Sidney UMC - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - 08/05/18 - Sermon - “The Eternal Bread" ("I am the bread of life" Series) - (Part 1 of 4)

Sunday 08/05/18 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:               “The Eternal Bread”

                     (“I am the bread of life” Series – Part 1 of 4)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 51:1-12

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: John 6:24-35

          Welcome again, my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, on this the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost.

          This morning, I am beginning a new sermon series that will go all through this month of August. This sermon series is called the “I am the bread of life”. Of the many ways that Jesus Christ tried to communicate to us, just who he was and is, he often used metaphors.

          In our lectionary scriptures for the entire month of August, Jesus tells us in the gospel of John reading every Sunday of this month that he is “the bread of life” (Jn. 6:35, NRSV). This is one of Jesus’ seven “I Am” statements in the gospel of John. What are these seven “I Am” statements? Here they are:

(https://letterpile.com/misc/7-I-Am-Statements-of-Jesus)

It is important first of all once again, to understand that these statements are metaphors that are being used by Jesus to communicate to us who he is. Jesus isn’t saying this morning therefore, that he is a literal loaf of bread, instead he is saying that he is the bread that feeds our hearts and souls. Jesus is saying that he is the “Eternal Bread”.

          Also, it is interesting to note that Jesus says, “I Am,” instead of just saying, sure, “Bread of the World, yep that’s me”!

          What is significant about saying the statement “I Am”? Well in the Book of Exodus, which is in the Jewish Torah, or our Old Testament, Moses is standing before the burning bush. Moses doesn’t understand how this bush is burning and how he is hearing it to speak to him. Moses then demands that the voice from the burning bush tell him his name. In response God says to Moses in Exodus 3:14:

“I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you’” (Ex. 3:14, NRSV).

          So in the Book of Exodus, God is telling Moses who speaks to him through a burning bush, “you don’t demand to know my name, I Am Who I Am” (Ex. 3:14, NRSV). Of course when I was a little kid, my grandpa told me that God’s name was “Andy,” because in the Hymn “In the Garden,” it says, “And he walks with me, and he talks with me”.

          This morning then, we have one of the famed “I Am” statement from Jesus Christ. Much like God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, telling Moses “I Am,” Jesus this morning tells his disciples and others, “I am the bread of life” (Jn. 6:35, NRSV). The only logical conclusion one can draw here, is that Jesus is saying that he is the full embodiment of God on earth. Jesus is saying that he is God in the flesh, fully God and fully Human.

          For the gospel of John begins by saying in verses 1:1-2:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (Jn. 1:1-2, NRSV).

          “The Word” in this scripture, or the “Logos” in Greek, is Jesus. Before time itself John says, Jesus and the Father were face to face with other. The scripture then says in John 1:14:

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14, NRSV).

         

          So Jesus, or “The Word,” or the “Logos” was with God before time, and that “Word,” God’s only son, “became flesh and lived among us” (Jn. 1:14, NRSV).

          This means my brothers and sisters, that Jesus Christ, our Lord, was the fullness of God and human while on earth. He was God wrapped in human flesh, as John 3:16 says:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16, NRSV).

          So God the Father and Jesus were face to face before time, and God the Father sent his Son to earth to be with us.

          In the Book of Exodus, Moses asks God his name, and God says:

“I am who I am” (Ex. 3:14, NRSV).

          This morning, and all through the lectionary readings for August, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life” (Jn. 6:35, NRSV). Do you see the connections between God speaking to Moses, and Jesus speaking to us?

          For example, Jesus said in John 14:9:

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9, NRSV).

          Further, in John 8:58 Jesus says:

“Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (Jn. 8:58, NRSV).

The scripture then says:

“So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (Jn. 8:59, NRSV).

          So in John 8:58-59, so offended by Jesus’ claim to be God on earth, people picked up stones to hit and kill him, as this was blasphemy in the Jewish faith.

          I tell you all of this to place emphasis on Jesus’ “I Am” statements or metaphors. Now again, Jesus isn’t saying he is like a sandwich at Panera Bread, he isn’t saying is like a loaf of bread at Price Chopper, he is saying he is the eternal source of life. As many of us are nourished by bread daily, Jesus is saying this morning that he can feed us eternally in a different way. Jesus is saying that while real bread will fill your stomachs, that he can fill your hearts and your souls.

