!” the Advent and Christmas seasons draws our hearts and our minds into a season of waiting, hoping, praying, and yearning for a new world, a better world. This season then calls us into a time of being kind, generous, and loving.

          During this time of the year we tend to give more, we tend to feed more people, and etc., because after all “it is Christmas” we say. Imagine in this Advent Season, and this soon to be Christmas Season, if we lived like this every single day. Imagine if we lived like the Lord of life was to return at any minute every day.

          My brothers and sisters, in this Advent Season, let us embrace “the fierce urgency of now,” as we are “watchful” and “alert” for the birth and the return of the Lord.

          In Jesus Christ then, I am restored, I am renewed, and I am freed to love all of God’s children better, no matter who or what they are. This is the promise of the soon to be coming king, this is the hope we have in him, and in his kingdom.

          Our scripture readings from this morning, first begin with a reading from Psalm 80. In this Psalm the people of Israel are calling to God to, “Come save us!,” and to “Restore us God.” The Psalmist says of God, “Make your face shine so that we can be saved!”

          Towards the end of this Psalm reading, the Psalmist says, “Revive us so that we can call on your name. Restore us, Lord God of heavenly forces!”

          This morning we also have a reading from Apostle Paul’s first Epistle or letter to the Church in the city of Corinth. In this reading, Paul begins by saying, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul then tells the church in Corinth, or the Corinthians, that he thanks God for the grace that is in them, through Jesus Christ. Paul tells the Corinthians that their faith and witness to Jesus Christ is powerful and authentic. The Apostle Paul then says, “The result is that you aren’t missing any spiritual gift while you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” The Apostle Paul then says, “He will also confirm your testimony about Christ until the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Apostle Paul then concludes this portion of his first Epistle or letter to the church in Corinth by saying, “God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

          We must live therefore, sacrificially, and for others, as Jesus Christ has filled us, has transformed us, and has called us to make the world in his image, as we await his return. For how can we “Watch out!,” and “Stay Alert!,” if we truly do not strive to do and be all that Jesus Christ has called us to do and be?

          In our gospel reading from the gospel of Mark from this morning, Jesus in part quoting the prophet Isaiah speak in an apocalyptic sense. He speaks of the world ending as we know it. This “Olivet Discourse” as it is called, is the apocalyptic words of Christ found in the gospel of Mark, Luke, and Matthew. These three locations of these scripture in these three gospels or the “Olivet Discourse,” is where Jesus discusses the end of the world, or the apocalypse.

Some people struggle with apocalyptic literature though, yet science even tells us that our Sun in our solar system has only so much fuel in it. While it might take billions of years, one day our Sun will cool, grow bigger, expand, and literally consume the entire earth in the process. One day then, regardless of your scientific or theological perspective, the world as we know it will come to an end.

          Jesus says in this gospel reading from Mark this morning, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.” That God is forever, but we are not, and this world is not. Jesus says, “nobody knows when the day or hours will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. Watch out! Stay alert!” Jesus concludes this scripture reading by saying “Stay alert!”         

          In this season of Advent or “coming” then, do we look beyond just the presents, beyond just the shiny wrapping paper, to see that a baby is coming? A baby that many will come to see, a baby that will change the world. A baby that will teach us about “the fierce urgency of now.” A baby that said, “Watch out! Stay Alert!,” for I am coming soon.

          I would like to close this message with a quote from one of my heroes and favorite theologians, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was one the many that stood up to the Nazi empire during World War II.

          Here is what brother Dietrich said in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, “Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” 
          So my brothers and sisters, let us in this Advent season embrace “the fierce urgency of now,” and let us “Watch out!,” and “Stay alert!” Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Christ the King Sunday - 11/23/14 Sermon - “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you"

Sunday 11/23/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title:

“Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 100

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46

          My brothers and sisters, friends, welcome once again on this “Christ the King Sunday.” On this Sunday, we celebrate the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Messiah, the risen Christ. How fitting then it is to have “Christ the King Sunday” on this Sunday, the Sunday before the Advent Season begins. For the Advent Season is the season of waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ, which will occur in the Christmas Season.

          In a reflective and a prayerful way then, we focus this Sunday on Jesus Christ, who he is, what he represents, and what he means to us.

          On this Sunday, Jesus tells the parable or story of the “sheep and the goats” in the gospel of Matthew. This parable is literally discussing the reality that Christ will return to earth one day, and on that day he will separate out the righteous or “sheep,” from the “goats,” whom are the “evil, greedy, and wicked.”

