Sidney UMC - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost - 07/31/22 - Sermon - “Are We Earthly Minded or Heavenly Minded?”

                                Sunday 07/31/22 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Are We Earthly Minded or Heavenly Minded?”        

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 107:1-9, 43

New Testament Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11

Gospel Lesson: Luke 12:13-21

          So, I distinctly remember as a little boy getting the Sears and the JCPenney’s Christmas catalogues in the mail. I also remember going into department stores around Christmas, and periodically peering through the windows of departments stores around Christmas. I would look at the catalogues, through the store windows, and in the stores themselves with wild amazement. What amazing treasure or treasures could I pine after this year? What should I ask my parents, what I should I ask Santa Claus for?

          I remember some Christmas Eve’s as a child not being able to sleep, because of my excitement for Christmas morning. On Christmas morning I was going to get stuff. This was largely my focus, as I shuffled past the nativity scene to look at the gifts under the Christmas Tree. In fact, not until I was a teenager, did I really ever begin to appreciate that Jesus was reason we celebrate the holiday of Christmas. The problem that I had, and that many of us still struggle with, is that I was too “earthly minded and not heavenly minded”. When I was a little kid, I was not really concerned with Jesus on Christmas, but was more concerned over the RC car that I wanted.

          What I have learned more and more as I have gotten older though, is that the things of this earth are fleeting. Do not miss here me. We need food, we need clothing, a roof over our heads, and it is very helpful to have some possessions. Many of us would prefer a working vehicle, a certain amount money, etc. Yet, we live in a culture where the pursuit of possessions seems to be central to the lives of many people. The things we buy, the things we pine for or lust after. Will these things ultimately bring us happiness and contentment?

          My answer to this, is yes, maybe for a little while. Many of the things that I was excited to potentially get for Christmas broke, I got bored of, or just sat in the toy chest. There was another toy, and another, and another. We live an infomercial society, where we are constantly being told that we can buy or have the ability to create happiness. Yet, do possessions and wealth in and of themself provide happiness, inner peace, and the hope of God in Jesus Christ?

          I think that we all need to have the basics to live, but what if we would get as much of or anything we wanted, would that make us happy and content in the long term? Some people worry about having enough money, there health, the future, etc. Will these things bring us happiness and contentment? I have meet people with very little that have happiness, peace, and contentment. I have met people with very much, that do not have many earthly and financial things to worry about, but are still not happy, content, or at peace. Maybe some of us are just doomed to never truly be happy, content, or at peace?

          No one is perfectly happy, content, and or at peace all the time, but the argument that I am making this morning, is that possessions will make us happy in the moment, or for a little while. They then might go in the toy chest with all the others. We might get excited when we get a new, or a new to us car. The fresh smell, being oriented with all the features. Are we as excited about the car in a few months though? I know people that practice what is called “retail therapy”. Bad week at work? Well Friday, you are going to hit the mall, and you will have swiped your credit card some many times it will have smoke coming off of it.

          On some level we all can be guilty of this sort of sin. The desire for pleasure, relaxing, accumulating, but will this make us truly happy and content? In my limited and younger experience, I have learned that my happiness and contentment come from God, the people I love, my family, and my church. If I were to get a new shirt, I might feel sharp and more confident on Sunday morning, but that shirt will not make me happy?

          In our reading for this morning from Psalm 107:1-9,43, we hear once again in 107:1:

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever (Ps. 107:1, NRSV).

Do we actively give thanks to the Lord enough? We live in the United States of America, in the richest country in the history of planet earth. There is no question that we still have hunger, poverty, and suffering in this country, but I would tend to think considering the great amount material wealth and possessions in this country, that we would be the happiest country in the world. I mean with all that we have in this country, we surely should have the happiest people, right? In doing a little research for this morning, I wanted to find out how happy people in America are. I mean if we are not the happiest country on earth, certainly we have to be top three, right? Well, I found an article from Forbes that lists the twenty happiest countries in the world.

By a show of hands, how many of us think that the United States is one of the three happiest countries in the world? How about the top ten? How about the top fifteen? Would you be surprised to the know that even though the United States, the richest country in the history of the world, is not even on the top fifteen for the happiness of its people?

So according to this article, where does the level of happiness in the United States rank in the top twenty? The answer is, at number sixteen. A little shocking for some of us to hear, maybe. Russia came in and number eighty, by the way, and that was not so shocking for me to hear.

