Sidney UMC - 4th Sunday after the Epiphany - 02/02/2020 - Sermon - “God's weakness is stronger than human strength”

Sunday 02/02/20 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “God’s weakness is stronger than human strength”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 15

                                           

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12

          Welcome once again on this the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Four Sundays after the Wisemen came to Jesus one way and left changed forever.

          Last week, we talked about, in part, our reading from the Apostle Paul’s first Epistle or letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 from last week, the Apostle Paul once again told us that in the church that we should have “No Division Among You”. He was saying that we should follow Christ, and not follow people. Instead of following a person or a leader, we should follow Christ.

          Our reading from 1 Corinthians 1 picks up this week, right where our reading left off from last week. Once again, our reading from 1 Corinthians last week was 1:10-18. This Sunday once again our reading is 1 Corinthians 18-31. It’s interesting that two weeks in arrow we are given 1:18.

          Once again 1 Corinthians 1:18 says:

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, NRSV).

          It’s interesting that we get this verse, as I said, two weeks in a row. I think what the Apostle Paul is saying hear, is if you are not a Christian, our beliefs might seem odd. Why do we believe that God sent his son to earth to die for us? Why would God require such a human sacrifice?

          The answer comes down to the historic Christian world view, that we are fallen people. We’re not awful, but we are prone to sin. By ourselves, we cannot be without sin. As a result, God chose to redeem us and forgive us through his Son’s shed blood on the cross.

          It can be the tendency of a local church, or the broader church, to use human reason over Christ. We can decide that certain people are better than other people, or we could be divided over something else. When we focus on Christ though, the church, as I said last Sunday will be strong, united, and will flourish. We exist as church because of Jesus. We exist as church to bring people to Jesus, and we exist as church to equip people to serve Sidney and the world in the name of Jesus.

          In our reading from Psalm 15 for this morning, once again, the Psalmists tells us those who dwell with God will be blameless, innocent, and will speak the truth (Ps. 15, NRSV).

          In our continued reading from 1 Corinthians for this morning, the Apostle Paul tells us in 1:25 that “God’s weakness is stronger that human strength” (1 Cor. 1:25b, NRSV).

          Now, I don’t think that the Bible or the Apostle Paul is opposed to knowledge, learning, or wisdom. I do think though that what the Apostle Paul is saying here is that if you are using persuasion or human wisdom to denounce Christ, then you are manipulating who Jesus is. We can all find scholarly and very smart people that could tell us why Jesus isn’t Lord and why we shouldn’t follow Him. Yet, this doesn’t mean that those people are right. The Apostle Paul is telling us to be weary of people that will try to destroy our faith in Christ. People that want lead us away from God, and often for their own advantage. In fact, the Apostle Paul picks up for this morning once again, beginning with quoting the Prophet Isaiah 29:14. This is once again what the Apostle Paul writes in our reading for this morning:

          “For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor. 1:19-25, NRSV).

          If Christ is Lord, if he was the fullness of God and human on this earth, then he is the zenith or the top of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. There will be those however, who will attempt to pick Christ apart, or to tear him down, or to change him into what they want him to be. The Apostle Paul is telling us, I think, that learning, and wisdom aren’t bad, but that Christ is our standard. When we get puffed up and think we know everything, we know in that very moment a fraction of what God knows.

          Once again, the Apostle Paul says,

For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor. 1:25, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul then completes this reading from 1 Corinthians for this morning saying to us once again:

^“Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,  so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:26-31, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul is saying to the Christians in the church in Corinth, or the Corinthians, that many of them were everyday people like us. Paul says, most of the church in Corinth were not people of vast education, great power, or people born to highest and most noble families. Paul says though, none of this matters to God. You are saved and restored through Jesus Christ, and nothing on this earth can take that from you.

          In fact, the Apostle Paul says to the church in Corinth that God called many of the people in the church, not because they were great by earthly standards, but instead because they were the opposite. Paul says that, God chose the foolish, to shame the wise, and chose the weak to shame the strong. God has called those who are nothing and has given them everything in Jesus Christ.

          The Apostle Paul tells us that God is our source of life in Jesus Christ. May we be humble, righteous, and loving. If we do boast, may we boast only in Jesus Christ.

