Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 09/04/16 Sermon - “Giving" "Spiritual Gifts" Series (Part 1 of 7)

Sunday 09/04/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Giving” (“Spiritual Gifts” Series – Part 1 of 7)

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Philemon 1-21

Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:25-33

          My friends, my brothers and sisters, welcome again on this the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Sixteenth Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved in and on the disciples in that Upper Room in Jerusalem. On the day of Pentecost, the Christian Church was born.

          On that day, the disciples went forth loving, healing, and forgiving, in Jesus Christ’s name. Those first disciples also quickly added to their numbers, making a very small movement into a much larger movement. What started with just handful of people, grew quickly, and today we are the world’s biggest faith.

          How do we grow the church though? I mean, we can tell people about the Good News of Jesus Christ, and they can come to know Jesus Christ, but how do we do this thing we call church?

          One of the best ways that I think we can organize the church, is through the call that God has placed on all of our lives. In addition to this, God has gifted us all differently. These gifts that God has given us, enable us to reach people for Jesus Christ and to transform form the world differently.

          While there are many gifts that we as people have in this sanctuary right now, this morning I am beginning a seven week sermon series on spiritual gifts. In beginning this series, today I want to talk about the spiritual gift of “giving”.

          Before getting into this gift thought, I want to cover a few things about this series and the idea of spiritual gifts. First, there are as many as twenty-five spiritual gifts in scripture. This number is more or less depending on what you view as being a spiritual gift or not being a spiritual gift. For some then this list is shorter, and for some it may be longer. Also the scriptures that discuss spiritual gifts are primarily connected to the Epistles or letters of the Apostle Paul, and one Epistle or letter of the Apostle Peter. The scriptures that discuss spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:11. I will read these scriptures to you in a few moments, but first I want to define what a spiritual gift is.

I know that many of us don’t take the website, www.wikipedia.com as a scholarly source, but in this case, I think that they defined spiritual gifts rather well. This is what the definition of spiritual gifts on Wikipedia is:

“In Christianity, spiritual gifts (or charismata) are endowments which may be given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural graces which individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church. They are described in the New Testament, primarily in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. 1 Peter 4 also touches on the spiritual gifts. The gifts are related to both seemingly "natural" abilities and seemingly more "miraculous" abilities, empowered by the Holy Spirit” (www.Wikipedia.com).

          So spiritual gifts are given to us by God, by the Holy Spirit. We need these spiritual gifts in order to fulfill the full mission of the church, which is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world”. Given this, it is important that we know the spiritual gifts that God has given us. This is why I have given out a test or an inventory for us all to rediscover, or discover for the first time, what our God given spiritual gifts are. This test or inventory covers sixteenth potential spiritual gifts, as its maker must have determined that there were sixteen spiritual gifts. I also have some charts of spiritual gifts to.

          So did anyone take the spiritual gifts test? Were any of you surprised by the results?

          So before getting into the first spiritual gift that I want to discuss this morning, which is the spiritual gift of “giving,” I want to read to you the handful of scriptures that discuss spiritual gifts. I also said that depending on what you interpret as a spiritual gift or not, you might believe that the scriptures discuss as many as twenty-five spiritual gifts, but I chose to discuss just seven. I did this so I don’t preach on this topic for half a year, and also just to give an idea of some of the spiritual sifts. Again, the scriptures that mention spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:11. The list of seven spiritual gifts that I am preaching on and using come from Romans 12:6-8.

          Let’s hear what the scriptures have to say about spiritual gifts from God. First we will hear from Romans 12:6-8, which is the list of spiritual gifts I am using in this preaching series. Romans 12:6-8 says:

“We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness” (Rom. 12:6-8, NRSV).

Now again, this is the list that I am using for this sermon series, and by the way “exhortation” means encouragement.

The next scripture that discusses spiritual gifts is 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, which says:

“To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:8-10, NRSV).

In 1 Corinthians 12:28 the Apostle Paul writes: “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:28, NRSV). You have heard now twice about the gift of speaking in tongues, or people uttering things that are not understood in our own language. In some churches, the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues is a regular occurrence. To people like the founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley, it was a rare and miraculous occurrence. It could happen, but it would be extremely rare, and as result was not embraced. So much so, that in our United Methodist Church Articles Religion, John Wesley spoke out in Article XV against speaking in tongues. Now, I believe it is possible, but I have never witnessed it in a Methodist Church.

In Ephesians 4:11, the Apostle Paul writes: “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,” (Eph. 4:11, NRSV).