          Certainly these words can be seen as harsh words from Christ the King, as this is title of what this Sunday is. Yet, does God really reject any of us? I don’t believe that God rejects anybody. I don’t believe that Jesus Christ rejected anybody. Do we reject God though?

          You see, the founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley believed that when Christ died on the cross, that it was an act of “Universal Atonement.” By “Universal Atonement,” Wesley argued, as most Christian Churches do, that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, it was for all persons, without exception, both past and present. This means that Jesus died for every human being that was or will ever live. That he died for us.

          All that is required of us then, is excepting Christ, and what he did for us, so that we may have rebirth, and live anew. In fact, when we truly put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, when we become one of his followers, we are filled with the love and the grace of God. We are changed from the inside to the outside, and we are then spiritually reborn.

          For many of us who have experienced this conversion of coming to Jesus, to accepting him as Lord and Savior, it was a powerful moment for us indeed. For in this moment that we really looked at ourselves in the mirror, we realized how broken we were, and how sinful we were. I have known some people that surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, to God, and experienced an amazing and an emotional out pouring. I have seen people have tears streaming down their faces, and their hands raised in surrender, as they came to the realization that the God of the Universe loves them. That God loves us so much, that he would come down to earth, take on flesh, and show us what love was by dying for us. That in him, all things are made knew. That him, all we have ever done is forgiven.

          In Jesus Christ then, we are offered forgiveness. We are offered rebirth and to be made new, to begin a process of being made into the image of the living God. To do this though, we must first be cleansed of our impurities, of our sins. Once we surrender to Christ and once we ask for forgiveness, if we are sincere, then everything bad we have done up to that moment is instantaneously removed and gone forever. In this moment the chains that bind us are gone, and were are freed up to, “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared” for us.

          For Jesus said, in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” You see our sins, our problems, weigh us down, don’t they. Our sins, our problems can eat us from the inside out if we are not careful. Yet Christ says in Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

          It does not mean that when we come to Christ that all of problems will go away, but it means that they are in the hands of the one who can do all things. I heard a Christian once say something really funny about worrying and struggling. He said, “Tell God all of your problems, then let him deal with them and go to bed, because he will be up all night anyway.”

          So many of us go through life carrying weights, hurts, regrets, and sins. Jesus says to all people, come unto to me. As the prophet Isaiah wrote in 1:18 “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

          So how many of us this morning feel like we have weights on us that are so heavy and so overwhelming, that we feel like we are drowning in a sea of hopelessness? Jesus said, come unto me.

          Jesus call us to repent, to “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.” All we need to do, is submit, let go, and let God take control of shattered lives, our shattered dreams, and our sin, and we will be given grace, peace, mercy, and salvation.

          When this occurs, we are at once loosened, and are freed to “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.”

          To me it is no mistake then that one of the lectionary readings from the Old Testament this morning is from Psalm 100. Psalm 100 begins by saying, “Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth.” Then in 100:2-3 it says, “Know that the LORD is God—he made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his own pasture.”

          The Psalmist then says in 100:4 that we should, “Enter his gates with thanks; enter his courtyards with praise! Thank him! Bless his name. The Psalmist ends this every short five verse Psalm in 100:5 by saying, “Because the LORD is good, his loyal love lasts forever; his faithfulness lasts generation after generation.”

          What I want to know this morning then, is do we claim the goodness of God, do we embrace the forgiveness we are offered by Christ the King, so that we may “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.” If we do, we are set free, and our faith then turns into action. Actions that led us feed the poor, to clothe the naked, to defend the helpless, and to serve the unfortunate. To change the world.

Oh brothers and sisters, are we free people today, or are we in bondage? I don’t know about you, but when I surrendered to God, to “Christ the King” this morning, as I do every morning, the Lord took my burdens, took my troubles, took my sins, and he said to me, “serve my people.” He says to me, “feed the hungry, and do all I have commanded you to do.” He says, “I have freed you my son, now go and serve others, go and tell them how they can be made free to.”

          In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the church in Ephesus, or the Ephesians from this morning, the Apostle Paul commends the church in Ephesus as he said, “I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people.” The Apostle Paul then said that, “God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, and power that might be named not only now but in the future.”

          The Apostle Paul then concludes this portion of his letter to the church in Ephesus by say that “God put everything under Christ’s feet and make him head of everything in the church, which is his body.” We, my brothers and sisters, are the living, breathing, moving, body of the risen Christ.

          In our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning, Jesus tells us the parable or the story of the “sheep and the goats.” Jesus tells us that when he returns to this earth one day he will come “in his majesty and all his angels” will be with him. At this point, he will be on his throne, and “All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” The sheep are the holy and righteous, and the goats are the one who were self-absorbed, wicked, and focused only on themselves.