          The fascinating thing to me is this, we live in the most technologically advanced time in human history. We can get information in an instant. We can call with video chat anywhere in the world in an instant. We have medical technology and other great things that have made our lives in some ways vastly easier than ever before. If we have all these however, then why is the world still so broken? Why is there so much suffering? Why is there so much sin and darkness?

          Well some would say that as humans alone we can fix everything. They would say, we don’t need God or Jesus, we alone can do this. Yet, how has our track record been as humans in recent years? The point is this, I put my trust in Christ to lead me, and I know that if I try to lead myself, well that just won’t work out to well. I put my trust in Christ, as he is my hope and my savior.

          I also am a learner, a reader, but I will never be convinced that humanity on its own, left to its own devices, will be able to fix everything broken and wrong in this world and in us. This has been tried in the secular Soviet Union or Communist Russia. You see, we need God. We need a savior. We have a savior, named Jesus Christ.

          Knowledge and learning are good but let us not get so big headed that we begin to think that we know more than God, who created us. I have been blessed to have been able to attend college and seminary school a combined total of 9-years. I have all sorts of pieces of paper and awards, but all that pales in comparison to Christ.

          My late Grandpa Winkelman went through 8^th-grade. He was a farmer in Northern Illinois and grew up during the Great Depression. After eighth grade, he quit school and came to work on the farm. He was one of smartest, hardest working, and best Christian men I have ever met in my life. If I ever got “to big for my britches” as he might say, I am certain he would come down from heaven and straighten me out.

          The point is, is that I was given educational opportunities that my family didn’t have a couple of generations ago. Yet, Jesus is still Lord, and I still humbly serve him. Any knowledge, wisdom, or education I have then is not to be smarter than God or anyone else, it is instead to help love and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ. After completing four years of seminary studies, do you know what I have learned? I have learned that Jesus is still Lord, and I still do my best to humbly serve him.

          This morning, as you all heard, we are given in our gospel reading from Matthew, the “Beatitudes,” or what we commonly call “The Sermon on the Mount,”. In fact, I went to the historic site of “The Sermon on the Mount,” when I was in the Holy Land 6-years ago. While there, I saw the place that the church believes where “The Sermon on the Mount” was preached by Jesus.

          What Jesus is saying in his Beatitudes, is to be like him. The idea that “God’s weakness is stronger than human strength,” is a theme in this morning’s gospel lesson. Anything we are, anything that we have, is because of God. Sure, we maybe do or did work hard to have what we have, but who gave us the drive, the gifts, and the talent that we have. We are who we are, because God has given us everything through Him, and through those who love us.

          Once again, our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning says:

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5:1-12, NRSV)

          There’s a whole lot here. I think Jesus is reminding us, as smart, and as great as we might think we are, that God is greater. God is greater than us, and greater than everything. It is when we begin to think that we are greater than God, or smarter than God, this is when we lose are way. Further, our greatest strength, our greatest gift, according to the Apostle Paul this morning, is God’s greatest weakness. God is so much bigger, stronger, and mightier, than we will ever be.

          We might think we are indeed great and strong, but only through God in Jesus Chris can it be so. May we be humble. If we have achieved various measures of earthly success, let us remember who we, and who’s we are. Let us serve Christ and others and realize that we are his servants. May we move the focus from us, to Him, for he is the object of our worship, our love, and our hope.

           One of the things that always makes me chuckle, is when I am leading a Bible Study or some other small group type of ministry. I sometimes offer anyone who is there to open or close us with a prayer. Usually when I do this, it’s dead silent. I remember I asked once, don’t any of you want to pray. An older woman in one of the churches that I used to serve then said in the Bible Study that I was leading, “Pastor Paul, you should pray it sounds nicer when you pray”. So, I asked in response, “What do you mean?” She then said, “Well Pastor Paul when you pray you say the right words and do it such a way that I think God likes it more than our prayers”. I then asked, “So God likes my prayer more than yours?” She then said, “Well yes”. I paused for a second and looked around the whole room at the Bible Study and said, “Nothing that I have learned or that I can ever say to God will ever be any better than anything that you can say to God”.

          Friends we are all equals before God in Jesus Christ. Let us remember that “God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” Amen.