The last scripture reference we have in scripture about spiritual gifts come from 1 Peter 4:11. 1 Peter 4:11 says: “Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11, NRSV). In this scripture, these could be spiritual gifts, depending on your scriptural interpretation. Once again our test of sorts, only lists sixteen spiritual gifts. So there are many different numbers of spiritual gifts.

In talking about just seven spiritual gifts, what I have tried to do each week of this series in connect our given gospel reading somehow to the spiritual gift that I am preaching on. This series will end on Sunday October 16^th, on Laity Sunday, and that day will be the spiritual gift of “serving” will be discussed. If the laity of course, chose to preach on the spiritual gift of “serving”.

Our first gift this morning again, is the spiritual gift of “giving”, as given to us by the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:6-8. According to the same www.Wikipedia.com source that I read for this morning, the spiritual gift of “giving” is defined as say: “Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving” (www.wikepedia.com).

From the United Methodist Church’s website www.umc.org it says regarding the gift of giving this:

“The gift of giving is the deep commitment to provide whatever resources are needed to support God’s will and plan. In addition to radical generosity, those who possess the gift of giving have the uncanny ability to discover and channel new sources of money, time, and energy to needs. Money management skills, grant writing abilities, and the easy knack of asking for donations and cultivating donors are among common skills of gifted givers” (www.umc.org). Friends, brothers and sisters, do you have the spiritual gift of “giving”. The United Methodist Church website also includes these questions regarding the spiritual gift of “giving”:

“Reflection Questions:”

·         “In what ways do you use your gift(s) at home, at work, in relationships with friends?”

·         “What other gifts best complement giving, and enable you to increase the value and impact of your gift(s)?”

·         “In what ways can you improve your use and knowledge of your gift(s)?”

·         “Where do other people see evidence of this gift(s) in your life?”

In our Gospel of Luke reading for this morning, which is often referred to as the gospel passage on the “cost of discipleship,” Jesus Christ lays out more clearly what it means to follow him. Jesus tells that following him means something, that it is “costly,” and that we should really consider the choices we are making in following him (Lk. 14:25-33, CEB).

        Jesus was basically saying then, if you want embrace the spiritual gift of “giving” at the highest level that, “none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions” (Lk. 14:33, CEB). Some clergy, monks, nuns, missionaries, and etc., are sometimes called to this level of “giving” and sacrifice. The rest of us can’t do this, as we still have to work, produce, and keep the world going.

        There are also many scriptures on giving. Giving of course can be money, time, energy, resources, love, and etc. There are many ways to embrace the spiritual gift of “giving”.

Here are but a few scriptures on topic of giving. Proverbs 21:26 says: “All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back” (Pro. 21:26, NRSV).

In the Acts it says in 20:35: “In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts. 20:35).

One of my favorite scriptures and the last one I will share with you on “giving” is 2 Corinthians 9:7. This scripture says: “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7, NRSV).

“Giving” my brothers and sisters, can be a hard thing. It can be a hard thing, because we have to really trust that God will honor and bless our giving. When we do give of our time, our talents, and our resources though, we are then enable to do amazing thing for others, through God, and through the church.

So friends, sisters and brothers, whether you took the spiritual gifts test or not, do you have the spiritual gift of “giving”? If so, how do you plan to use the gift that God gave you to transform the world for Jesus Christ?

Next week, I will be discussing the spiritual gift of “Mercy”. I would invite all us this day and this week to pray and reflect upon the spiritual gifts that God has given us. May we all bring glory to God, the three in one, the one in three, through the many gifts he has given us all. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 08/28/16 Sermon - “Invite the poor, the crippled, lame, and blind" "Pursuing God's Kingdom" Series (Part 4 of 4)

Sunday 08/28/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind”

(“Pursuing God’s Kingdom” Series – Part 4 of 4)

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 81:1, 10-16

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:1, 7-14

          My sisters and brothers, my friends, welcome again on this the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Fifteen Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved in that Upper Room in Jerusalem, and the Christian Church was born. On that day, the first disciples went forth spreading the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On that day, the disciples and the first Christians went forth loving, healing, forgiving, and “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”.

           Our historic Christian belief is that Jesus Christ came to earth, as God in the flesh, to love, heal, and forgive. More than this though, our historic Christian believe is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. In Jesus’ dying on the cross, he overcame death, sin, and life itself. Since we cannot free ourselves from sin by ourselves, Jesus came to overcome sin and death, and through faith in him we can be forgiven. We can be washed white as snow, and all our previous wrong doings can we wiped away. We can start anew through Jesus Christ, and we can stand before God one day, justified as forgiven sinners, through the blood of Jesus Christ.

