Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Christ the King Sunday - 11/23/14 Sermon - “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you"

Sunday 11/23/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title:

“Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 100

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46

          My brothers and sisters, friends, welcome once again on this “Christ the King Sunday.” On this Sunday, we celebrate the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Messiah, the risen Christ. How fitting then it is to have “Christ the King Sunday” on this Sunday, the Sunday before the Advent Season begins. For the Advent Season is the season of waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ, which will occur in the Christmas Season.

          In a reflective and a prayerful way then, we focus this Sunday on Jesus Christ, who he is, what he represents, and what he means to us.

          On this Sunday, Jesus tells the parable or story of the “sheep and the goats” in the gospel of Matthew. This parable is literally discussing the reality that Christ will return to earth one day, and on that day he will separate out the righteous or “sheep,” from the “goats,” whom are the “evil, greedy, and wicked.”

          Certainly these words can be seen as harsh words from Christ the King, as this is title of what this Sunday is. Yet, does God really reject any of us? I don’t believe that God rejects anybody. I don’t believe that Jesus Christ rejected anybody. Do we reject God though?

          You see, the founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley believed that when Christ died on the cross, that it was an act of “Universal Atonement.” By “Universal Atonement,” Wesley argued, as most Christian Churches do, that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, it was for all persons, without exception, both past and present. This means that Jesus died for every human being that was or will ever live. That he died for us.

          All that is required of us then, is excepting Christ, and what he did for us, so that we may have rebirth, and live anew. In fact, when we truly put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, when we become one of his followers, we are filled with the love and the grace of God. We are changed from the inside to the outside, and we are then spiritually reborn.

          For many of us who have experienced this conversion of coming to Jesus, to accepting him as Lord and Savior, it was a powerful moment for us indeed. For in this moment that we really looked at ourselves in the mirror, we realized how broken we were, and how sinful we were. I have known some people that surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, to God, and experienced an amazing and an emotional out pouring. I have seen people have tears streaming down their faces, and their hands raised in surrender, as they came to the realization that the God of the Universe loves them. That God loves us so much, that he would come down to earth, take on flesh, and show us what love was by dying for us. That in him, all things are made knew. That him, all we have ever done is forgiven.

          In Jesus Christ then, we are offered forgiveness. We are offered rebirth and to be made new, to begin a process of being made into the image of the living God. To do this though, we must first be cleansed of our impurities, of our sins. Once we surrender to Christ and once we ask for forgiveness, if we are sincere, then everything bad we have done up to that moment is instantaneously removed and gone forever. In this moment the chains that bind us are gone, and were are freed up to, “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared” for us.

          For Jesus said, in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” You see our sins, our problems, weigh us down, don’t they. Our sins, our problems can eat us from the inside out if we are not careful. Yet Christ says in Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

          It does not mean that when we come to Christ that all of problems will go away, but it means that they are in the hands of the one who can do all things. I heard a Christian once say something really funny about worrying and struggling. He said, “Tell God all of your problems, then let him deal with them and go to bed, because he will be up all night anyway.”

          So many of us go through life carrying weights, hurts, regrets, and sins. Jesus says to all people, come unto to me. As the prophet Isaiah wrote in 1:18 “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

          So how many of us this morning feel like we have weights on us that are so heavy and so overwhelming, that we feel like we are drowning in a sea of hopelessness? Jesus said, come unto me.

          Jesus call us to repent, to “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.” All we need to do, is submit, let go, and let God take control of shattered lives, our shattered dreams, and our sin, and we will be given grace, peace, mercy, and salvation.

          When this occurs, we are at once loosened, and are freed to “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.”

          To me it is no mistake then that one of the lectionary readings from the Old Testament this morning is from Psalm 100. Psalm 100 begins by saying, “Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth.” Then in 100:2-3 it says, “Know that the LORD is God—he made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his own pasture.”

          The Psalmist then says in 100:4 that we should, “Enter his gates with thanks; enter his courtyards with praise! Thank him! Bless his name. The Psalmist ends this every short five verse Psalm in 100:5 by saying, “Because the LORD is good, his loyal love lasts forever; his faithfulness lasts generation after generation.”

          What I want to know this morning then, is do we claim the goodness of God, do we embrace the forgiveness we are offered by Christ the King, so that we may “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.” If we do, we are set free, and our faith then turns into action. Actions that led us feed the poor, to clothe the naked, to defend the helpless, and to serve the unfortunate. To change the world.

Oh brothers and sisters, are we free people today, or are we in bondage? I don’t know about you, but when I surrendered to God, to “Christ the King” this morning, as I do every morning, the Lord took my burdens, took my troubles, took my sins, and he said to me, “serve my people.” He says to me, “feed the hungry, and do all I have commanded you to do.” He says, “I have freed you my son, now go and serve others, go and tell them how they can be made free to.”

          In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the church in Ephesus, or the Ephesians from this morning, the Apostle Paul commends the church in Ephesus as he said, “I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people.” The Apostle Paul then said that, “God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, and power that might be named not only now but in the future.”

          The Apostle Paul then concludes this portion of his letter to the church in Ephesus by say that “God put everything under Christ’s feet and make him head of everything in the church, which is his body.” We, my brothers and sisters, are the living, breathing, moving, body of the risen Christ.

          In our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning, Jesus tells us the parable or the story of the “sheep and the goats.” Jesus tells us that when he returns to this earth one day he will come “in his majesty and all his angels” will be with him. At this point, he will be on his throne, and “All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” The sheep are the holy and righteous, and the goats are the one who were self-absorbed, wicked, and focused only on themselves.