So, what fifteen countries have happier people than us here in the United States? Let me read them to you:

World’s 20 Happiest Countries

1.    Finland

2.    Denmark

3.    Iceland

4.    Switzerland

5.    Netherlands

6.    Luxembourg

7.    Sweden

8.    Norway

9.    Israel

10. New Zealand

11. Austria

12. Australia

13. Ireland

14. Germany

15. Canada

16. United States

17. United Kingdom

18. Czech Republic

19. Belgium

20. France

(https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2022/03/18/ranked-the-20-happiest-countries-in-the-world-in-2022/?sh=1d65ab8c35d5).

          Of the top fifteen countries that are listed in the way of happiness, these are all countries that have a fair amount of wealth, but nothing like the wealth of the United States. So, what is my point? My point is, is that the bible tells us that happiness and contentment come from more than just wealth and possessions. We need some of these to live, yes, but will they in and of themselves always make us happy? I say no, and my guess is many of you say no to. How do I know this? I know this because almost everyone that I have ever met that has moved, was amazed at how much stuff they had accumulated when they had to box it all up and move it. I have heard people say, “Where did all this stuff come from!”

          What does scripture have to say about all of this? In looking at our reading for this morning from the Apostle Paul’s letter the Colossians 3:1-11, it says starting in 3:1 once again:

3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory (Col. 3:1-4, NRSV).

          People need food, clothing, housing, and some possession, but possessions in and of themselves, I do not believe make us happy. In fact, the Hollywood actor Jim Carey said this about wealth:

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer” (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1151805-i-think-everybody-should-get-rich-and-famous-and-do#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20think%20everybody%20should%20get%20rich%20and%20famous%20and%20do,that%20it's%20not%20the%20answer.%E2%80%9D).

            A man that passed on to glory in his 90’s told me when I told him this quote, “I would be willing to test that theory, Pastor Paul!” So how much wealth is enough? How many possessions are enough? We all need the basic things to live, but will wealth and possessions in and of themselves, make us happy? The scripture tells us to look to God, to our family, our friends, and our church community. We find joy in being with each other, in being in God’s presence, and it is amazing to have this.

          Given this, the Apostle Paul continues on in Colossian 3:1-11, picking up in 3:5 saying, once again:

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! (Col. 3:5-11, NRSV).

     The Apostle Paul says that things and the pleasures of this earth have a draw and an appeal, but that they cannot create long term happiness. A new gift, a new thing, a little money, etc., will not create abiding and long-term happiness in our hearts and our souls. If we got everything we ever wanted materially right now, would that truly make us happy in the long term?

This idea of being “Earthly Minded or Heavenly Minded” is continued this morning in our gospel of Luke 12:13-21 reading. In picking up in Luke 12:13 it begins, once again, saying of an inheritance debate:

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend,  who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;     for one’s life does not consist in the abundance                                         of possessions” (Lk. 12:13-15, NRSV).

          As a pastor, I have seen families fight among themselves over money and possessions after the death of a loved one. Maybe they need the money, or maybe it is just because they want what they want. Jesus then goes on to tell us the parable to story of the “Rich Fool”. Picking up in Luke 12:16, it says once again;

16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man  produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I            do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and  there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul,  Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink,  be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is  being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will  they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for                  themselves but are not rich toward God” (Lk. 12:16-21, NRSV).

          How much is enough? How much will make us happy? What is happiness? Does it come from things of this world, or from God and each other? You can decide for yourself if you want, but the Apostle Paul this morning tell us to be “Heavenly Minded not Earthly Minded”.

          I want to tell you a quick story in closing this morning about a rich man. This man was a billionaire. He owned houses all over the world, and had the best of everything. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease, and it seemed that even his extensive reserves of wealth could not save him. He was in the hospital, and he had about one-month to live.

          The rich man then thought, “They always say that you cannot take it with you, but what if I can?” So, this wealthy man got all of his lawyers, leaders, and other business men, and said send an important message to God me! Explain to God that I want to take all of my wealth with me. So, they sent the message. The next day, wouldn’t you know it, the Angel Gabriel appeared in dazzling white in the rich man’s hospital room. The rich man told the Angel Gabriel that he wanted to bring his wealth to heaven with him. The Angel Gabriel said, “you mean piles of cash?”. The rich man said, “no in gold bricks?” The Angel Gabriel said, “Well how many gold bricks?” The rich man said, “I have ordered all my investment managers and bankers to convert all of my wealth into gold bricks. There will be a lot of them!” The Angel Gabriel smiled and said, “Well I will go check with the boss and let you know.” In about five-minutes, the Angel Gabriel returned, and said, “God said this would be fine”.