Sidney UMC - 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/26/2020 - Sermon - “No Divisions Among You”

Sunday 01/26/20 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:             “No Divisions Among You”

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4

                                           

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 4:12-23

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. Three Sundays after the Wise Men or Magi visited Jesus. They came one way but left changed forever.

          So, I heard this funny story a few years back. I can’t remember exactly where this story came from, but it was a story about a sports coach. I think the coach was a basketball coach. This coach had a team of middle school boys, and these boys had just beaten their archrival that they had continually lost to for years. The victory was a major upset. The coach was so proud of these young boys, how they played, and that they showed good sportsmanship.

          At the last practice prior to this big game and this big victory, the coach told the team that if they won the game, that he would take them all out to eat anywhere they wanted for dinner. The basketball game ended at about 4:00 pm, and the coach had everything worked out with the parents and the kids to go to dinner.

          What the coach did after the victory in the locker room, was give the boys 10-minutes after the game to discuss and to decide where they wanted to go and eat. The coach asked them to vote on it and come to a consensus on where they were going to go to eat.

          So, ten-minutes went bye, the coach had left the locker room, and when he returned, the students were going to tell him where they were going to eat.

          As it turns out, when the coach came back, the boys were arguing, and no consensus was reached. After the coach tried to get the boys to vote right then, there was still no consensus. As a result, the coach lost his cool, he raised his voice, and he said, “I have just decided, where we are going to eat!” The locker quieted down, and the boys got on the bus with the coach and headed to restaurant. It was pretty quiet on this bus ride. Everyone went to dinner, and then the parents picked up their kids and brought them home.

          The reason that I find this funny, is because the coach was fair, he asked for a voted upon democratic consensus, and it did not work. The big take away for me here, is that just because we are handed all the power in the world, doesn’t mean we will do well with it. Can we work together? Can we play well with others?

          When Moses went up the mountain to receive the 10-Commandments in the Book of Exodus, for example, he left his brother Aaron in charge. While Moses was gone, Aaron allowed the Jewish people to worship a golden calf and to party wildly. I also think of the Tower of Babel story, when the people attempted to build a tower to God. Unsuccessfully of course.

          Perhaps the basketball coach in the story that I just told you, should have put more parameters on his students around picking a place to go to dinner. The coach’s very fair and easy to follow plan was a disaster.

          As humans, when we are left to own devices and not given enough direction, we often don’t have a good track record. We know what to do, and what we have been asked to do, but sometimes we just don’t do it. Are there rules? Or can we just do whatever we want?

          In our reading from this morning from 1 Corinthians once again, the Apostle Paul in part is telling the church in Corinth to continue to teach and live the faith he taught them through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said that he wanted unity. Nothing is worse for a church than division and disunity. Being divided and not loving each other, and not being united can really harm a church. We are called to love and cherish all people.

          Our unity is not only in relationships though. Our unity is centrally first and foremost in Christ. We here a little bit of this reality once again in our reading for this morning from the Prophet Isaiah 9:1-4. Once again, this scripture says:

“But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian”                (Isa. 9:1-4, NRSV).

          In this scripture predicting the coming of Jesus, we hear of the love and the unity of Christ. We hear that darkness will give way to light, that joy will increase, and that the love and unity of Christ will prevail.

          Getting back to our reading for this morning from 1 Corinthians once again, the Apostle Paul tells the church on Corinth, that we are to have “No divisions among you.” We are supposed to get along, be united, and work together as a church.

          Part the of the one-year leadership training that I have been participating in at our Upper New York Annual Conference Center, is designed to help us pastors grow in leadership and to grow our churches in discipleship. Specifically, create a unified mission in our churches, raise up leaders in our churches, and develop more flourishing ministries that will grow and develop the church. This in turn will help the people of the church better serve and transform Sidney and the world. What I have been thinking about for this church, is that we exist to “Connect people to Christ, to Equip them for service, and to send them forth to serve Sidney and the world”. In order to fulfill the mission of this church, it is important to have “No divisions among you.”

          Now this morning, I don’t think that the Apostle Paul is talking about political parties, or personal preferences, instead he is talking about why the church exists. He is talking about the church teaches and believes. In looking at our scripture from 1 Corinthians once again for this morning, it says:

“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”                       (1 Cor. 1:10-18, NRSV).

