Sunday 07/03/22 - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title: “True Sacrificial Service!”
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 30
New Testament Scripture: Galatians 6:1-16
Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
One of the television shows that
Melissa and I used to like to watch, is a show called “Dirty Jobs,” hosted by
actor Mike Rowe. I am not sure if this show is still on television or not, but we
really liked this show. Why did we like this show, because in the show, the
host Mike Rowe showed us all what it takes for us have a functioning and
healthy country and civilization.
For example, does the garbage truck
wake me up early most Friday mornings when it gets the church’s garbage and
recycling? Yes, it does, but you know what, I am grateful that people have made
the sacrifice to do that for us. The train comes through town, and sometimes we
wait in traffic, but I am grateful that the trains are running. When it is a
hot summer day, and we see road crews working, and spreading hot black top,
sometimes people are annoyed that they get delayed. They are running late due
to road construction they might say, but without the road crews, we would have
no roads. Without the farmers, we would have no food, without the truckers we
would empty shelves at the stores. Image if we did not have an adequate sewer
system, or a plumbing system to bring us our water.
Imagine if when a house was on fire,
and if the brave men and women of the Sidney Fire Department did not respond.
Imagine if the police or the ambulance did not come in your hour of need.
Imagine if the gasoline or diesel trucks stop arriving at our gas stations
allowing us to fill up our cars, trucks, and equipment. Imagine if our brave
men and women decided that they no longer wanted to serve in our military and
protect our country. Imagine if our teachers no longer wanted to teach, or if
companies would not deliver fuel for our homes in the winter.
For those of us that are not retired,
do we need to work to make a living and to pay our bills? Of course, we do my
friends, but tomorrow, July Fourth, or Independence Day, is not just a day for
hot dogs and fireworks. You see the strange thing to me about July Fourth, us
celebrating the Declaration of Independence, is that our country was not free
on July 04, 1776. The brave men and women from the American Colonies, under
British Rule, then had to fight for our freedom.
We then founded our Republic, the
United States of America, and it was not, and still is not perfect. We had our
nation’s original sin of slavery when our country first began, women could not
vote, and so on and so forth. Yet, our country is becoming more perfect, as our
founding documents state. We live in a country with a free press. We can criticize
the President or praise him. We have freedom of religion and worship. Our
garbage gets pick up, our streets get plowed and salted in the winter. Are
things perfect in these United States? No, but I value freedom, liberty, democracy,
and the fact that I can openly declare the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ at
this pulpit. Amen.
As my sermon title says for this
morning, to me what July Fourth, what Independence Day is really about is “True
Sacrificial Service!” Freedom and liberty are not free. Our Founding Father’s
generation fought a hard fought against the strong British Empire, as the Ukrainians
are currently fighting against the Russian Army. We gained our independence
from the British after five years of fighting, we endured our Civil War from
1861-1865, and our country has been through a lot.
I think though, I believe, that this
holiday weekend, is about celebrating “True Sacrificial Service”. Freedom is
not free; people continue to work hard every day so that we can live in a safe
and a prosperous nation. Our salvation also is not free, as Jesus Christ on the
cross died for our sins. Freedom and salvation come with a price.
Many of us are excited about our
barbeques, our get togethers, and fireworks, but remember, today, tomorrow, and
always that the lives we have here come at a price. I reflect upon this fact
every single Sunday that I walk into this church. As I see the names on the stained-glass
window, the metal placard, as I hear the history of this church. For nearly
two-hundred years, countless men and women have served, taught, prayed, led, and
gave, so that a young kid like me could be here preaching right now. I am here
today, as we all are, because of “True Sacrificial Service”. Everything we are
and everything we have is because “we stand on the shoulders of giants, and we
stand in the line of heroes”. In this church, on this July Fourth or
Independence Day Sunday, we are part of a legacy. A legacy of sacrificially
serving Sidney and the world. We are called by God to be light unto the world,
and because this congregation had done this for nearly two-hundred years, we
are the beneficiaries of what those that have gone before have done.
We serve Christ, we serve each other,
not only because Jesus tells us too in the gospels, but also because freedom and
salvation come at price. It comes at the price of “True Sacrificial Service,”
and the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our sins on the cross. I think that sometimes
we need to be reminded of this, sometimes I need to be reminded of this.
In our reading for this morning from
Galatians 6:5-6, once again, the Apostle Paul says of us the church:
5 For all must carry their own loads. 6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher (Gal. 6:5-6, NRSV).
We are to work together, as the church, as people, as
country, and as best we can, as a world. In the church, no one is more or less
important than anyone else. We have different gifts and graces, and all have
different roles that we can play. We are all called however, according to God’s
purposes. For a free country like ours to exist and to continue, I learned from
watching the show “Dirty Jobs,” is that it requires “True Sacrificial Service”.
In order for the church to grow, flourish, and continue, it requires that we
all serve in the ways that God has called us to serve in. No role is any more or
less important than others, but we are here, because of “True Sacrificial
Service”.
In
fact, the Apostle Paul continues picking up in Galatians 6, starting with verse
9 once again. It says once again:
9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith (Gal. 6:9-10, NRSV).
Pray and think about this week, how God is calling you. Do
you feel called to be part of next study starting next week? How is God calling
you? I have had people ask me before, “What is so great about the Sidney United
Methodist Church?” I tell them, one, the food, and two we are an extended
family. We are church that loves each other, lifts each other up, and walks
with Christ together. Our church is blessing to us, to the community, and to
the world. We are the beneficiaries and the current providers of “True Sacrificial
Service”. As the Apostle Paul reminds us this morning once again in Galatians
6:14:
14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal. 6:14, NRSV).
Friends,
how blessed are we to have each other, to have this beautiful church to worship
in, and to have been called by God to “True Sacrificial Service”.
Our
gospel lesson for this morning really touches on the topic of “True Sacrificial
Service”. In this gospel reading, Jesus sends out seventy-two converts in pairs,
to spread the gospel, to love others, and to transform lives. Picking up in our
gospel of Luke 10 reading for this morning, it begins once again with 10:1 saying:
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road (Luke 10:1-4, NRSV).
Jesus sends out seventy-two ahead of him, to preach the
good news. To tell people about Jesus, to get to know them, and to display “True
Sacrificial Service”. As we know though, in this world, and in general, there
people that want to serve and people that want to harm. As a result, Jesus warns
the seventy-two that he sends them out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry
nothing and nothing of value. Simply go forth loving, healing, forgiving,
spreading the good news, and serving.
Jesus continues starting in Luke 10:5 once again, saying to
the seventy-two sent converts:
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near’ (Luke 10:5-10, NRSV).
Our next portion of the
gospel of Luke lesson for this morning then ends once again with Luke 10:17-20 taking
about the return of the sent out seventy-two converts that Jesus had sent out.
Picking up in Luke 10:17 it says once again:
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:16-20, NRSV).
So,
friends, why does the United States of America exist? I would say because of
faith, bravery, drive, work ethic, ingenuity, and “True Sacrificial Service”.
Why does the church exist and how can it grow? My answer is through lived faith
in Jesus Christ, that is expressed through “True Sacrificial Service”.
Dear friends, I hope and pray that you enjoy this holiday weekend, and that you
have a great time tomorrow, on Independence Day with friends and family. I hope you
laugh, eat, and enjoy the freedoms we all have. Let us all remember amidst the food and
the fireworks though, that freedom is not free, and that the price for our salvation was
not free. We are here today, as church, and as a country, because of “True Sacrificial
Service”. Happy July 4th Sunday, and happy Independence Day tomorrow, and God
bless. Amen.
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