          Over the next week or two the gold bars were amassed, and the rich man decided to come home on hospice care. Near his bed, were cases and cases of gold bars. Finally, the hour had come, the rich man breathed his last breath, and suddenly he was in this very peaceful, ethereal, and amazing place. The rich man found himself in a long line of people. It was the longest line that rich man had ever seen in his life. In fact, the rich man could not even see the front of the line.

          Then the rich man looked back behind him and noticed all of his cases with gold bricks. God had made it so that the cases of gold bricks would float behind the rich man and follow him. Others in the line looked puzzled, as only the rich man had any worldly possessions with him. The rich man realized that while everyone had a simple white robe on, as did he, he was the only one with possessions.

          Suddenly a voice shouted like a loud speaker, “You! Man with the cases come forward!” Well, the rich man got out of line, began walking forward, and the cases of gold bricks floated right behind him. As he walked for a while, with on lookers puzzled by his cases, he began to make out what looked like a desk.  When he got closer, he realized that it was a desk. He thought, “Is that Saint Peter, as he saw the pearly gates behind the desk”. The rich man arrived at the desk, and he ask Saint Peter, “Why did you call me all the way from the back of the line”. Saint Peter said to the rich man, “Sir I have been checking people into heaven for almost two-thousand years, and in all that time I have never seen, not once, someone with any possessions with then. How did you manage to bring these?” Then the rich man explained his petition to God, talking to the Angel Gabriel, and etc. Saint Peter then said, “So Gabe told you that, huh?” The rich man said, “Yes, he did”. Then Saint Peter said “ok, well put one of these many cases on my desk, so I can see what you are bringing into heaven”. The rich man complied, and Saint Peter opened one of the cases. As he did this bright beautiful gold glow shone out. Saint Peter then said to the rich man, “So all of these many cases are filled with Gold Bars?” The rich man then said, “Yes they are.” Well at this point Saint Peter laughs hysterically. The rich many was confused and asked Saint Peter why he was laughing so hard. So, Saint Peter laughs so hard he has tears on his cheeks. The rich man then asks Saint Peter a third time why he is laughing so hard, and Saint Peter is now rolling on the floor he is laughing so hard. The rich man in anger, then shouts at Saint Peter and demands to know why is laughing too hard.

          Saint Peter then stands up, wipes the tears of laugher away, and says to the rich man, “don’t you know?” The rich man really angry at this point says, “know what!” Saint Peter said, “all the roads in heaven are paved with God. We have a lot pots holes on the road through pearly gates. God was going to create gold bricks and give them to us to fill the holes, but they he changed his mind and said some hot shot rich guy is going delivering the gold brick to us. I thought God was joking, but here you are!”

          Friends, we need food, we need clothing, we need the basic things and possessions to live, but does wealth and possession in and of themselves make us happy. True happiness is in God and in each other. So, are we “Earthly Minded or Heavenly Minded?” Amen.

Sidney UMC - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - 07/24/22 - Sermon - “Was Jesus God on Earth?”

Sunday 07/24/22 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Was Jesus God on Earth?”                                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 85                                     

New Testament Scripture: Colossians 2:6-19

Gospel Lesson: Luke 11:1-13

          Friends, the power of belief is significant. The things that we believe can affect our thoughts, our behaviors, our spending habits, our lives, etc. If we believe that everyone, we encounter is evil and wants to hurt us, for example, how would this affect our thoughts, our beliefs, and our behaviors? When we look around Sidney, the Tri-Town area, and the world, what do we see? Do we see perfection? Do we see brokenness? Do we see opportunity?

          I personally see some very good things, but also see some brokenness and some hopelessness. I meet some people that feel like there life has no meaning, they feel like they have no direction, no purpose. Do they believe in God? Some yes, some unsure, and some maybe. I mean, why are we here on this earth? Why is there so much suffering that happens? Is there a better to live than we are living now? How in our own brokenness can we ever be made whole?

          There are variety of answers to these questions. Some have answered these questions through laws and regulations, though spending and social programs, and various self-help-oriented means. Is there anyway though to make ourselves spiritually whole? How can we have peace and contentment, even if we do not feel this every day of our lives? Is there an answer to the realities we see and face every day? Or is this universe and this world, simply a cosmic accident with no answers and no meaning.