          So, the Apostle Paul encourages us to be in agreement with one another. We don’t have to be in agreement about political parties, sports teams, our favorite food, and etc. We are to be in agreement though and of the same mind about the purpose of our faith and the mission of the church.

          What the Apostle Paul cites this morning is that some people in the church of Corinth, are not following Christ directly. Instead they are following Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or Christ. The Apostle Paul then asks the people of the church in Corinth if Christ has been divided. Paul asked if it was Jesus who was crucified for them, or was it Paul? The Apostle Paul said that in Corinth he only baptized Crispus and Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, and that he didn’t baptize them in his name. The Apostle Paul said that he was called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was called with God’s help to bring people to Christ. He wasn’t called to bring people to him, or to another church leader, but to Christ.

          The center of our Christian faith our church, and the mission of our church, is Jesus Christ. The primary calling of our church is to mission to make “disciples of Jesus Christ”. We are called in various ways to lead people to Christ, and then equip them to transform Sidney and the world. We are not just getting people to accept Christ and stopping there, but we believe that powerful transformation is possible through Christ.

          We are then to be united in Christ. We don’t need to agree on everything, but we should agree on being in Christ. Christ is our Lord, our redeemer, and our savior. The church, the core of the Christian faith, has for two-thousand years revolved around that central truth. Do we know Jesus? Do we love him? Do we live for him and others? A new life in Christ is what we as a church are called to lead people into. People that need hope, who need newness of life, and who need to be made whole. When people are then freed from sin and guilt, they can boldly transform the world. This is what I believe that the Apostle Paul meant this morning when he said to have “No divisions among you.”

          For me, I want to be in a church that profess Jesus as Lord, and that lives this out in radical and powerful ways. A church that loves and treasures all people and professes Christ.

          In looking at our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning once again, Jesus, like last Sunday’s gospel reading, calls his first disciples. Let look once again at our gospel of Matthew reading. It says:

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people”                         (Mt. 4:12-23, NRSV)

          The first thing here, is that Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist has been arrested and will ultimately be beheaded. When you are preaching holiness and repentance, some people just don’t like to hear that!

          The gospel then says that Jesus withdrew to Galilee and “made his home in Capernaum by the seas.” We are told that Jesus did this to fulfill what we read for this morning from the Prophet Isaiah 9:1-4.

          After connecting this gospel reading to our reading from the Prophet Isaiah for this morning, we are told that Jesus began preaching repentance. Essentially, Jesus is telling people repent, to turn to God, and that kingdom of heaven has come near. Jesus then calls Peter and Andrew to be his disciples. Jesus tells Peter and Andrew that he will make them fishers of men.

          Jesus then calls James and John, and with these four, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in the Jewish Synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Lastly, we are told that Jesus cured every disease and sickness among the people.

          What Jesus taught, who he was and is, is the center of the mission of the church. We exist to bring people to Christ, so that they might be transformed, and then transform Sidney and the world. To best of our abilities then, we can be accomplish all of this, when we have “No divisions among you.”

          Friends, we will never have all of the same opinions on everything, but we will all always have the same Jesus. May there be “No divisions among you.” Amen.

Sidney UMC - Human Relations Day/2nd Sunday after the Epiphany - 01/19/2020 - Sermon - “We Have Found the Messiah!”

Sunday 01/19/20 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:             “We Have Found the Messiah!”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 40:1-11

                                           

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: John 1:29-42

          Welcome again on this our Second Sunday after the Epiphany, and this our Human Relations Day Sunday. Two Sundays after the visit of the Wise Men or the Magi to Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

          Today is also Human Relations Day, which is one of the six special giving Sundays in the United Methodist Church. These special giving Sundays were created by our church General Conference, and as a result, all local churches are asked to participate in these special giving Sundays. According to www.umcgiving.org, this is what the Human Relations Day offering is for:

“Across the United Methodist connection we come together to help bridge the gap between church and community by participating in an offering set aside for Human Relations Day. For more than half a century, United Methodists have observed this churchwide special Sunday in recognition of the message Jesus demonstrated during his life: all of God’s children are important”.

“One of the wonderful aspects of The United Methodist Church is that we can do so much more together than we ever could do on our own. On Human Relations Day, we join other UMC congregations in a special offering to support neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk youth through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs”.