          In looking more closely at our gospel reading for this morning again, there is reason that Jesus compares himself specifically to bread. Let’s take a look again. Our gospel of John reading says:

“So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal” (Jn. 6:24-27, NRSV).

          So Jesus had just hours before feed the Five-Thousand with the loaves of bread and the fishes. Then those people grew hungry again, and came to find Jesus to get more food. Jesus then tells them that only reason that they came looking for him was simply because they wanted more food to eat. Jesus explains to them after this just who he is.

          The gospel continues on to say:

“Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always” (Jn. 6:28-34, NRSV).

In response to this:

^“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn. 6:35, NRSV).

          I remember the first time that I saw the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” I was excited to see the chocolate factory and of course the “oompa loompas”. Anyone else like that movie?

I used to imagine as a small child what it would have been like to actually go into this chocolate factory, if it existed. In this movie, for those of us that have seen it, the tour of the chocolate factor was really one big test. Willy Wonka wanted to see the character of the children and their parents in person.

          For those of us that have seen the movie, we know that Violet turned violet. We know that “Veruca” fell down the garage shaft after a “Golden Goose”. We know that the cowboy kid shrunk himself. And in being a chubby kid of German ancestry, we all remember the German kid “Augustus” who fell in the chocolate river and got sucked up through the tube.

          It’s interesting to me that after each one of these kids failed Willy Wonka’s test, that the “Oompa Loompas” would then sing a song about what was wrong with what the kid that failed just did.

          Yet at the end of Willy Wonka, the main character “Charlie” passes the test, because he is honest, and puts others before himself.

          Now what is the comparison with this morning’s gospel reading? The comparison is this, that Jesus feed many physically, just like Willy Wonka invited the children and their families in to eat their fill of sweets. Yet, there was something much bigger than the food. What was bigger was truths behind the food.

          Just for the record though, I would very much love to own at least one “Everlasting Gobstopper”.

          This church, the Sidney United Methodist Church is great at feeding people real bread, but when we bring people into this place, into our “chocolate factory” let us remind them what the true treasure is. That Jesus Christ our Lord, lived and died for us, and that he is indeed “The Eternal Bread” of the world. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - 07/29/18 - Sermon - “What is impossible for God?" ("Living the Mission" Series - (Part 5 of 5)

Sunday 07/29/18 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:      “What is Impossible for God?”

                     (“Living the Mission” Series – Part 5 of 5)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 14

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: John 6:1-21

          Welcome again my dear friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, on this our Tenth Sunday after Pentecost.

          This morning, I am concluding my sermon series called “Living the Mission”. I began this sermon series, as many of you remember, on my first Sunday here at the Sidney UMC on July 1^st.

          The point of this sermon series, has been to look at our church, ourselves, our community, and our world. Many of us can remember times where the church was big and strong, and yet many of our churches seem to be shrinking and struggling in recent years.

          Since the mission of the United Methodist Church is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” this sermon series has looked at how we as individuals, and as a church, can better live out our church’s mission. Or another way to put it, is how do we better make disciples of Jesus Christ and equip them to serve Sidney and the world?

          Of the many ways that we can better live out our church’s mission, I have identified five ways that we can do this even better. These five things in fact, have existed at virtually every growing and thriving church that I have ever been a part of.

          Number one, we need pastors, leaders, and laity that love each other boldly in the name of Jesus Christ. We need to show people the love of Jesus and to live our faith, so that people will see who we are as Christians. This love will help us bring people to Christ, and it will make our church a stronger and even more loving family than it already is. I don’t know about you, but when I was a lay person, it felt good to me knowing that my pastor loved and prayed for me. Know that I love and pray for you.

          The second thing that we can do to better live out our church’s mission is rekindle our faith. Sometimes people grow discouraged, or our faith seems weak. The community of faith, this extended family called the church, is how we can grow together, comfort each other, and grow in our faith. I have heard the story many times about a pastor took fire place tongs and took a hot coal out of a fireplace fire and set it just outside the fire. Within in no time the hot coal went cold and dark. The pastor then put the coal back in the fireplace, and it quickly grew hot and red again. The same is true when we live our faith out together. We need to renew our faith in Christ, both individually, and as church.