          Our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and us asking God, Jesus Christ, to forgive us of all of our sins and wrong doings, results in us being forgiven. We receive the free gift of salvation, of eternal life, because we, as sinners, are forgiven, through the cross of Jesus Christ. This means one day when we stand before God, even though we have erred, even though we have sinned, even though we have wronged, Jesus Christ consumed our sins on the cross, and we have been forgiven. On the day we stand before God then, we are justified and our sin has been covered and cleansed.

          I often used to hear this sort of gospel message when watching an old Rev. Billy Graham “Crusade for Christ” on television. I remember when Rev. Billy Graham would tell folks that your hurts, your pains, your regrets, can be forgiven by Jesus Christ. That you can be made anew in Jesus. I remember watching these “Crusades for Christ,” and seeing people repent. Seeing them pray to God for forgiveness for everything that they had ever done that is sinful and wicked. I then saw the joy and the tears as they felt that feeling of release, or forgiveness, of newness of life in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

          One of the big questions that I have studied in seminary and independently though, is what do people do after we have had that faith conversion? What do people do after that moment of repentance and the acceptance of Jesus Christ? What I mean by this, is we can say that we are forgiven by God, and that we believe in Jesus Christ, and because of this, we can say that one day we will go to heaven. Yet, is that all the Christian faith is? Are we simply to repent of our sins, accept Jesus Christ, and then just go on our merry way?

          The answer to this, is that the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to much more than just salvation. As part of the spiritual change that occurs in our hearts and in our souls, we are called by God, by Jesus Christ, to live out our faith. This means, that we are called to change the world in the here and the now, to engage it, to heal it, and to pursue justice. This is why the sermon series that I have been preaching on is called, “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”.

In the first week of this sermon series called the “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”, Jesus challenged us to more than just repentance and salvation. Jesus challenged us to live like him, while we are here on earth. Jesus told us in this first week of this series, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:34, CEB). More than just heaven when we die someday, Jesus said what do you with your time, your talent, and your money here on earth matters. Do we help and serve others, or do we only help and serve ourselves?

           In the second week of this series, Jesus tells us that to follow him means we must really mean it. That to follow Jesus Christ is more than to just believe, it is how we live our day to day lives.

          Last week, Jesus challenged us to do the right thing, even it is on the Sabbath Day. God, Jesus Christ, encourages us to take a day of rest, but Jesus also encourages us to have love for each other, no matter what day it is. For it is never the wrong time to do the right thing.

          In the last week of my “Pursuing God’s Kingdom” sermon series, Jesus tells another way that we can “Pursue God’s Kingdom”. Now there are more than four ways to “Pursue God’s Kingdom,” but the first three that I presented, and the last one that I am about present this Sunday, while not all of the ways to “Pursue God’s Kingdom,” will certainly help us to grow closer to God and the Kingdom of God.

          In this last week of this series, Jesus encourages us in this morning’s gospel of Luke reading, to “invite the poor, the crippled, lame, and blind” (Lk. 14:13, CEB). You see when Jesus Christ came to earth to love, heal, forgive, and to die for the sins of humanity, this includes everyone. You see my sisters and brothers, God loves all of us equally. When Jesus came, he came for all people, not just the rich, not just the famous, and not just the powerful. Jesus came to love, heal, forgive, and die for all people, both past and present.

          If Jesus came for everyone, and if Jesus turned no one away, then who is welcomed in this church? Do we welcome just some people, or is everyone welcome?

          The founder of the Methodist Movement John Wesley, believed in what is called the “Unlimited Atonement Theory”. In this theory, John Wesley, Martin Luther, and most Christians, believe that when Jesus Christ died on the cross that he died for all people, both past and present. In saying that Jesus Christ died for all people, this means all people. This also includes “the poor, the crippled, lame, and blind” (Lk. 14:13, CEB). In the gospel this morning, Jesus tell us to invite the poor, the crippled, lame, and blind” to the feast, to the church, to this family of faith (Lk. 14:13, CEB). For all people need to repent and know Jesus Christ.

          If we want to “Pursue God’s Kingdom” then brothers and sisters, Jesus tells us to bring into the family of faith, all persons. This means that in this church we have to be comfortable with people from all walks of life coming in, so that they might know the saving grace of Jesus Christ. So that we can fully pursue our mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world”.