          While we do not understand everything, our faith in God through Jesus Christ gives us the meaning and the understanding that we need in this life, and in the next. This morning, nine people were baptized. It is not because we just like throwing water on people. It is the reality that nearly two-thousand years ago one came among us with the answers and the hope that humanity needed then and still needs now. This hope was in the person of Jesus Christ. This hope walked among us, loved, healed, forgave, and offers us new life.

          So many people feel broken, are suffering, but what is the answer? Perhaps that item on the television infomercial will fix me? Maybe drugs and alcohol will fix me? How are we made whole spiritually? How are we to make sense of this world, and our lives in it?

          For me, it seems that we live in a whole with a lot of light and a lot of darkness. Jesus came to earth, as the light of the world. The earth needed hope, the earth needed a savior, the earth needed life and life abundantly. This Jesus founded the Christian Church, and nearly two-thousand years later here we are. The Christian Church is all over the world, on every continent, in multiple languages, includes various races, ethnicities, etc. About one-third of the world today is Christian, or about 2.6 billion people. Even though there are different Christian denominations and different branches of Christianity, we follow Jesus Christ. In a world that desperately needs hope, we find hope in the one named Jesus. The one who tells us to love God and love our neighbor.

          When we get baptized in the church, we become part of the Christian Church. We when are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we become part of the community of faith. Our souls are not saved because of baptism, as we are offered salvation through faith in Christ alone. Historically Jewish baby boys are circumcised at eight-days old, grafting them into the Jewish community of faith. Baptism then, is the entry point to the Christian Community on earth. In brings us into the covenant that Jesus makes with us, through his life, death, and resurrection. Baptism is us dying to ourselves, rising with Christ, and the Holy Spirit moving in and through us. Baptism is God doing something unique and special that occurs only in baptism. The Sacrament of Baptism does not save our souls, but it cleanses us the stain of sin, fills us with God’s grace, and brings to in the community faith. In loving our children and people of age who have professed their faith in Christ, we draw closer to Christ together.

          It is possible that someone could get baptized and not become a professing Christian, but still be part of the community of faith? Yes, but the Sacrament of Baptism is vital, because if we are of age, it is the reality of us dying to self and rising with Christ. It is also becoming part of our two-thousand-year faith that encompasses one-third of the world. This is why the Sacrament of Baptism is so vital. You are claimed by God, filled with God’s grace, and you become part of the community of faith. You are one of us in identity, and once those baptized are of age, we hope and pray that they be one of us in their faith in Christ, as well.

          Given this, and power of belief and faith, who is this Jesus that we are drawing closer to today? Why for nearly two-thousand years have most Christians of all stripes, gotten baptized? What is the significance of this? How does this change our life? How does this give us the answers that we so desperately seek?

          I do not know about you, but if I am going to believe something strongly, then there needs to be something significant for me to believe. If I kind of believe in leprechauns and flying monkeys, can that really change me? It certainly can pique my interest. If am going to devote my life to Christ, and serve him as a pastor in his church though, I would think that I must have quite a high view of this Jesus. Not a view that Jesus was just a nice guy, or another prophet, but much more than that.

          The Apostle Paul speaks to this once again, in our reading for this morning, from Colossians 2:6-19. Picking up starting in 2:6 the Apostle Paul says once again:

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority (Col. 2:6-9, NRSV).

          Jesus, is the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Not only is he our hope, but he is the hope that we can share with each other. Some days and times in our lives may seem dark, but Jesus is with us. The Christian Community walks together, laughs together, and cries together. We are on a journey with Jesus to glory together. This Jesus, whom the Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 2:9 had the fullness of deity of God in him, on this earth. He was sinless, full of love and grace, died for our sins, and is our hope in a world with so much brokenness.

          Since as Christians we are marked as such, through baptism, the Apostle Paul says, picking up in Colossians 6:11:

11 In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it (Col. 6:11-15, NRSV).

     The Sacrament of Baptism is the mark of a Christian, and our entry point into the Christian Faith here on earth. For those old enough to profess their faith in Christ, and for all people, the water of baptism is a special gift. It’s a gift of the Holy Spirit that symbolizes our new identity in Christ, and grafts us into the community of faith. For those not yet old enough to understand and profess their faith in Christ, baptism cleanses us from the stain of sin and brings us into the community of faith. We also make a solemn covenant to raise these kids to know and to love Jesus.

     The Apostle Paul concludes in our reading from Colossians 2:16-19 for this morning, saying:

16 Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. 17 These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God (2:16-19, NRSV).