          The third thing that we can do to better live out our church’s mission is to make room for the new people. When a church, a town, a city, or even a country experiences spiritual revival, this means new people in the life the church. If we are loving, leading, preaching, caring, and renewing our faith, if we are connecting to people through soon to be Bible studies and other programming, people will much more likely become part of this faith community. Let us make room for those people that are knew, knowing that Jesus has called us all to repent of our sins and come into a relationship with him. When the church grows, it changes, Jesus doesn’t change, our beliefs don’t change, but the church will change some. Let’s be ready.

          Last week, I talked about the fourth thing that we can do to better live out our church’s mission. This thing is to take our faith into a world that largely knows not Jesus Christ. Take your faith, as I will take my faith, into Sidney, and the world. People will see your faith, they will see your love, and your faith and love may move them to come to Christ. As I said last Sunday, hope breads hope, optimism bread optimism, and faith breads faith. Whether we are visiting those are suffering, or homebound, having coffee with a neighbor, volunteering, leading a church program, or anything else, we are called to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We are the people whom God has called to live and share the Good News of His Son, and we are the best hope that Jesus has called to go into a hurting, broken, and dying world. This church heals, loves, and cares for many. The more we can do this, and the more that we can take this out into the world, the more this church, Sidney, and the world will be transformed.

          So what is the fifth way that we can better live out our church’s mission of “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”? My answer to this is dream “God sized dreams”. Or to put it another way, as my sermon title is called “What is impossible for God”?

          During the first three centuries of the Christian Church, many Christians lived under heavy Roman persecution. Christians were fed to the lions in the Roman Coliseum. They were tortured, crucified upside down, and many tried to wipe Christians off the face of the earth. During all of that time though, like those first Apostles, the early Christians never stopped preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord. They never relented, they never gave up, and under the most brutal and oppressive conditions, their numbers grew daily.

          According to the tradition of the church, Saint Peter or the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down, as he felt unworthy to be crucified in the way that his Lord and Savior Jesus was crucified. When we fully place our trust into the hands of Jesus Christ, and when we are walking with him daily, if he has called us or the church to do something, do we believe that what he has called us to do is possible? Do we believe that God has called us at the Sidney UMC to dream “God sized dreams?” Do we believe that the Spirit of God can blow in and through us, and transform, this church, this community, and the world? I do.

          Do we believe that God is still in control, and do we believe that God use us “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”? I do, and I believe that renewal and revitalization in our churches is possible, if we dare to boldly live our Christian faith.

          There is a story that I thought of in preparing for this sermon called, “Anyone Else Up there?,” by author unknown. In this story:

“A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and to his horror saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn’t hang onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff.”

“So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something. “HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? “HELP!” He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice. “Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?” “Yes, yes! I can hear you. I’m down here!” “I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?” “Yes, but who are you, and where are you? “I am the Lord, Jack. I’m everywhere.” “The Lord? You mean, GOD?” “That’s Me.” “God, please help me! I promise if, you’ll get me down from here, I’ll stop sinning. I’ll be a really good person. I’ll serve You for the rest of my life.” “Easy on the promises, Jack. Let’s get you off from there, then we can talk.” “Now, here’s what I want you to do. Listen carefully.” “I’ll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do.” “Okay. Let go of the branch.” “What?” “I said, let go of the branch.” Just trust Me. Let go.” “There was a long silence. Finally Jack yelled, “IS there anyone else up there?” (http://storiesforpreaching.com/anyone-else-up-there/).

          In 2010 when I entered the seminary, I let go of the branch of the cliff, and it was scary for awhile, but God caught me and led me. Melissa and I sold our house, and four churches later, here we are. We have seen God do amazing things. So, are we willing dream “God sized dreams”? “What is impossible for God?”

          What are your dreams for this church, this community, and the world? Do we want a Sunday School program again? Do we want a Bible Study, a mission trip, movie nights, a second service, and or etc.? If we are willing to let go of the branch and dream these “God sized dreams,” do we truly believe that God can lead us there. I do, and I do so strongly that I willing to give everything I have and everything I am to Jesus and his gospel, the hope of the world.

          In looking at our reading for this Sunday from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul once again said:

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

(Eph. 3:4-21, NRSV).

          So the Apostle Paul says that he bows before the Heavenly Father, and says that we all take our names from Him and are of Him. Paul then tells the Ephesians and us that he prays that God would strengthen us in our inner being, or our souls, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul continues saying that he prays that Christ would dwell in our hearts. This faith, this spiritual fulfillment that the Apostle Paul is talking about, I believe, is the fuel that we need to dream “God sized dreams”.