          In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says in 15:4-7:

“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk. 15:4-7, CEB).

          My sisters and brothers, we are in the “lost sheep” business, and this morning Jesus Christ says, “invite the poor, the crippled, lame, and blind” (Lk. 14:13, CEB).

          In diving into this gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke for this morning, Jesus has just been invited to share a meal at the home of one of Pharisees (Lk. 14:1a, CEB). Now the reason for this invite according to the scripture, does not seem to be pure and loving in nature, as the scripture says of the Pharisee and his friends that, “they were watching him closely…” (Lk. 14:1b, CEB). For those who remember my sermon from last week, we are encouraged to take a Sabbath Day each week, a day of rest. On our Sabbath Day though, what counts as work, and what doesn’t?

          Well apparently in this gospel lesson from Luke this morning, having a large meal on the Sabbath Day is not work, but when Jesus heals another person on the Sabbath Day, he is then accused of doing work again. Instead of tackling the concept of keeping the Sabbath holy this morning though, we are given a gospel reading from the gospel of Luke 14:1 and then 7-14. You see in the gospel of Luke 14:2-6, Jesus heals a man, and is then challenged again in doing this on the Sabbath. Our lectionary reading for Luke for today doesn’t have this though, because the focus of this morning’s scripture is not working on the Sabbath Day, but instead is focused on who is welcomed, who is loved, and who is the most important to God.

          So again, Jesus is invited over to a Pharisee’s house for a meal on this Sabbath Day. I would expect it would be a larger and more ornate house. I would expect that the quality of the food to be high. After being judged for healing on the Sabbath Day, Jesus then immediately notices the seating arrangements, as I said it must have been a large house.

          The gospel of Luke reading says,

“When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable” (Lk. 14:7, CEB). In this parable or story Jesus said,

“When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up” (Lk. 14:8-11, CEB).

          I suppose these are good words for us, the next time we tell a visitor to church that they are sitting in our church pew. Jesus encourages us to sit in the lowliest of places, so that we make room for all people. For the real treasure that we have is in God, and in his people.

          The gospel reading for this morning ends with where I got my sermon title for this morning. It says,

“Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected” (Lk. 14:12-14, CEB).

          This morning brothers and sisters, Jesus challenges us to welcome in all people, as all people need to repent of their sins, as all people need God’s grace, and as Jesus Christ died for all persons, both past and present.

          In bringing this sermon to a close, I want to share a short story with you about Saint Lawrence. You know the guy they named that university after up in Canton, NY. This story is about what Saint Lawrence saw as the God’s treasure. This story is called of course “St. Lawrence,” and it comes from Wikipedia, and www.americancatholic.org. Here is what the story says of Saint Lawrence: “Lawrence was a deacon serving in Rome in the third century when a wave of persecution broke out. When Pope Sixtus and others were killed Lawrence knew it was only a matter of time before they came for him. As keeper of the Church’s goods, he had already been responsible for giving alms to the poor. Now he started giving them even more. Soon Lawrence was called before Roman officials who demanded he hand over the church’s treasure. He replied that indeed the church was rich and asked for three days to get everything in order. The days passed and the Roman officials arrived not to a church filled with silver and gold but one filled with the poor, blind, lame and leprous. “Here are the treasures of the church” declared Lawrence. The officials were furious and in the year 258 had Lawrence executed. Lawrence was right about the treasures of the church was he not?”

          Friends, I think that Saint Lawrence University is a well named university. This morning Jesus tells us “invite the poor, the crippled, lame, and blind,” as we all need Jesus, and as we are all treasures to God and the church (Lk. 14:13, CEB).

The future of the Christian Church is dependent on our wiliness to live the mission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, us seeking the power of God, and our willingness to boldly love each other. Let us this day and always, let us seek out the least, the lost, and lesser-thans, as Jesus came for all and died for all. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 08/21/16 Sermon - “Love and Mercy is 24/7" "Pursuing God's Kingdom" Series (Part 3 of 4)

Sunday 08/21/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Love and Mercy is 24/7”

(“Pursuing God’s Kingdom” Series – Part 3 of 4)

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 71:1-6

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-29

Gospel Lesson: Luke 13:10-17

          My friends, my brothers and sisters, welcome on this the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Fourteen Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved in that Upper Room in Jerusalem, and the Christian Church was officially born.

          Since that day nearly two-thousand years ago, the first disciples and many, have worked to spread the gospel, to serve others, and to grow the church.