          Today is about Jesus, and our identity in him. He is the head of the church, the head of our lives, the one whom we follow, and the one in whom commanded us to be baptized. In doing this, we are part of his church here on earth.

          In looking briefly at our gospel of Luke 11:1-13 reading for this morning, Jesus gave his disciples and us the “Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father”. Jesus then gives us the example of friend who needs to borrow three loaves of bread. Jesus says picking up starting in Luke 11:5 once again:

5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him,‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has  arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are  with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even  though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at  least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find;  knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receive, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks fore a fish,  will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your   children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to  those who ask him!”

          Be persistent in prayer, continue to pursue God, and stay connected to him. The way that we become part of the church on earth, or as the founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley said, “the church visible,” is through baptism. May we all be connected spiritually with God through Jesus Christ however, because he is the head of the church. We are here for and because of Jesus Christ. To the friends, family, and folks getting baptized this morning, know that you are loved, welcomed here, and we hope to see you again very soon! Amen. 

Sidney UMC - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - 07/17/22 - Sermon - “Martha, Martha, Martha!”

Sunday 07/17/22 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title: “Martha, Martha, Martha!”                                                 

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 52                                        

New Testament Scripture: Colossians 1:15-28

Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:38-42

          One of the television shows that I remember watching as a kid was “The Brady Bunch”. Some of you might remember this show, and maybe you can still watch re-run episodes on “Nick at Nite” and on other television channels. I distinctly remember the theme song of the show with all the characters of the show being displayed on the screen in little boxes, before each episode began.

          When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, all of the sudden many of us found ourselves on this online computer program called ZOOM. Instead of driving to have all of our meetings and interactions, we were now having meetings, and each person was in a little computer box. I remember thinking one day during the pandemic, as I was in a ZOOM meeting, “the whole world has turned into the Brady Bunch theme song”. This is because each person on the screen was inside a little box.

          We had so many of these meetings for so long in fact, that when we started having some meetings in person, I discovered that one person was about a foot taller than I thought they were. After all, all I saw was the person’s head and shoulders.

          In addition to the entrance music and the boxes on “The Brady Bunch,” some of us might remember some of the different characters from this show. When I saw the gospel lesson for this morning from Luke 10:38-42 once again, I thought of “The Brady Bunch”. Why did I think of “The Brady Bunch”? Well because, in our gospel lesson for this morning, once again, we have the story of Mary and Martha. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, and Martha toils. Martha was not happy that she was doing all the work, and that Mary was not helping. Perhaps Martha was also a little jealous of Mary in these moments.

          This then triggered in my mind one of the most famous “Brady Bunch” quotes. What quote might you ask? Well let me give you background information. Here it is:

On November 19th, 1971, the Brady Bunch episode "Her Sister's Shadow" aired. In the episode, the character Jan complains about her sister Marcia's success (portrayed by Eve Plumb and Maureen McCormick, respectively). She says, "Well all I hear all day long at school is how great Marcia is at this or how wonderful Marcia did that, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" (https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/marcia-marcia-marcia).

          The “Brady Bunch” character Jan is a little jealous of her sister Marcia. Or as Jan said, “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha”. Since Martha is doing all the work, while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus in our gospel lesson for this morning, as a play on this famous “Brady Bunch” quote, my sermon is called, “Martha, Martha, Martha”.

          You see, what we have to try to remember, is that people in the bible, like you and I, were real people. The people of the bible experienced the range of emotions we do, and encountered many of the same things we do. Some of the people of the bible had times of great joy and triumph, and some had times or\f brokenness, famine, and sorrow. Yet God was with them, as God is with us. In these ways though, we can relate to the people in the bible. Maybe you are more of Martha, always toiling? Or maybe you are Mary, who takes in the moment and does not toil or worry? Perhaps you are little of both? Either way, maybe we can imagine Martha saying to Jesus, “Mary, Mary, Mary! Everything is about Mary!”

          In looking at our reading from Psalm 52 for this morning, it says once again in Psalm 52:8-9:

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9 I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good                       (Ps. 52:8-9, NRSV).

          Sometimes we, like the people in the Bible struggle. Psalm 52 was written about judging the deceitful, and at the end of Psalm 52 we are told to love and trust God. Through the ups and downs, God is with us. Maybe we can identify with a more idle and focused Mary, and or a toiling Martha?

          All of this being said, everything that was being done in this morning’s gospel of Luke reading was for Jesus. Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus and was learning, while Martha was toiling to serve Jesus some food and drink. The whole focus however, was on Jesus.