          The Apostle Paul further tells the Ephesians and us that he prays we might be rooted and grounded in love, and that we would truly know the love of Jesus Christ. This culminates according to the Apostle Paul with us being filled with the fullness of God.

          Then again in Ephesians 3:20 the Apostle Paul says:

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul then says, God can do amazing things in us and through us. In fact, far more that we all can ask or imagine. This reading then ends once again with:

“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:21, NRSV).

         

So then we are to dream “God sized dreams,” and to believe that nothing “is impossible for God”. For this has been the call to us all through the church from day one, to bring people to Christ, and equip them to serve and love their neighbors, while transforming the world.

My friends, my brothers and sisters, I believe that if we dare to dream big that God can and will use us to do things that we can’t even imagine.

In our gospel of John reading for this morning, the disciples doubted Jesus’ ability to feed the five-thousand with the loaves and fishes (Jn. 6:1-14, NRSV). They didn’t believe in the dream, and thought it was impossible. The disciples then go into a boat and go across the Sea of Galilee at night (Jn. 6:16-17, NRSV). They were caught in a storm, and Jesus walked on the water and comforted them and assured them in the storm. They didn’t believe that this could happen.

Do we have faith big enough to dream “God sized dreams?” Do we believe that nothing “is impossible for God?” When we love, lead, renew our faith, make room for new people, go out into the world and heal, love, and care, and when we dream big, well that’s when the church of Jesus Christ will be renewed and revitalized. That day will be a day for the books. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - 07/22/18 - Sermon - “Healing, loving, and caring" ("Living the Mission" Series - (Part 4 of 5)

Sunday 07/22/18 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:      “Healing, loving, and caring”

                     (“Living the Mission” Series – Part 4 of 5)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 89:20-37

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

          Welcome again my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, on this the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. Nine Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved on the day of Pentecost, nearly two-thousand years ago, and the Christian Church was born.

          As many of you know, I started my first Sunday here at the Sidney UMC on July 1^st by beginning a sermon series called “Living the Mission”. As I have said many times, and you have probably heard many times, the mission of the United Methodist Church is:

“To make disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world”.

We are all called in our own ways then, to bring people, with God’s help, to the saving grace of God’s son Jesus Christ. Then, with God’s help, to equip them to transform Sidney and the world. This also means that when we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, that we are forever changed.

          Yet, as I have said, and many of us know all too well, so many of our churches in this country, whether they be Methodist or not, are in steep decline. To put it another way, most of our churches are shrinking and not growing.

          Well why is this? How can we better live our church’s mission out, as to revitalize and grow our churches? My sermon series “Living the mission,” that I have been preaching on discussing five ways that I believe that we can better live out our church’s mission. Don’t get me wrong, there other ways to, but I chose just five that I think are good ones to focus one.

          So what are these ways that we can better live our mission, grow and revitalize our churches with God’s help? Of the five ways that I have identified, thus far, I have said first and foremost, we need to greet and care for each other “With the love of Jesus Christ”. This means, that people need to know that they are loved and cared for by their Pastor, by the leaders of the church, and all of us. Knowing that you are loved, that you matter, that there is place for you here at the Sidney UMC, is a great way to better live our mission. It is also good to know that there are people here that are there for you if you need them. If you are sick, if you are in the hospital, if you need help, I hope that you can view this church as an extension of your family.

          The second thing that we can do to better live out our church’s mission, is with the power of the Holy Spirit, renew our faith. We need to believe in a new and a powerful way in Jesus Christ. We need to know that He is risen, that he is our Lord, and that through him all things are possible. That Jesus and His gospel changes hearts and lives. Or to put it another friends, strong faith breeds strong faith. If the church has strong faith, than that faith will spread. Faith breeds faith. Energy breeds energy. Optimism breed optimism, and faith breeds faith.

          Last week I talked about the church growing. Now this is in a way, a bi-product of living out our mission better, but it is also the direct result of doing this. When people feel loved, cared for, and when they grow closer the Christ, the church grows and flourishes. Yet when new people will come into the church, how can we make space for them? This could mean a second worship service, bible studies, trainings, mission trips, Sunday school, youth groups, prayer meetings, and etc. You see, Jesus Christ doesn’t change, but the folks who make up churches like this, well that can change.