Two weeks ago, I started a four week preaching series called “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”. In this series, I have challenged us to grow closer to God, and thus closer to God’s Kingdom.

In the first week of this series, Jesus challenged us in the gospel of Luke to consider where we put our time, our talent, and our resources. Jesus told us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:34, CEB). This is a hard lesson from Jesus Christ, and in it, Jesus is challenging us to grow closer to Him and God’s Kingdom.

Last week while I was gone, Jesus had a tough and strong challenge for us in the gospel of Luke. Jesus basically said, do you follow me or not? Do you take your faith seriously or not? If you do, I have high expectations of you. One of my heroes, the German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, used the term “Cheap Grace,” and “Costly Grace”. Bonhoeffer said that if we truly follow Christ, it will be hard at times, challenging at times, and it could even cost us our lives. This sacrifice for Jesus Christ, the gospel, and the Kingdom of God is “Costly Grace,” but it will help us pursue God’s Kingdom, if we seek “Costly Grace”.

This week, in this third part of our four part series on “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”, I want to talk about the Sabbath. By the Sabbath, I mean taking a day of rest every week. During the season after Pentecost, I begin all of my sermons by explaining how the first and disciples and the early church went forth on the day of Pentecost, to love, heal, and forgive. Yet I wonder, did the disciples and the early Christians take a day off? Did they take a Sabbath, as it says in the Old Testament or Jewish Torah? For that matter, do we take a day of rest every week? If we do take a day of rest, what does that day typically look like for us? Do we work on that Sabbath? If so, what constitutes work, and what doesn’t constitutes work on our Sabbath Day? Do we believe that a day of rest and prayer can draw us closer to God? Also, can the Sabbath periodically be something that unexpectedly draws us closer to God in ways we didn’t anticipate?

          When I started in ministry over four years ago, I never took a Sabbath Day, or a day of rest. I would work 7-days a week. My first District Superintendent in the Adirondack District asked me why I never took a day off. I told him that there was too much work to be done! My first District Superintendent then quoted the creation story from Genesis 2:3 that says, “So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation” (Gen. 2:3, NRSV). My first District Superintendent then said, “So Paul, God rested on the seventh day, but you don’t, are you better than God?” After that, I really tried my best to take a Sabbath. I believe that the first disciples and the first Christians took a Sabbath Day too.

          For us Christians, we generally have Sunday as our Sabbath Day. Our Jewish brothers and sisters, and some Christian groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists, have their Sabbath Day on Saturday. Since I preach on Sundays, I take my Sabbath Day on Fridays.

          Many of us can remember years ago that on Sundays most things were closed, and the concept of the Sabbath Day was solid. Communities all across America would go to church, and then we would go home, enjoy a meal, and hopefully relax for the rest of the day.

          So, I take a Sabbath Day, a day of rest, and I hope that you do to, but I wonder what constitutes work on the Sabbath, a day of rest? In the Book of Deuteronomy in the Jewish Torah, and our Old Testament it says, “Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day” (Deut. 5:12-15, NRSV).

          So the Bible says that we are to take a day off every week and rest and not do work. If we enjoy something though, is that work? Should we literally not get out bed at all on our Sabbath Day? What constitutes work?

          I remember two years ago when my seminary group went to the Western Walling Wall in Jerusalem, which is the wall that remains from the old Jewish temple in Jerusalem. We were there on Saturday, which is the Jewish Sabbath, or Shavuot as it is called in Hebrew. Due to this, we were not allowed to write a note to put into the Western Walling Wall, as that was considered doing work on the Sabbath. These notes have long been seen as prayers to God. While I couldn’t write a note, it was ok to stuff a note into the Western Walling Wall, as that was not considered work. I have heard a variety stories from within the more conservative Jewish communities of what does and does not constitute work on the Sabbath Day or Shavuot.

          So God does call us all to try to take a day of rest, but how rigid should we be with our Sabbath? Further, do we ever make exceptions? If we break our Sabbath for an emergency or a crisis, are we not honoring God and the Sabbath by doing so? I believe we are, and so does Jesus in the gospel of Luke reading from this morning. For example, if I get a call on Friday, and one of you tell me that your house is one fire, I am going to say, “Sorry, it’s my Sabbath Day, it will have to wait until tomorrow”. The problem with me waiting, is that your house will be gone tomorrow. We are called to take a Sabbath Day, but if we alleviate great suffering, pain, or a called to crisis on our Sabbath Day, I believe we are honoring God on the Sabbath.