          In fact, Jesus tells the “sheep,” “Come, you who will receive good things from my Father.” Then Jesus says, “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.”

          Jesus says further, “I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.”

          Then the righteous say to Christ, when did we do all of these things for you? Jesus responded by saying, “I assure you that when you have done it for one the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.” When Jesus says “one of the least of these brothers and sisters,” Jesus speaks of all person, regardless of who they are, what they are, or what they believe. We are all God’s children, and have sacred worth to the living God.

          You see, Christ said that when he returns, that the “goats” are going to be those people that didn’t love others, like Jesus commanded us to. Jesus said that these people with suffer eternal punishment.

          So I don’t think that God wants us to cower in fear before him, rather he says come unto me. Jesus says, let me take your burdens, let me take your sins, and follow me. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-26, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

          My brothers and sisters, as we approach this season of Advent, as we await the birth of baby that will change the world forever, let us be moved to repentance, to submit to the living God, to be spiritually renewed, so that we might more effectively build God’s kingdom, care for the poor, and make this world into all that Jesus Christ called us to make into.

          I would like to share a quote by Saint Basil the Great. Here it is, “There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned” Cease. Do not stand among sinners, but leap aside, for when you turn away and weep, then you will be saved.”

          My brothers and sisters, as God’s children, and as God’s church, before we can do anything we must come to Christ the King, repent, ask for forgiveness, put our full trust in God, and then you and I will “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.” Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost - 11/16/14 Sermon - “What do you do with what God has given you?"

Sunday 11/16/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “What do you do with what God has given you?”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 123

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:14-30

          Welcome once again this morning my brothers and sisters. Today is the Twenty-Third Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost, that holiday so long ago that the apostles and the first followers of Jesus Christ were in that upper room, and then suddenly the Holy Spirit moved in mighty way. This movement of the Holy Spirit caused the apostles and the early followers of Christ to speak in tongues, and emboldened them to go forth and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. To go forth, and build God’s kingdom on earth, as we await God’s kingdom to come.

          Today in our gospel reading from Saint Matthew, Jesus will tell us the “Parable of the Talents.” This parable or story is not about talents in the sense of the “American Idol” show, or the “Dancing with the Stars” show, instead, these talents are large sums of money. In the case of this parable or story then, a “talent” would be the equivalency today of several thousands of dollars. The “talents” in today’s gospel reading are described in the form of “valuable coins.” Coins that were probably large and made of silver or gold.

          I wonder though, if any of us have ever been entrusted with a large sum of money? I know that sometimes when babies are born that some families will get government savings bonds for the baby, or that they will give the family money to set up a bank account for when the baby grows up. Any of you ever set up or contribute to such a bank account? Perhaps it was a college savings account, or another type of account.

Have any of us ever been entrusted with property, a house, and or etc.? Maybe we found out that we are the executor to a family member’s last will and testament, maybe we found out that when a family member passed on, that we inherited something tangible, or that we inherited some money.

          It would seem that at some point we are all entrusted with something. For example, how many of you have ever house sat while a friend or a family member was away? During this time, it was your job to ensure that the person or family’s house and property were maintained in good order.

          Maybe some of us at work have been entrusted with a massive project that was something so big that not doing it very well could have caused extremely negative consequences for the business or the organization that we worked or work for.

          Maybe we have been entrusted with something small, like getting a few things at the grocery store. You know, mom or dad gave us some money to get milk, eggs, and bread, and we come back with cap gun and a snicker’s bar. My advice is to not do that.

          In a matter of speaking then, we are entrusted with various things all the time aren’t we? Yet if you sent me to the grocery store to get you milk, eggs, and bread, and I came back with a cap gun and a snickers bar, I would guess that you would not soon call me again to get you some milk, eggs, and bread and the grocery store.

          Our dependability, our care for what we have been entrusted with matters. In fact, if we do what we are asked to do, and if we care for what we have been entrusted with, it is much more likely that we will be asked to do something similar again in the future.

          It is often so humbling for me to know that I have been entrusted with the spiritual care of all of this that we call the church. That I have been called to order the life of this church, to preach the gospel of the living Christ, administer the sacraments, work with the people of this church to grow faith, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and to further transform this community. It would seem then, that God has entrusted me with quite a lot in pastoring this church, and believe me when I say that I take what I have been entrusted with by God, very seriously.