“In recognizing Human Relations Day, we are called to make an impact in communities where people struggle because they don’t have the tools or resources to reach their God-given potential.  Our gifts are part of building beloved community through faith-based volunteer programs, community developers and programs that work with at-risk teens”. (http://www.umcgiving.org/ministry-articles/human-relations-day)

So, if you notice the special giving envelope in your church bulletin for this morning, you are welcome to give to this special giving Sunday. Feel free to put a check or cash in this special giving envelope, and we will then get these funds to our annual conference office, and then to the people that will benefit from this offering.

As many of us might remember, last Sunday in church, we had our Baptism of the Lord Sunday. This is the Sunday in the church calendar that we celebrate Jesus being born in the Jordan River. This same Sunday also calls us to remember our own baptisms, and to consider the importance of baptism.

This morning in our gospel of John lesson, once again, Jesus was baptized the day before. The day after Jesus’ baptism is where the story picks up for this morning. We have now entered the earthly ministry of Jesus. Jesus will love, heal, forgive, and teach for the next three years, until his death on the cross, and his resurrection.

In the gospel of Matthew narrative however, Jesus goes right out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for 40-days after his baptism (Mt. 4:1-11, NRSV). The devil tempts Jesus with varying things, but Jesus resists the temptation. In the gospel Matthew, Jesus then begins his public ministry after his 40-days of temptation in the desert (Mt. 4:12-22, NRSV). Jesus then calls Peter and Andrew as his first two disciples, to follow him.

The gospel of Mark 1:16-20 also tells us that Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be his disciples at the Sea of Galilee, as well as tell us of his temptation in the desert.

The gospel of Luke, like Mark, also has Jesus’ Baptism, his time of temptation in the desert, and the beginning of his public ministry (Lk. 3:21-4:1-15, NRSV). Luke then mentions a little later in chapter 5, Jesus calling his first disciples.

In the gospel of John reading for this morning once again though, we have nothing about Jesus being tempted for forty days in the wilderness. I believe that Jesus was indeed tempted by the devil in the wilderness though, but John did not include this in his gospel. Instead, John goes from explaining who Jesus was and is, and goes right into Jesus’ baptism. In John’s version, Jesus is present the day after he is baptized.

We know this, because the gospel for this morning, starts out once again by saying of John the Baptist, seeing Jesus:

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29, NRSV).

Not only does the gospel of John say Jesus came towards John the Baptist the day after his baptism, but John the Baptist also calls Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. In the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, as the Jews were struggling to be freed from slavery in Egypt, among the plagues, was the Passover. Jews were instructed to kill a pure and white spotless lamb, and to take the blood of that lamb. With this blood, they were to put it over the door post of there homes. In doing this, death would “Passover” there first born male children.

For Jews, they would know exactly what John the Baptist was saying, when he said, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John was saying that Jesus is the new Passover lamb, and his blood on the cross would cover the doorways of our hearts. That through the blood of Christ, we will never die, but will live on in eternity with him.

Quite a powerful statement, as clearly John the Baptist views Jesus as God in the flesh, the promised one, the savior, the Messiah. It makes me wonder what it was like to behold Jesus? What was it like to see Jesus approaching? What was it like to look into the eyes of Jesus? What was it like to behold him in all of his glory?

Before diving more into our gospel of John reading for this morning, we are given some encouraging words from our reading once again from Psalm 40, that direct us toward this Messiah. People were waiting for the savior. This is what Psalm 40:1-11 says once again:

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted. Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever” (Ps. 40:1-11, NRSV)

          In this this Psalm, the Psalmist talks about struggling and waiting for the Lord. When the Lord appears, the Psalmist rejoices and tells the congregation that the Lord has appeared. The Psalmist sings with joy, and trusts in God.

I believe that waiting for Christ and the power of his presence, is a possible connection from our reading from Psalm 40 for this morning, with our gospel of John reading for today. Waiting, and then the Lord shows up!

In our reading for this morning from the Apostle Paul’s First Epistle or letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul points us towards Christ (1 Cor. 1:2, NRSV). Paul is telling us that God is faithful, that Jesus is Lord, and we are all called to wait on Him, and grow in Him (1 Cor. 1:1-9, NRSV).