This means for me, that I covet my Friday Sabbath Day, but on the same token, if you have a family member dying, a crisis, or an emergency, and etc., I will interrupt a vacation or a Sabbath day for that. Now if you call me to just say hello on my Sabbath Day, well that is not an emergency.

          Some of our Jewish brothers and sisters, back when Jesus was alive, and today, rejected Jesus as the Messiah, or the savior of the world, because he was accused of among other things, working on the Sabbath Day. So how does Jesus respond to this criticism? Our gospel reading from the gospel of Luke for this morning, provides us with one of these examples, Jesus was accused of this more than once.

          Our gospel reading for this morning begins by saying, “Jesus was teaching in one the synagogues on the Sabbath” (Lk. 13:10, NRSV). So all teachers that are present this morning, be ready to be offended, because in the Jewish Law, teaching on the Sabbath Day is not considered work.

          Then the gospel says, “A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness” (Lk. 13:11-12, NRSV). The gospel then says, “He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God” (Lk. 13:13, NRSV). So Jesus healed this woman on the Sabbath, but was that work? It was ok for Jesus to teach and preach on the Sabbath, but he had to wait until the next day to heal a women in grave pain? I would think that God would honor Jesus doing that on the Sabbath. I also think God would honor us doing the same, and we would grow closer to God’s Kingdom in doing so.

          Yet the gospel then says this, “The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded. “There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day” (Lk. 13:14, NRSV).

          To this Jesus replied, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox and donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink?” (Lk. 13:15, NRSV). After asking this question, Jesus then continued on by saying, “Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” (Lk. 13:16, NRSV).

          The gospel reading for this morning ends with, “When he said these things, all of his opponent were put to shame, but all those in the crown rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing” (Lk. 13:17, NRSV).

          So brothers and sisters, I believe that keeping the Sabbath for rest is a good thing. If we are going to truly pursue God’s Kingdom, then we need to do our best to care for ourselves, to get rest, and try to employ some self-care. Yet sometimes, I also believe that it just can’t wait until tomorrow. We all have to judge this reality for ourselves, but if your house is on fire, as your pastor, I will not put it off until tomorrow. If you have a relative that is dying, if there is an emergency, I will break my Sabbath, or my vacation, so that suffering might be alleviated through God. For why would allow someone to suffer greatly today, and do nothing about it until tomorrow.

          For me, providing healing, love, and or empathy on my Sabbath Day is not work, it is “keeping the Sabbath holy” as the Book of Deuteronomy says. In the gospel of Matthew 12:8 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath” (Mt. 12:8, NRSV). In this scripture, I don’t think that Jesus is mocking the Sabbath, he is saying is he is doing something holy and Godly on the Sabbath, then that is a Godly thing to do. For brothers and sisters, it is never the wrong time or the wrong day to do something Godly. We should take a day off for ourselves, but sometimes we can make exceptions in pursuing God’s Kingdom.

          So do you have a Sabbath day? Is it Sunday? Do you rest and relax on this day? Would you interrupt your Sabbath Day for an emergency to help someone, or would you make them wait until the next day?

          For me, I know that this coming Friday I plan to rest, relax, pray, and recoup, but if one of you, your family, or someone else is having an emergency, well then maybe the most holy way to honor God and pursue God’s Kingdom right then, is to be there for the people who are suffering. For the Sabbath was made for rest, but it is never the wrong time to love, heal, or forgive. This is my sermon this morning is called “Love and mercy is 24/7”. For God loves us every second of every day, as does Jesus Christ.

          In the coming days and weeks I would challenge you all to consider taking a day of rest if you don’t already, and I would also challenge you to consider when if ever, it is ok to attend to an emergency on your day off? May we all this day and always “Pursue God’s Kingdom”. Praise be to Jesus Christ. Amen.

           

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost - 08/07/16 Sermon - “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too" "Pursuing God's Kingdom" Series (Part 1 of 4)

Sunday 08/07/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too”

(“Pursuing God’s Kingdom” Series – Part 1 of 4)

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Gospel Lesson: Luke 12:32-40

          My brothers and sisters, my friends, welcome again on this the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Twelve Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved in that Upper Room in Jerusalem, and the Christian Church was born. After three years of following Jesus Christ, learning from Jesus Christ, and listening to Jesus Christ, the Christian Church was officially born on the day of Pentecost.