This morning then, Jesus Christ gives us a parable or story about what we do with what we have been entrusted with. Or to put it another way, “What do you do with what God has given you?” What do we do with what God and others entrust us with? Do we do what we say we will do? Further, do we honor God, with the great bounty that he has given us?

I mean after all, if we work hard and earn a good living, then everything we have is ours right? Yet do we honestly think that God’s hand is not involved here? If someone has great talent, has great abilities, what is the source of all of this? All of our gifts, all of our graces, all that we are is because God has given all of these to us. God has given us all that we are, and all that we are capable of being.

Our corresponding attitudes and actions then I think, should be “an attitude of gratitude.” An attitude of joy and love for the God of the universe that has blessed us immeasurably. We shouldn’t seek to horde possessions, money, and property, rather we should attempt to have what we need, and then seek to bless others. If we really were serious about what we do with our excess, wouldn’t we be able to help even more provide for the needs of the people of this community? If we have abundance, and others have nothing, should we give them some of our excess?

I mean what good is it to have extreme excess, when you have so much more than you need, if many around you are suffering? I am not opposed to being successful, but what good is having so much, if you don’t need it, and don’t use it?

The gospel reading for today then, the “Parable of the Talents,” asks us what do we do with what the “Master,” with what God has given us?

          In our reading this morning from Psalm 123, the psalmist encourages us to “raise” our eyes to him, who rules heaven. The Psalmist discusses how servants serve their master’s, and how we should serve with the same devotion and commitment. The Psalmist says that we should focus on being humble and devoted to God, and that in doing so God will bless us and have mercy on us.

          In the Apostle Paul’s first Epistle or letter to the church in Thessalonica or the Thessalonians, Paul tells the church that the Lord will return soon. He tells the church in Thessalonica, that the “Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.” Due to this, Paul says that whatever “peace and security” that we might feel here on earth, is all just smoke and mirrors. In this way, God is the only constant, as everything else can change in an instant.

          Natural disasters occur, wars begin, houses catch on fire, cars break down, things break at home, and other things happen suddenly. There are no guarantees in this world other than God, and as such, the Apostle Paul calls us “children of light,” and tells us to “stay awake and stay sober.” Paul is saying that God is faithful and he will return one day. On that day, all that will matter is the faith we had, and what we did with what God entrusted us with.

          You see Melissa and I don’t give freely to this church and the other church that I serve just because. We don’t make sacrifices in various areas, to be able to give to other causes, just because, but because God has entrusted us with a responsibility to give freely and joyfully.

          Looking at the text of the gospel lesson from Saint Matthew from this morning, Jesus once again says as he does several times in the gospel, “The kingdom of heaven is like.” In this way, Jesus Christ says, that “The Kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip.” When the man left on this trip, he decided to turn his possessions over to his servants, and entrusted them with them. To one of his servants he gave five valuable coins, another two, and another one. Jesus said that the man gave each servant a sum of money “according to that servant’s ability.” The man then “left on his journey.”

          When the man had left, the servant who was given the five valuable coins did business with them, and “gained five more” valuable coins. The servant that was given two valuable coins did the same, and “gained two more” valuable coins. Yet the servant who was given one valuable coin or talent, buried it in the ground.

          When the Master returned, he was pleased that the servant that he had given five valuable coins or talents to had double that amount. In fact the master said, “Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put in in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.”

          The servant that doubled the Master’s two valuable coins or talents into four valuable coins or talents got a similar response from the master. Yet the last servant told the Master that he “was afraid,” and as such, hid his “valuable coin in the ground.” The master then said, “You evil and lazy servant, you have done nothing with what I have entrusted you with.

          So the master took the servant’s one valuable coin or talent, and then gave it to the servant who had a total now of ten valuable coins or talents. The master then said, “Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them.” The master then said, “Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness.” People there will be weeping and grinding there teeth.”

          So what does this all mean then? As of one of my Bible commentaries put it, “God has richly endowed his people with gifts. These gifts are not to be ignored or treated as ornaments for display. Instead, we as individuals or congregations must see these gifts as investments to be used to gain the glory for the master. We must put faith into action by taking risks that will lead to fruitfulness.” Well said, I think.

In all of these ways then, everything that God has entrusted us with, time, talent, money, possessions, all come with expectations of us. “What do we do with what God has given us?”

I would like to tell you a story on stewardship, as this is our stewardship season. This story is called Alan Barnhart. This story was taken from “www.generosity.com and Barnhart, “Profit with a Purpose” in The Generous Business. A Guide for Incorporating Giving at Work.”