Now this takes me back to the rest of our gospel lesson for this morning. Again, what was it like to see Jesus? What was it like to behold his face? What was it like to look into the eyes of Jesus Christ?

Well we certainly know what John the Baptist thought this day when we say Jesus. As said once again, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John the Baptist then says to those listening, that this Jesus, is the one that we have been waiting for. John the Baptist preached repentance and baptized people in the Jordan river, all in preparation for Jesus. John the Baptist then recounts what it was like when he baptized Jesus. He tells us what happened on that day (Jn. 1:30-33, NRSV).

John the Baptist also says that Jesus came before him, as John is saying that Jesus always was, before time itself. John the Baptist then tells all who is listening that this Jesus is truly “the Son of God” (Jn. 1:34, NRSV).

As the gospel of John reading for this morning concludes saying this:

^“ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter)”                               (Jn. 35- 42, NRSV).

          As the gospel says, John the Baptist is with two of his disciples, he again announces that Jesus is “the Lamb of God,” and these two disciples then follow Jesus. As these two where following Jesus, Jesus turned back to them and asked them what they were looking for? They asked Jesus where he was staying. Jesus then said, “Come and see.” The gospel says that the two stayed with Jesus that day. One these two was Andrew, Peter’s brother. Andrew then finds Peter, and declares to him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is my sermon title for this morning.

          One could argue in this gospel of John reading that the two disciples of John the Baptist followed Jesus, because John the Baptist made a big deal every time that he saw Jesus. I believe though, that the presence and the power of Jesus was too much to not be drawn to. In the other three gospels, the called disciples simply just stopped what they were doing and followed Jesus. To just do this, there must have been many compelling things about Jesus.

          Imagine for a moment, if someone showed up at your house tomorrow morning. There is a knock at your door, and the person is someone that you never met. Yet, this person asks you to leave with them suddenly, and leave everything behind. I mean, who would do that? There must have been many things about Jesus there were compelling and powerful.

          In this gospel lesson therefore, Andrew declares to his brother Simon that “We have found the Messiah,” and Jesus tells Simon that his new name will be “Cephas,” which means “Peter” (Jn. 1:42, NRSV).

          So, Andrew and Peter are called by Jesus to be his first two disciples, and then Jesus calls James and John.

          With all of this said, it is apparent that Jesus’ first disciples and followers believed that he truly was God in the flesh. They believed this, and they lived through Jesus’ ministry, his teaching, his miracles, his crucifixion, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension into heaven. They believed that Christ would return one day in glory.

          As I said, I can’t imagine what is was like to see Jesus. I can’t imagine what it was like to be in his presence, and to look him in the eyes. It must have been so compelling that people flocked to him. His disciples dropped everything and went with him.

          So strongly in fact, did these disciples and first followers of Christ continue to believe in Jesus that they continued to preach and live his gospel all over. The tradition of the Christian Church tells us that all but the Apostle John, died brutal deaths for declaring Jesus as Lord and his gospel. They never wavered, they never stopped declaring that Jesus was the way to be forgiven, to be restored to favor with God, and the way to eternity with Him. This gospel that Jesus preached to his disciples, and then has been preached for generations, is the gospel that I do my best to preach and live every day.

          In the very short New Testament Book of Jude, Jude who identifies as a servant of Jesus and brother of James” tells us in 1:3:

“Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jd. 1:3, NRSV).

          What Jude is saying, is that the disciples and many others saw Jesus. They witnessed him, his power, his miracles, that he died for us, rose again, and that he is going to return one day in glory. So, convinced of this that many died for there faith. Jude tells us this morning to promote and to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

          Jude is telling us to teach what Jesus taught, and to believe like those first followers of Christ. The faith we share, the hope of Christ. Hope so powerful, that in no time of being with Jesus, Andrew declares, “We have found the Messiah!” Amen

Sidney UMC - Baptism of the Lord Sunday - 01/12/2020 - Sermon - “Sprinkle or Dunk?”

Sunday 01/12/20 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:             “Sprinkle or Dunk?”