          Since that day, the first disciples and generations since, have attempted to live their faith, and to grow closer to God. There are times in our history that I think that we have done this gloriously, and there are times that I think that we have struggled with this.

          One of my favorite scriptures is from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, or the Philippians. Paul writes in 2:12, “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12, NRSV). Since I believe in Jesus Christ, since I believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, I have many times grown in faith and further figured out my “own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12b, NRSV). To me, it isn’t enough to just be your pastor, I want to “Pursue God’s Kingdom”.

          Now God’s Kingdom has always been present I believe on some level, but when Jesus Christ came into the picture, it is as if some cracks in a dam exploded. The gospel of Matthew tells us that when Jesus Christ died on the cross that, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split” (Mt. 27:51, NRSV). The curtain of the temple, housed what we call, “the holy of holies”. What was “the holy of holies”? It is the actual box that contained the actual 10-commandments that Moses took down from Mount Sinai, after receiving them from God. The 10-commandments, the box that they were placed in, and the room that contained this in the temple was the holiest room in the temple. Only the high priest could enter this room once a year, and he would have a rope tied around his waist. He had a rope tied around his waist, because if God found him unworthy, he would then fall and die instantly. Since the high priest was deemed the holiest person alive, the less holy priests could then pull the now dead high priest out with the rope from this holiest room.

          Yet, the gospel of Matthew scripture that I just read said, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split” (Mt. 27:51, NRSV). This means brothers and sisters, that we now all now have access to “the holy of holies”. This access is not once a year, with a rope tied around our waste. Instead, it is access whenever we want it. The great Protestant Reformer Martin Luther didn’t make this statement directly, but inferred that we as Christians are, the “priesthood of all believers”. In hinting at this, brother Martin was citing the scripture from 1 Peter that says, “like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5, NRSV).

          I am venturing for a few moments off of my central topic this morning, to make this point, the veil has been torn, and we are the “priesthood of all believers”. This means, that in addition to just believing in God, in addition to just accepting the grace of Jesus Christ, and in addition to just being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are then freed up to “Pursue God’s Kingdom”.

          With this in mind, I am starting a new sermon series this morning called, you guessed it, “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”. This is a four week series that will run through this month of August. This sermon series is designed to challenge us beyond just salvation, to a deeper faith, and a faith that includes action.

          You know, I met many people that believe in Jesus Christ as there Lord and Savior, but some of these folks might not be “Pursuing God’s Kingdom”. In order to move beyond just salvation in Jesus Christ, just going to heaven one day, is growing our faith in this life, and us capturing the power that our faith can have in the world. This sermon series called “Pursuing God’s Kingdom” challenges us again, to go beyond just believing in Jesus Christ, to pursuing God, and pursuing God’s mission for us, and for the church. We need a faith that is vibrant, active, and growing. A faith that believes the basics and goes no further however, to me, is a faith that is not living up to our full faith potential.

          This week, Jesus challenges us very strongly to “Pursue God’s Kingdom”. This week, Jesus Christ tells us in the Gospel of Luke, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:34, CEB). Next week, Jesus will powerfully talk about the choice of choosing to serve him or not. Jesus will then tell us about doing the right thing. Lastly, Jesus will tell us to love and bring in all people into this community of faith.

          So Jesus tells us this morning, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:34, CEB). According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the definition of “Treasure” is:

1. Wealth (as money, jewels, or precious metals) stored up or hoarded (buried treasure). 

1b. Wealth of any kind or in any form: riches.

1c. A store of money in reserve.

2. Something of great worth or value; also:  a person esteemed as rare or precious.

3:  a collection of precious things

          As you hear these definitions my sisters and brothers, I ask you, where is your treasure? Jesus tells us that if we want to “Pursue God’s Kingdom” that where we have placed our treasure is important to God.

          The Gospel of Luke reading for this week begins with Jesus saying:

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs out. No thief comes there, and no moth destroys. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:32-34, CEB).

          I have found in now serving as the pastor of four churches, that when the pastor and the church are pursing the mission of the church, and “Pursuing God’s Kingdom,” that the church gets stronger. I have found that we grow in faith, we grow in number, and for some reason, ever church I pastor, has growth tremendously financially.

          I believe that there are so many people in our culture today that want to believe, but they are discouraged, or they have been hurt. Some people have given up on church altogether. What happens brothers and sisters, when we create a church that truly “Pursues God’s Kingdom”? I believe that when this happens, you will see new life, new growth, new hope, and abundances that you could have never imagined.