Here is how it goes: “Alan Barnhart is an American businessman who owns and runs a business valued at $250 million. When he was at University he poured over the teachings of Jesus and was struck by Jesus’ call to generosity and his warnings about wealth. He was determined that when he went into business he would not allow any financial success he might enjoy to become a source of spiritual failure.”

“When he and his brother took over their small family business, Barnhart Crane and Rigging, they set incomes for themselves that would enable them to support their families in a modest middle class lifestyle and agreed that anything the company made beyond that would be given to ministry, particularly ministries in the developing world.”

“In their first year they were able to give away $50,000; in the second year $150,000; and by 2005 they were giving away $1 million a month. They have also placed 99% ownership of the company into a trust that will ensure that when they have departed, all proceeds from the firm will continue to be invested in ministry.”

“Alan doesn’t regret the decision to limit his income. He, his wife and his children have been able to visit the projects they support and see the impact in people’s lives. Alan says that giving is fun!”

“Inspired by the teachings of Jesus on wealth, Alan Barnhart took a simple decision that revolutionized his life and enabled him to practice generosity.”

Imagine brothers and sisters, if we all gave like this. Imagine what the world would look like if more people took what was entrusted to them so seriously, that they toiled to ensure that the master would be pleased with what they have done with what he has given them.

In doing a little research, I went to the website of “Barnhart Crane and Rigging,” I discovered they have thirty business locations nationwide, and one in East Syracuse.

Here is what their website said for what there “Purpose Statement” is: “The Purpose of Barnhart Crane and Rigging Co. is to glorify God by providing an opportunity for His people to use their skills and gifts in His service through constructive work, personal witness and ministry funding.”

Brothers and sisters, we are in the midst of our stewardship season. We are looking at our church giving, and how we give in general. The question we all need to ask ourselves, is “What do we do with what God has given us?”

So here is what I am going to ask you to do this week, and I will agree to do the same thing. Go home, look at your finances, pray, and see where God is leading you to be more generous and more giving. Praise be to God, and Amen! 

Freeville/Homer Ave. UMC's - Veteran's Day Sunday/Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost - 11/09/14 Sermon - “Keep alert, because you don't know the day or the hour"

Sunday 11/09/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 78:1-7

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:1-13

          Brothers and sisters, friends, welcome once again on this the Twenty-Second Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost, this Veteran’s Day Sunday, and this Sunday of considering our pledges and our commitments to our church.

          While Pentecost occurred nearly two-thousand years ago, when the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way during the Feast of Pentecost, giving birth to the Christian Church, Veteran’s Day in the United States got its start in only in 1919. In fact, on November 11, 1919 the then President Woodrow Wilson declared that November 11^th, would be known “Armistice Day.” This Armistice, was the Armistice or “cease fire” that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. While the treaty after the war was not signed until late June of 1919, the Armistice or “cease fire” to end World War I or the “Great War” is how Veteran’s Day originally got its start. In 1938, the United States Congress then officially made “Armistice Day” a federal holiday, which would occur every year on November 11^th.

          When World War II ended in 1945 however, the thought quickly came up to expand “Armistice Day” to honor all men and women who have served in all wars, and in general. As a result, on June 1, 1954 the United States Congress officially changed the name of the national holiday of “Armistice Day” to “Veteran’s Day.” This Tuesday then, is our national holiday to honor, to remember, and to respect our men and women who have and will serve our country. This Tuesday, government institutions, public schools, and other institutions will be closed to honor those men and women who served our country.

          This holiday also happens to fall right in the middle of our stewardship season. You know the season where you get given those pieces of paper to decide how much to give to the church. This church that is or easily could be your new spiritual home. A church that perhaps you were married in, baptized in, raised a family in, found Jesus in, or perhaps is the place where you have invested much of your time, your talent, and your resources. Yet, what has this church done for this area over the many years it has existed? What impact has this church had on your life, on your family’s life, and the lives of many people over its years of existence?

          If the saints that came before us from this church, could speak about this church here today, what would they say? What would they say about how this church has changed this community and even the world?

          Maybe beyond just faith in Jesus Christ as one’s savior, maybe these past saints took that core of Christianity, and went much further in the way of service, charity, and love for others. In this way, I would ask you to think back to when you first came to this church. I want you to think of the loving people that you found here when you first walked in. I want you to think about all of those people that were in this church that are, or that are no longer with us on this earth today. What would they say about this church, its mission, its commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Would these past saints be encouraged and excited about the church? Or would they say, “don’t give to that church! You know the church is just a business right?” Also, how do we know when our time on this earth is up? How do we know when the Lord will return? For today’s gospel of Matthew reading says, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour,” that Jesus will return. We also don’t know the day or the hour that we will leave this earth.