          The next thing that I want to introduce this morning that I think can better help us to live out our church’s mission better, is the idea of “Healing, loving, and caring”. Thus far in this sermon series, I have talked a lot about what we can do here inside of this church. Yet, what can we do beyond the walls of this church?

          One of the things that I have encountered as a pastor, is folks that have faith, but say, “Pastor, I don’t need to go to church to have faith”. I have joked with some church folks before that some folks are interested in the Christian faith for what I like to call “Fire Insurance”. This means that you have faith in Christ, because you want the salvation and the eternity in heaven that it will yield. As far as living the Christian faith out though, well that is a lot of work. It is Biblical though, as we are called to be the united body of Christ. We are called to be together, to worship together, and live out our faith together. It is as Biblical as it gets. So friends, the more that we live and model our faith, the more people will see it and be attracted to it.

          I remember hearing a testimony of man who had come to Christ at least 10-years ago now. This man said that he had started spending time with some other Christian men. This man noticed right away that these Christian men were different than some of his other non-Christian friends. You see, they had a joy, a peace, and caring and concern for others that he saw in few of his other male friends have. He didn’t know exactly what they had that was different than him, but he wanted some of what they had. He finally asked them why they were the way there were, and they told him that were the way there were because they had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. That they had repented, come to Christ, and been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

          So we are called to live out our faith in community, and to do beyond the walls of this church building.

The founder of the Methodist Movement, Rev. John Wesley was famous for being out of his church building among the people. He preached to all sorts of people, blue collar workers, white collar workers, the powerful, the powerless, and etc. I read one account once that Rev. Wesley had just preached to a group of coal miners, who had come out of the mine they were working in to hear his sermon. The miners were so moved by his words, that there black faces had white streaks where the coal dust had been washed away by their tears.

          Rev. Wesley was questioned one day by his bishop as to why he was not in his church building or his parish all day. Rev. Wesley said to his bishop about being in the church building or the parish all day:

“I look upon the whole world as my parish” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_wesley_524890)

          For me, for Pastor Paul, my Christian faith goes well beyond this hour that worship together on Sunday morning. My faith is who I am in Jesus Christ. Friends, the harvest in Sidney, NY is plentiful, but I hope that workers aren’t few.

          So specifically, since my sermon title for this morning is called “Healing, loving, and caring,” well what do I mean by that? I mean that we are called to be Christ’s representatives or ambassadors in the world. In fact, we are the best hope on earth that Jesus Christ has.

          This means love your neighbors, help that older person struggling to go across the street, pray with and for those who suffer, forgive and love others, and care for those need care. Live and love like Jesus. The more that we do this, the more that people will see Christ in us. The more that they will say, I don’t know what is different about that person, but I want some of what they have. Friends the love and grace of God is what bring people to Jesus Christ.

          In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the Ephesians from this morning, we here that the church is:

“built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20, NRSV).

         

          The church is to be built on Jesus Christ, and is to look like Jesus Christ. Let’s look again at our gospel of Mark reading for this morning. It says speaking of the feeding the five-thousand:

“The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things”

(Mk. 6:30-34, NRSV).

          Now the rest of this story gets cut off in this scripture reading for this morning, but this part of Mark 6 goes on tell the story of Jesus feeding the five-thousand. He had love and compassion for then, and so he fed them.

          This church does this great. Through Share the Bounty dinners, the Food Bank, Sauce and Cross, and etc. we do this. With God’s help, I pray that in addition we can fill people’s souls even better than we already are doing.

          So the gospel of Mark reading for this morning cuts off before the actual feeding the Five-Thousand with the loaves and fishes, and then pick us at verse 53. Our gospel of Mark reading once again ends with this:

“When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed”

(Mk. 6:53-56, NRSV).

          So in this cut and pasted reading that the church has given us for this morning, Jesus feeds, heals, love, and cares for many. Jesus Christ, the risen savior of the world, God in the flesh did these things and many more. Did he first and foremost come to die for our sins, sure, but Jesus said to love others the way that He loved us. Friends, brothers and sisters, when we do this well, you will see a church that is on fire, revitalized, and that is transforming Sidney and the world.

          I want close this message with a story about really loving and caring for other people, and forgiveness. Some of us might remember hearing a story on television back in 2006 in which Terri Roberts’ son Charlie walked into an Amish School House in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and shot ten Amish girls. Charlie then shot and killed himself. Here is an updated report that was published in 2013 about this event. The article says:

“It’s been seven years since Terri Roberts' life changed forever. In October 2006, her 32-year-old son Charlie walked into an Amish school in Lancaster County and shot 10 young girls, killing five of them before killing himself?” 