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9

                                           

New Testament Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

                                                   

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17

          Welcome again friends, on this our Baptism of the Lord Sunday. As we know, about two and a half weeks ago, we celebrated Christmas on December 25th. Jesus was a newborn baby in a manger. Joseph and Mary then fled to Egypt with Jesus. Last Sunday, on Epiphany Sunday, we celebrated the visit of the Wise Men or Magi. With them they brought gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.  Mary and Joseph then bring Jesus back to Israel from Egypt and raise him in Nazareth.

          Today however, is Baptism of the Lord Sunday. This means that today, Jesus is now thirty-years old, and is going to get baptized by his cousin John the Baptist, in the Jordan River. Pretty amazing if you ask me. Two and half weeks ago, Jesus is born on Christmas, and today he is thirty-years old and getting baptized. Wow!

          The Christian Church calendar is set up this way, because after Joseph and Mary bring young Jesus to be raised in Nazareth, we hear really nothing about Jesus until he is thirty-years old. There is one exception though. In the gospel of Luke 2:41-52, Jesus who is twelve-years old, goes to Jerusalem with his parents for the Jewish Passover holiday. While there, Jesus goes into the temple, and Joseph and Mary lose him. They eventually find him in the temple and see his great wisdom and holiness (Lk. 2:41-52, NRSV).

          So how do we get from baby Jesus on Christmas, to Jesus being thirty-years old and getting baptized by his cousin John the Baptist today? Well since we only have one story of Jesus as a child, being twelve in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, and since we have nothing else, the church decided to speed up the calendar. This means after we celebrate the visit from the Wise Men or the Magi, we go right into Jesus starting his public ministry at the age of thirty. Pretty fast if you ask me!

          There is a non-official and heretical gospel of Thomas that discusses Jesus’ childhood, but this gospel has never been accepted as a fully inspired work of God. This means that there might be some nuggets of truth in the gospel of Thomas, but it has never been accepted by the church as an authentic and trustworthy gospel.

          Since we now understand why so quickly after Christ’s birth on Christmas, we celebrate this Baptism of the Lord Sunday, I want to talk about baptism.

          First off, to move into this topic, we are given a reading once again from the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah for this morning, predicting Jesus’ baptism and ministry on earth. In Isaiah 42:1-4 is says once again:

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching”

(Isa. 42:1-4, NRSV).

          Interesting that Jesus’ first called disciples were called from the shore or coastline of the Sea of Galilee. This scripture from the Prophet Isaiah then continues and concludes talking about Jesus’ nature, what he will do, and his significance.

          In our reading for this morning once again from the Book of Acts 10, the Apostle Peter is speaking. Peter tells us who Jesus is, about his baptism, and about his ministry on earth. Peter then tells us about Jesus death, resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins through Jesus (Act. 10:34-43, NRSV).

          This leads us to talking about baptism, and our gospel lesson from Matthew for this morning. The baptism of Jesus is discussed in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and indirectly in the gospel of John.

          So, the gospel of Matthew account for this morning once again says:

^“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:13-17, NRSV).

          So, in this gospel lesson, which is in part where I got my sermon title for this morning from, Jesus is baptized by immersion. Some people call this getting “dunked.” John the Baptist when he baptizes Jesus, pushes him under the water, and then lifts him back up.

          Interestingly to, our gospel reading for this morning ends once with:

“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased”

(Mt. 3:13-17, NRSV).

          In this scene of Jesus coming up from the waters of baptism, we have the Father in heaven speaking, the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove, and Jesus himself. In this baptism scene, we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The word “Trinity” isn’t in the bible, but scriptures like this clearly show that God is a Trinity. In this scripture all three persons of the one true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are present.

          In what we commonly call “The Great Commission,” Jesus instructs the disciples and us how to baptize. Jesus says once again:

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:16-20, NRSV).

          The mission of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world”. Jesus tells us in his “Great Commission” in the gospel of Matthew to make disciples everywhere, and when we do, to baptize them in the name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are then to teach them the gospel that Jesus taught to his disciples.

          We do baptisms in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit therefore, because Jesus himself told us to do so.

          The question is though, as my sermon title says for this morning, should we “sprinkle or dunk”? Should we only baptize people by immersion under the water, or by sprinkling water on there heads. Further, should we baptize babies, like we do in the United Methodist Church, or should we only baptize people that are old enough to make a profession of faith in Christ before the whole church?

          This is not as big of an issue as it once was, but whether we baptize babies or not, was once a large dividing wedge in the church.