          Much like Armistice Day, which is now Veteran’s Day, our church therefore, is a legacy. Our church speaks to reality of what the power of God has done in this place, and in this area. This church is a lighthouse, where all are welcomed, where we learn to love just a little a more, were lives are changed, and where we are trained to change the world for Jesus Christ.

          So First off, as I said, has the church been a blessing to you and to your family? Has the church made a significant impact on your life? Is the church where you found Jesus Christ, and faith in great abundance?

          I don’t know about you brothers and sisters, but I don’t think that I could ever give the church enough, to return what God has done for me. In fact, as my step-father Mike Therio says often, “you can’t out give God.” That when we give, that when we are faithful, aren’t we blessed abundantly? Doesn’t it feel good to give? For God loves “a cheerful giver.”

          The PPRC committee of this church voted to give me a small raise in pay for 2015. Now this wasn’t something that I expected. When I came home that night and told Melissa though, I began to speak, and she said, “I know, I know Paul, we will increase our tithing to the church.” For I can never “out give God.”

          The real fascinating thing to me is, is that we have nothing that God needs or wants from us, except for one thing. Did you hear what I just said there? We having nothing that God needs or wants from us, except for one-thing. That one thing is our obedience.

          I believe very strongly, that when I stand before almighty God someday, that he will say to me, “What did you do with the bounty that I gave you?” With all that God has given to me, do I give freely, or do I keep it all for myself? I hope that one day that when I stand before God, he will say, “Paul, well done good and faithful servant, the kingdom of heaven is yours.” For the gospel of Luke says in 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is our treasure? Is it with God, or is it elsewhere?

          Maybe we will get more serious about our faith tomorrow, or maybe next week, or maybe next year. Yet, we don’t know how long we will individually be on this earth do we? We also don’t know when the Lord will return, as the Gospel of Mathew from this morning says, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour,” that Jesus will return.

          So while I think we should take our faith seriously today, as tomorrow is not promised to anyone, I have also struggled in the past, with the fact that the church pays the pastor. I used to say when I was little younger to Melissa, “so let me get this straight, we tithe so that the pastor can drive a Cadillac?” Of course, I still gave, and when I got to seminary, I told the head of the seminary, “I don’t think that pastors should receive a salary!”

          He looked at me sort of perplexed and said, “well why is that?” I then said, “because we could give all that money to the poor.” The head of my seminary then told me a story that astounded. He said, “let me tell you a story Paul.” I then said, “ok.”

          He then said, “In a small town hundreds of years ago, the town had just heard about a savior named Jesus of Nazareth only months earlier. Many of the people in the town learned the scriptures, became followers of Jesus Christ, built a church, and wanted the world to know all about Jesus. In fact, they were so serious and excited about it, that they asked a young man in the town a tough question one day. You see, this young man was very moral, very upright, and now he himself also believed very strongly in God, the scriptures, and following Christ every day. As a result, the people of the town, believing so strongly in Jesus, and so strongly in their faith, asked the young man if he would quit his secular job, and come and lead the new church as the pastor.”

          “The young man said, but I still need to earn a living to feed my family, so maybe I will just work both jobs. The people then said, but we love Jesus Christ and the church so much, that we will pay you to serve God, to pray for us and the world, to visit the sick, to encourage us, to preach the gospel to us, to be strong when we are weak, to be available when we need it, and to make this community better. So we want you to quit your other job, and we will pay you enough to live. The young man so overcome by the honor and the joy of this request that he agreed to become the first pastor of the first church, of this small town. This pastor was very much the glue of this town, and he served God and the people there for years.”

          The head of my seminary then looked at me and said, “Paul, do you understand now why pastors get paid? Do you understand that they leave there secular jobs, many go to school for years, to be fully of service to God, to the church, and to the world? Do you understand that in the Methodist Church, it is like the military, in that our Bishops can send us anywhere in our conference from year to year? Do you see the sacrifice,” he said?

          Well wow I thought! I then told the head of seminary that I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to afford the rent of whatever church parsonage that I lived in. He then began laughing hysterically. I then mentioned it two or three more times, until he was almost crying he was laughing so hard. He then told me, “Paul, if the church can manage it, they will even house you and your family without cost to you, as well.” You know God’s people must love Jesus, the church, and the office of the pastor enough, must believe in the mission of the church enough, that we as a faith are still here nearly two-thousand years later.