          I also believe that if we are to effectively live out our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” they we must first allow God to transform our hearts more. We must be so filled with the love of Jesus Christ, that with everything we have and are, we chose to “Pursue God’s Kingdom”. Part of this choice is deciding what we do with our treasure.

          Some college students might find that their greatest treasure vested within the walls of Budweiser factory. Some kids might find that there treasure is called an X-Box. Some of us might find that our treasures are cars, boats, houses, and etc. Yet last week we discussed that the Rev. Billy Graham said, “I have never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse”.

          So where to do we put our treasure my brothers and sisters? Are the things we value things of God, are the things we value of this earth. When Jesus was asked about the value of earthly treasure in the form of money, he said in Luke 20:25, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Lk. 20:25, NRSV).

          So what do we do with our treasure? How do we spend our time, our money, and our talents? For if God has given us so much, what do we do with our treasure? Do we keep all of our treasure only for ourselves, or do we use some of it to “Pursue God’s Kingdom?” We remember the story last week of the rich farmer who built bigger barns and hoarded his food, drink, and wealth. Where do we place all that God has given us? Further, are we naïve enough to think that anything we have is really ours, and not Gods? Do we realize that our talents, our wealth, our possessions have all been made possible from our God who created us with the gifts and abilities to accrue everything we have?

          I used to love stopping to get coffee some mornings. I would get a big fancy cup of flavored coffee, and I would put all sorts of creamers and things in it. I used to also love listening to my satellite radio on the way, as well. Yet I gave those two things up, so that I could give more. Melissa and I sold our home in Moravia, I spent four years attending theological school, doing a hospital internship, tons of training, because I decided back in 2010 when I finally attended seminary that I was going to “Pursue God’s Kingdom”.

          You see, we can have faith, we can go to church, but where is our heart, and where is our treasure? Jesus doesn’t pull any punches this morning. In next week’s gospel, Jesus is very direct that he came to draw people to holiness and righteousness, and that we don’t have time to waste.

So, my sisters and brothers, do we on this day and always want to grow closer to God? Do we want a stronger and a growing church? Do we want to “Pursue God’s Kingdom?” If we said yes to all of these, which I hope we did, Jesus said that one step towards accomplishing this, is taking very seriously his statement, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:34, CEB).

In closing, I want to tell you story called “Wesley’s Wealth”. The source of this story is the Christian History Newsletter, November 30, 2001. This story is of course is about the founder of our Methodist movement, John Wesley. Here is what the story says: “The modern Australian way is to spend, spend, spend, to the very limits of your income and then some more! A few hundred years ago the great preacher and evangelist John Wesley showed us another way. Wesley lived in economically uncertain times, yet from humble beginnings he became so well known that his income eventually reached 1400 pounds per year. In 2001 this would be the equivalent of earning around $300,000.”

“So what did he do with all this wealth? Did he tithe it? No. Wesley went way beyond tithing. He disciplined himself to live on just 30 pounds of the 1400 pounds he earned every year. He gave away 98% of all he earned and lived on just 2%!”

“Wesley once preached a sermon on Luke 16.9. In it he spelled out his philosophy: money is a tool that can be used for great good or great ill. “It is an excellent gift of God” he claimed, “answering the noblest ends. In the hands of his children, it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked: It gives to the traveler and the stranger where to lay his head. By it we may supply the place of an husband to the widow, and of a father to the fatherless. We maybe a defense for the oppressed, a means of health to the sick, of ease to them that are in pain; it may be as eyes to the blind, as feet to the lame; yea, a lifter up from the gates of death! It is therefore of the highest concern that all who fear God know how to employ this valuable talent; that they be instructed how it may answer these glorious ends, and in the highest degree.”

“He went on to spell out three simple rules which can guide us: gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can. Wesley lived out these principles, on another occasion remarking: , “If I leave behind me ten pounds…you and all mankind [can] bear witness against me, that I have lived and died a thief and a robber.”

So how does our gospel lesson end this morning? Jesus says, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (Lk. 12:40, NRSV). Jesus says, that one day the trumpet will sound, on that “great getting up morning,” and he will return in glory. Until that day though, will we “Pursue God’s Kingdom”? If the answer to that question is yes, one of the ways we can do this is take seriously the statement that Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too” (Lk. 12:34, CEB).

May the abundant blessings of heaven, the blessings that money can’t buy, be yours now and forever. May God use, guide us, and fill us, so that we may all “Pursue God’s Kingdom”. Amen.