          The Baptist movement of Christian Churches is named after John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus by immersion. The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:4-6:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:4-6, NRSV).

          So, one God, and one baptism. Yet in some Christian Churches if you were baptized as a baby, that baptism doesn’t count. These Christian Churches would argue that you need to be re-baptized. Historically Baptists were called “Anabaptists,” which means re-baptizers.

          In Christian Churches that hold that you must be old enough to profess your faith in Christ, and then be baptized, there is the idea of the age of accountability. This means, if you aren’t old enough to understand faith in Christ, then you are not old enough to accept Christ. Upon accepting Christ, they argue, then baptism occurs. After all Jesus was baptized by immersion, as was the Ethiopian Eunuch in the Book of Acts. Many of the baptisms in the bible though didn’t specify the method of baptism though. Further in some stories of the bible, entire families, of all ages were baptized.

          If a baby, a child cannot understand and declare their faith in Jesus Christ though, then why would we baptize them? I mean, what if they grow up and reject Christ? Why as United Methodists do, we baptize babies? Is it just a holdover from the Roman Catholic Church?

          The answer is original sin and covenant. Since Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden by eating from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. From this point on, humanity was and is afflicted with a sickness, an illness. This illness is sin, and we are all afflicted with it. We are born into sin, and the world is full of it. Further, we cannot be righteous before God with sin, so we baptize babies in part to call upon the Holy Spirit to remove this stain of sin that we all have. Further, in the Jewish faith, boys were and sometimes still are circumcised at eight-days old, as a sign of God’s covenant. We baptize babies as a sign of our covenant with God through Jesus Christ. We also baptize babies, because we are grafting them to Christ and the Christian faith. Historically, you are not a member of the Universal Christian Church until you are baptized. In the United Methodist Church, when you are baptized you become a baptized member. When you profess your faith in Christ later, you become a professing member.

          In the United Methodist Church, we as a church, and the baby or child’s family, also makes a covenant to raise this child to know Christ. We promise to love and nurture this child in the Christian faith.

          One day, we then hope that this child will be confirmed in the church. Through doing this, the child, who is now of the age of accountability, can then profess faith in Christ for themselves.

          Christian Churches that support believer baptism though would argue that in being immersed in the baptism waters, we die to ourselves, and our raised to new life in Christ.

          I have often said that if you baptize a baby or a child, and if that child gets confirmed one day, it is the opposite of what churches with believer baptism do. These churches often have baby dedications in the church, but on the day of the teenager’s baptism, they first profess their faith in Christ. So before being baptized, they profess to the church their faith in Christ, and then they are baptized. I call this pulling the car into the garage or backing the car into the garage. Either way, the car gets into the garage. We profess and are baptized, or we are baptized and profess.

          Further, as United Methodists we are not opposed to baptizing by immersion, as I love baptism by immersion. The real divide here has been, is the person being baptized able to profess their faith in Christ? Baptism is an act of the Holy Spirit, and our profession of faith in Christ is our salvation. Baptism by itself does not give us eternal life. Eternal life is granted by having faith in Christ alone If we believe in Christ as our Lord and Savior, and if we repent of our sins to him, then we are saved.

          So, do we “sprinkle or dunk” for baptism. I find value in both. If families don’t want to baptize their baby or child, then I baptize the child when they are ready. Jesus did command us to spread the gospel and baptize all people. The Apostle Paul also told us Ephesians, that there is one baptism. Do I think infant baptisms and believer baptisms both fulfill this? Absolutely! If we baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and call upon the Holy Spirit, then they are then part of the universal and Apostolic Christian Church.

          So, do we “sprinkle or dunk?” If we dunk, how long and how deep do we dunk? If we sprinkle, how much do we sprinkle? I think that baptism is act of God through the Holy Spirit, and since we are all born into sin, why not call upon God to cleanse and renew us? According to the scriptures, we need to have faith in Jesus in our hearts, and baptism is the universal entry point into the Christian Church.

          So, “sprinkle or dunk?” I doubt that we will ever universally agree on this, and indeed Jesus was baptized by immersion. I think we can make strong arguments for sprinkling or dunking. What matters though, what is essential though, is that we know Jesus Christ. So “sprinkle or dunk?” Amen.