          How amazing God is! How amazing the church is to me! How great the church has been to me since I agreed to go to four long years of school, to give up everything to serve God. I give freely, because God has given so much to me. Not only this, my beautiful bride Melissa has agreed to be in ministry with me to. She has answered the call of God in here own way.

While I avoided serving God as a pastor for some time in my life, I soon realized if not now, then when? Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, as Jesus said, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour” that I will return.

          In our Psalm reading from this morning, the Psalm instructs people to listen to the proverbs and the ancient wisdom that we have shared for generations. The Psalm then says that we should teach our children these things, “so that the next generation and children not yet born will know these things, and so they can rise up and tell their children to put their hope in God—never forgetting God’s deeds, but keeping God’s commandments.”

          Then the Apostle Paul tells us in his first Epistle or letter to the church in Thessalonica or the Thessalonians, “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about people who have died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope.” The Apostle Paul then says, “we believe that Jesus died and rose,” and the Apostle Paul then discusses how Jesus will return to earth one day.

          Our Gospel lesson this morning is from the gospel of Matthew 25:1-13. This gospel reading is often known as “The parable of the bridesmaids.” In this parable, ten-young bridesmaids are awaiting at night with lamps for the groom to come and get them for his wedding. Of these ten-young bridesmaids though, five of them didn’t bring oil for their lamps, meaning that they couldn’t see in the dark. The groom in this parable was then late, and at midnight the ten-young bridesmaids heard a “cry” far off in the distance indicating that the groom would be there fairly soon.

Yet, since the five-young bridesmaids had no oil in their lamps, they then asked the other five-young bridesmaids, who not only brought lamps full of oil, but containers of oil, if they could have some of their oil. The five prepared young bridesmaids said however, that they had to keep all of their oil, to ensure that could see the groom in the dark of the night, when he finally strolled up.

The five-prepared bridesmaids then suggested that five unprepared bridesmaids go and buy some oil for their lamps quickly, as to be able to see in the dark. So they did, but when there were gone, the groom arrived. When those five bridesmaids who had finally gotten enough lamp oil arrived at the wedding, they were not allowed in. You see the king said to them, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you. Therefore, keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour.” They missed the boat.

          What if we don’t worry about the church, or God, or helping others? What if we don’t fill our lamps as to be able to give and bless others? What if we just rush out later in life and get a bunch of lamp oil? What if we just give to the church later in life? What if we invest in our faith “down the road,” or “when things slow down?” Yet Jesus tell us this morning, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour,” or the day or hour we are going to leave this earth.

Let me tell you a quick and funny story called “He Will,” by an author unknown. Here is how it goes: “The telephone rings in the pastor’s office. “Hello, is this Pastor Johns?” the caller asks. “Yes it is.” “This is the tax department. We wonder if you can help us” The pastor feels butterflies in his tummy. Why is the tax department ringing him? Nervously he replies “I’ll do the best I can.” “Do you know a Bruce Parker?” asks the tax agent. “Why yes” replies the pastor. “He’s a member of my congregation.” “Did he donate $10,000 to the church building fund?” A smile comes across the Pastor’s face. “He will.”

          So brothers and sisters, let us give abundantly to God, to the church, and to others this week, this coming year, and until we leave this earth, because “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour.” Praise be the risen Christ. Amen.

         

         

Freeville/Homer Ave. UMC's - All Saints Sunday/Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost - 11/02/14 Sermon - “A Sermon from the Savior"

Sunday 11/02/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “A Sermon from the Savior”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 34:1-10, 22

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 John 3:1-3

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this our All Saints Sunday, and this the Twenty-First Sunday after the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was that day so long ago that the Holy Spirit moved like a might wind, and the Christian Church was born. That day, Jesus’ disciples and the early followers of Christ went forth preaching the gospel far and wide. The apostles and these early followers of Christ, and all of us today, comprise the followers of Jesus Christ. They, along with us, hold the title Christian, as all of us come together this morning in our faith in Jesus Christ.

          Those who have served Christ then, both then, throughout history, and even now, are the people that God has called to serve him, to serve his people, and to serve his church. This morning then, we pause to take stock of the saints that have went before us. The saints from this church, saints we knew on this earth, and the saints of old. All of these men and women worked, toiled, and sacrificed, so that people would know Jesus Christ. So that people would know the transforming power that is found in Jesus Christ. That through Jesus Christ, we can have life eternal, and can do all things.

          You see the saints, both past and present, speak of the power of God, and transforming power of the risen Christ. This transformational power is why we gather for worship here today, is why we have church, and is why we do all that we do. In giving himself up on a cross for us, Jesus has offered us new life. This Sunday morning then, we honor and we remember all those persons who have helped to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who have helped to further bring peace, love, harmony, and justice into a world that knows very little of this.