          "I heard the sirens and heard helicopters," Roberts said. "My phone was ringing and it was my husband and he said, 'You have to get to Charlie's right away.' And I looked at my husband with these sunken eyes, just saying, 'It was Charlie.' "It could not be," she said, shaking her head and with tears in her eyes. "It truly was. It was our son." “Roberts' initial reaction was that she had to move away. But the Amish came to her the night of the shooting to say they wanted her to stay”. 

“Some of the victims' families attended her son's funeral". There are not words to describe how that made us feel that day," said Roberts.

"For the mother and father who had lost not just one but two daughters at the hand of our son, to come up and be the first ones to greet us -- wow. Is there anything in this life that we should not forgive?”

“Roberts now shares this message with those who have experienced trauma. And every Thursday, she cares for the most seriously wounded survivor of the shooting, who is now 13”.

          “It's against Amish beliefs to appear on camera. Donald Krayhill often speaks on their behalf. “I find what Terri does with that little girl an incredibly moving event.  It takes me to tears every time I talk about it or think about it,” said Krayhill”. 

          "You have this mother who raised a son who did this horrific damage to this young woman and the mother has the courage and spiritual fortitude to come back and care for this young woman, and the parents of the young woman welcome her into their home. It's a powerful, powerful story." Asked what she would say to the families of the school shooting victims killed in Newtown, Conn., one year ago, Roberts said: "There is always hope. To walk into the future knowing each day has something that we can be thankful for, and not to live in the sorrow 24-7”.

"Ask God to provide new things in your lives, new things to focus on," she said. "That doesn't take the place of what is lost. But it can give us a hope and a future". A future only made possible by forgiveness.

(https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mother-of-amish-school-shooter-shares-amazing-story-of-forgiveness/)

Friends, Jesus Christ came to earth, to love, heal, forgive, and to die for us. When we show this to others in various ways, not only will the church flourish, but we will all be “Healing, loving, and caring” Amen.

Sidney UMC - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost - 07/15/18 - Sermon - “Be careful what you ask for!" ("Living the Mission" Series - (Part 3 of 5)

Sunday 07/15/18 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:      “Be careful what you ask for!”

                  (“Living the Mission” Series – Part 3 of 5)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 24

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: Mark 6:14-29

          My dear friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome once again on this the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Eight Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved in a powerful and a mighty way, and the Christian Church was born nearly two-thousand years ago. As we are in worship here this morning, may we pray that the Holy Spirit moves once again in a new and a powerful way, here in this place, in all of Sidney, and in all of the world.

          So with this said, many years ago when I was very young, I remember a movie coming on television right around Christmas time. This movie, as it turns out, seems to have been on television every Advent and Christmas Season ever since!

          In this movie, “A Christmas Story,” the young character “Ralphie” wanted something for Christmas very very badly. That thing that he wanted, as many of us know, was a “Red Rider BB Gun”. He was obsessed with it, yet everyone told him when he asked for it, “You’ll shoot your eye out kid”!

          Well for those of us that have seen “A Christmas Story,” we know that little “Ralphie” got his “Red Rider BB Gun”, and that he in fact did almost shoot his eye out!

          What is it like friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, to really want something? I mean to really really want something? What does that feel like?

          There is an old phrase, “Beware of what you wish for”. Or as my sermon title this morning is called, “Be careful what you ask for!”

          I remember when I interviewed here this past winter to become the pastor of this church, the people that I talked to here at Sidney UMC wanted the new pastor of this church to preach out of the Bible, to visit people, and to hopefully help to grow this church and its ministries to grow. How many of us here still want all of these things?

          I remember seeing a funny church newspaper cartoon a while back that portrayed a church Administrative Board meeting. This specific church board was discussing hiring a new pastor in this cartoon. The caption in the cartoon read though, “We just want a young energetic pastor that preaches well, will grow the church, and change absolutely nothing”.

          Friends, like you I want this church and its ministries to grow and thrive, but do we all really want that? This is why my sermon title is called “Be careful what you ask for!” This of course is similar to the old quote, as I said, “Beware what you wish for”.