          Well, just who can we say that this Jesus was and is that Mary and Martha were hyper focused on? In looking at our reading from Colossians 1:15-28 for this morning, it says of Jesus starting in Colossians 1:15 once again:

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross (Col. 1:15-20, NRSV).

According to our reading from Colossians 1:15-28, once again, the Apostle Paul says that Jesus was God in the flesh on earth. The Apostle Paul says that in and through Christ, who was fully God and Fully human, all came into being. This Jesus is above all rulers, all thrones, all dominions, and he and only he is the sovereign head of the church. This Jesus, this messiah, even reconciled all of humanity to God through the blood of his cross. Jesus, the savior of the world, the Lord over all creation, the king of kings, came among us, offered us new hope, new life, love, mercy, grace, and died for us all. The love and the grace of this Jesus is offered to us all, right here, and right now. We can accept Jesus and this grace for ourselves, and begin to walk with him into light, life, and love. In addition to this my friends, we do not need to do this alone. We get to do this together as brothers and sisters, in our shared community of faith. We walk, stumble, we fall, we rise, and we run to glory together.

          Continuing on in looking at our reading from Colossians 1, we hear that we have been change by Christ, and that we can be changed by Christ. We hear that we are to remain in Christ, and keep living and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that he rejoices in his earthly suffering, for Christ, and for the church. Paul then closes this reading from Colossians 1, once again, saying in 1:26-28:

26 the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ (Col. 1:26-28, NRSV).

     Friends, sometimes our lives are good, sometimes they are so-so, and sometimes they might be downright awful. In addition to himself though, do you know what gift Jesus gave us all? This gift that Jesus gave us all is the church, each other. We are called to be here for each other. We are called to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper. We have people in this church that are doing great. We have people in this church that are doing so-so. We have people in this church that are mourning, hurting, fighting cancer, have health problems, etc. Friends, we are not alone, for he is with us, and we are with each other. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it is true that God is with us. Isn’t also nice to know however, that we can walk through dark valleys with our brothers and sisters. We are not alone. We are loved, and we are together.

          I do not just need Jesus; I need Jesus’ people. We all have different gifts and different graces, different talents, and different perspectives. I do not just need Jesus, even though he is all we need, but I need all of you. I need the community of faith, and I hope that you need all of us too. We are a family and we walk to glory together. Whether we are Jan or Marcia Brady, or Mary or Martha, we are all called to pursue Christ together.

          With this said, let me briefly go over our gospel of Luke 10:38-42 lesson for this morning. Starting in Luke 10:38 it says once again:

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;  42 there is need of only one thing.^l Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (Lk. 10:38-42, NRSV).

          This morning similar to Jan Brady talking about Marcia, Jesus says, “Martha, Martha”. We are all different, sometimes we are laser focused on Jesus, and sometimes we are toiling and do not realize that he is right in front of us. Sometimes as a pastor, we benefit from leaders and members of our church telling us what they think we need. “Pastor Paul, you could use a vacation, you look tired”. Now I could wait for God to reveal this to me, but isn’t so nice to family of faith that builds us up, cares for us, walks with us, and also holds us accountable?

          On my own I can and do have in Christ, but I am much better with all of you. By my nature, I am a “Martha, Martha, Martha!” Toiling is not always a bad thing, but sometimes I need to take a week off to realize that the Jesus I love, that I serve, and that I proclaim is right in front of me! Sometimes I get so busy being a pastor, so busy doing the work of the church that I forget to sit at the feet of the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. For without him, I am nothing. Sometimes it is people like Sarah Pressler who some days is my pastor, and on my best days I get to say that I am her pastor.

          We are all walking towards Christ, we are all becoming more like Christ, but isn’t so much nicer to do it together. I am proud to serve a church that loves all people, and that wants all people to pursue Christ together. What the entry requirements for this church you might ask? Well, they are really high. Here they are: you are breathing and you are human. Hopefully you are clothed to! We all need Jesus, but when we look at our world today don’t, we also need each other? Don’t we need good brothers and sisters in Christ that will walk with us? I know that I do. If have not taken enough time to hear God tell me to slow down, then maybe when Sarah Pressler looks at me and says, “Martha, Martha, Martha!” then, maybe I will realize that Christ speaks to us, and through us. Within the community of faith, we can hear from God, and others can hear God and give us a good word.

          So, whether we are Mary, or Martha, or something in between, we all need Jesus, and we all need each other. Lest we miss the call from God telling us “Martha, Martha, Martha” you are doing it again! Amen.