          In this morning’s reading from the gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus is true Jewish tradition sits down and teaches his listeners. In this teaching lesson, or sermon, Christ gives us yet another part of his gospel teachings. In fact, in this section of the gospel, Jesus Christ is communicating to his disciples, his followers, and even to us today, certain truths about God, about who he is as the Messiah, and about how we are supposed to live in his image every day. This sermon that Christ gives this morning is sometimes called the “Sermon on the Mount,” or is sometimes called the “Sermon on the Plain,” or the “Beatitudes.” The Latin word beātitūdō, translates in English to roughly mean “Happiness.”   

          The gospel narrative of the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” also shows up in Luke’s gospel, and of course in Matthew’s gospel that I just read this morning. In Luke’s gospel, Luke cited four beatitudes that Christ spoke, yet in Matthew’s gospel this morning, we are given a list of eight beatitudes. Why the difference you might ask? There are many theories to this discrepancy, such as that Matthew added more “Beatitudes” that were missing from Luke’s version, that Mathew created them, that Matthew took them from the Psalms or Book of Proverbs, and etc.

          Before getting into the meat of this morning’s gospel reading though, I just want to make light of the Psalm 34 reading from this morning, that encourages us to “bless the LORD at all times,” as Jesus will say that certain types of people are “blessed,” or “happy,” in his “Sermon on the Mount,” this morning.

          In our reading from 1 John this morning, John says, “See what kind of love the Father has given us in that we should be called God’s children.” God loves all of his children, and he asks us to love all of his children to.    So onto the gospel reading for this morning then. Matthew writes in 5:1-2 that, “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:.”

          Now some translations say what Jesus then says are “Blessed are,” but the translation our church provides this morning, says “Happy are,” in line with the Latin translation to English.

          Christ then tells us in Matthew 5:3, “Happy are the hopeless, because the kingdom of heaving in theirs.” He then tell us in 5:4, “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.” In 5:5 Christ says, “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.” In 5:6 Jesus says, “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will fed until they are full.” Christ goes on to say in 5:7, “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.” In 5:8 Jesus says, “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.”

          Then in 5:9, Jesus Christ says, “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. In 5:10 Christ tells us the last of the eight “Beatitudes.” He says, “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Christ then reminds us all in 5:11, “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.” Jesus tells us when this happens to “Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven.”

          So, powerful words from the Messiah this morning, wouldn’t you say? A powerful “Sermon from the Savior.”

          Yet, I have to admit I never quite got the “Beatitudes” up until recently. I mean after all, do all of those things that Christ said in this “Sermon on the Mount,” actually happen in our world every day? By this, I mean do the hopeless always feel better? Do those who grieve always receive joy and blessing? Do people always receive mercy when they give mercy? Do peace makers really inherit the earth? And etc.

          You see, I think that for me and for many others, we have read the “Beatitudes” and thought, “Well that’s nice.” Maybe we then thought, but the world we live in doesn’t work like that, so this more just wishful thinking then. Anyone here ever thought this about the Beatitudes?

          Here is the thing though, and I didn’t know this until recently, when Jesus gave the “Sermon on the Mount,” he was telling his disciples and early followers of his, the privileges and also the demands of their position. Jesus wasn’t just speaking the “Beatitudes” just into being, he was telling the disciples, his early followers, and us, that God will bless all of these people in all of the ways that God has promised, but, we have a role in this to. We have an obligation to protect the weak, the defenseless, the widow, and the person who feels hopeless. You see God’s promises are as solid and rock, but Jesus wants us to help those promises be magnified and stronger.

          In this way, we are building the Kingdom of God here on earth, as we await the kingdom to come. As we await Christ’s return. Until then, we are called to honor, protect, feed, and pray for the “hopeless,” those who “grieve,” the “humble,” those who are physically and spiritually “hungry,” those who show “mercy,” those who have “pure hearts,” those who “make peace, and those who are “harassed” and oppressed for God’s sake.

          So this morning my brothers and sisters, Jesus the risen Christ gave a sermon. This “Sermon from the Savior,” is not only who are “blessed,” but it is how we are supposed to safeguard, protect, and uphold those and all of God’s children.

          In this way, I challenge us all to have an attitude of being God’s love for others. On this day, let Christ’s “Beatitudes” fill us, so that we can “Be” all of the things that Jesus Christ has called us to be. Praise be God. Amen.