          Now this sermon that I am giving this morning, as many of you know, is part of my five week sermon series called “living the mission”. As many of us know, the mission of the United Methodist Church is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world”. We are called to bring people through the power of the Holy Spirit to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and then lead and guide them to serve others in Sidney and in the world.

          So what are some ways that we can better live this mission out? One way, is to have pastors, leaders, and church members that boldly love others in the name of Jesus Christ. Pastors, leaders, and church members that care about you, love you, and shepherd you closer to Jesus Christ. It’s important to know that your pastor, your church leaders, and the members of the church love you and are there for you.

          Another way to better live the mission of the church, as I discussed last week, is to renew our faith and our hope in Jesus Christ and his gospel, both individually and as a church. We need to believe anew again in the power of Jesus Christ and his gospel. We need to believe in what God can do in us, in this church, in Sidney, and in the world. We need to believe that this church and its ministries can grow, and we need to trust that God can renew us.

          What happens though, when we actually get what we want? What happens when get the “Red Rider BB Gun”? What happens when the church actually grows?

          Well, in our gospel reading from the Gospel of Mark for this morning, we have a request. We have someone asking for something. Let’s look once again at this morning’s gospel reading. It says, speaking of Jesus and John the Baptist:

“King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised” (Mk. 6:14-16, NRSV).

          So we first hear King Herod debating over who Jesus Christ was and is. Was he John the Baptist raised up from the dead?

          The gospel then continues once again speaking of John the Baptist. It says:

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter” (Mk. 6:17-25, NRSV).

          Have you ever told your kids, your spouse, and or your grandkids that could having anything they wanted from you? I mean anything? Herod told his wife Herodias this morning, you can have anything you want. As my sermon title once again says, “Be careful what you ask for!” This is also where we get the term of “bring his head on a silver platter”.

So what is King Herod to do, this is what his wife Herodias wants, and he told her that she could have anything that she wanted.

          The gospel then concludes once again with:

^“The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb”. (Mk. 6:26-29, NRSV).

          So what happens my brothers and sister when we get exactly what we want?

          When I came here in the winter, once again, I heard that you all wanted a pastor that would preach from the Bible, that did visits, that led in new ways, and with God’s help would grow this church and its ministries.

          These things that you have asked for, are also the things that I wish for with this church and this community with all my heart. The question to consider though is, are we really ready for this church and its ministries to grow?

          Or do, “We just want a young energetic pastor that preaches well, will grow the church, and change absolutely nothing”.

          When a church and its ministries grow, is there some change that occurs? Yes, of course. What doesn’t change however? The Bible, Jesus Christ that he is the Risen Savior of the world, and this gospel is the best hope for humanity.

New people coming into the church though, means maybe some new ideas, new perspectives, new energy, and who knows maybe even eventually another worship service at a different day and time. This means like Mary and Joseph wanting a room at the Inn to give birth to Jesus, we have to make space for people who maybe come and be a part of this church. It means things will change some. I have no intention of radically changing this worship service, our churches traditions, what we hold sacred, but I am asking that when new people come into the life of this church that we should welcome and love them in word, action, and deed. We are called to bring people to the saving grace of Christ and equip those people to change the world. Yet younger people might have different interests, and some new people might like a different kind of coffee than you. Some might even be Mets fan! Yes that’s right, I said Mets fans!

Yet God created all of us in His imagine, and we all, every single one of us need the life saving grace of God found only in Jesus Christ. The church therefore, becomes in gathering of all of God’s children, as we grow closer to Christ, and as the world is transformed.

How passionate about the church’s mission am I? As the director of our church growth and vitalization expert Rev. Dr. Aaron Bouwens has said, “I will do anything short of sin, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”.

I believe my brothers and sisters that Jesus Christ and his gospel are the hope the world, and I believe all people need to hear this Good News, repent of their sins, and be filled with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. I don’t preach this gospel because it works, or just because people like it, I preach it because it is the truth, and because it cost my Lord and Savior his life.

          So as a church, we want renewal, we want growth, we want to great people with the love of Christ, we want to renew our faith, and we want to reap a new harvest. But, do we really want all of those things? Friends, let’s stay deeply rooted in our unchanging two-thousand year faith, but let us make room for those who may be new. This might cause us to have to make some changes, but it will result in a renewed church, a renewed Sidney, people coming to Christ, and this church continuing to transform the world. I know this, because I have seen it happen now in four churches. Let us believe again, and in what God can do! Amen.