          In fact, Jesus tells the “sheep,” “Come, you who will receive good things from my Father.” Then Jesus says, “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.”

          Jesus says further, “I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.”

          Then the righteous say to Christ, when did we do all of these things for you? Jesus responded by saying, “I assure you that when you have done it for one the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.” When Jesus says “one of the least of these brothers and sisters,” Jesus speaks of all person, regardless of who they are, what they are, or what they believe. We are all God’s children, and have sacred worth to the living God.

          You see, Christ said that when he returns, that the “goats” are going to be those people that didn’t love others, like Jesus commanded us to. Jesus said that these people with suffer eternal punishment.

          So I don’t think that God wants us to cower in fear before him, rather he says come unto me. Jesus says, let me take your burdens, let me take your sins, and follow me. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-26, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

          My brothers and sisters, as we approach this season of Advent, as we await the birth of baby that will change the world forever, let us be moved to repentance, to submit to the living God, to be spiritually renewed, so that we might more effectively build God’s kingdom, care for the poor, and make this world into all that Jesus Christ called us to make into.

          I would like to share a quote by Saint Basil the Great. Here it is, “There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned” Cease. Do not stand among sinners, but leap aside, for when you turn away and weep, then you will be saved.”

          My brothers and sisters, as God’s children, and as God’s church, before we can do anything we must come to Christ the King, repent, ask for forgiveness, put our full trust in God, and then you and I will “Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began.” Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost - 11/16/14 Sermon - “What do you do with what God has given you?"

Sunday 11/16/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “What do you do with what God has given you?”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 123

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:14-30

          Welcome once again this morning my brothers and sisters. Today is the Twenty-Third Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost, that holiday so long ago that the apostles and the first followers of Jesus Christ were in that upper room, and then suddenly the Holy Spirit moved in mighty way. This movement of the Holy Spirit caused the apostles and the early followers of Christ to speak in tongues, and emboldened them to go forth and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. To go forth, and build God’s kingdom on earth, as we await God’s kingdom to come.

          Today in our gospel reading from Saint Matthew, Jesus will tell us the “Parable of the Talents.” This parable or story is not about talents in the sense of the “American Idol” show, or the “Dancing with the Stars” show, instead, these talents are large sums of money. In the case of this parable or story then, a “talent” would be the equivalency today of several thousands of dollars. The “talents” in today’s gospel reading are described in the form of “valuable coins.” Coins that were probably large and made of silver or gold.

          I wonder though, if any of us have ever been entrusted with a large sum of money? I know that sometimes when babies are born that some families will get government savings bonds for the baby, or that they will give the family money to set up a bank account for when the baby grows up. Any of you ever set up or contribute to such a bank account? Perhaps it was a college savings account, or another type of account.

Have any of us ever been entrusted with property, a house, and or etc.? Maybe we found out that we are the executor to a family member’s last will and testament, maybe we found out that when a family member passed on, that we inherited something tangible, or that we inherited some money.

          It would seem that at some point we are all entrusted with something. For example, how many of you have ever house sat while a friend or a family member was away? During this time, it was your job to ensure that the person or family’s house and property were maintained in good order.

          Maybe some of us at work have been entrusted with a massive project that was something so big that not doing it very well could have caused extremely negative consequences for the business or the organization that we worked or work for.

          Maybe we have been entrusted with something small, like getting a few things at the grocery store. You know, mom or dad gave us some money to get milk, eggs, and bread, and we come back with cap gun and a snicker’s bar. My advice is to not do that.

          In a matter of speaking then, we are entrusted with various things all the time aren’t we? Yet if you sent me to the grocery store to get you milk, eggs, and bread, and I came back with a cap gun and a snickers bar, I would guess that you would not soon call me again to get you some milk, eggs, and bread and the grocery store.

          Our dependability, our care for what we have been entrusted with matters. In fact, if we do what we are asked to do, and if we care for what we have been entrusted with, it is much more likely that we will be asked to do something similar again in the future.

          It is often so humbling for me to know that I have been entrusted with the spiritual care of all of this that we call the church. That I have been called to order the life of this church, to preach the gospel of the living Christ, administer the sacraments, work with the people of this church to grow faith, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and to further transform this community. It would seem then, that God has entrusted me with quite a lot in pastoring this church, and believe me when I say that I take what I have been entrusted with by God, very seriously.

This morning then, Jesus Christ gives us a parable or story about what we do with what we have been entrusted with. Or to put it another way, “What do you do with what God has given you?” What do we do with what God and others entrust us with? Do we do what we say we will do? Further, do we honor God, with the great bounty that he has given us?

I mean after all, if we work hard and earn a good living, then everything we have is ours right? Yet do we honestly think that God’s hand is not involved here? If someone has great talent, has great abilities, what is the source of all of this? All of our gifts, all of our graces, all that we are is because God has given all of these to us. God has given us all that we are, and all that we are capable of being.

Our corresponding attitudes and actions then I think, should be “an attitude of gratitude.” An attitude of joy and love for the God of the universe that has blessed us immeasurably. We shouldn’t seek to horde possessions, money, and property, rather we should attempt to have what we need, and then seek to bless others. If we really were serious about what we do with our excess, wouldn’t we be able to help even more provide for the needs of the people of this community? If we have abundance, and others have nothing, should we give them some of our excess?

I mean what good is it to have extreme excess, when you have so much more than you need, if many around you are suffering? I am not opposed to being successful, but what good is having so much, if you don’t need it, and don’t use it?

The gospel reading for today then, the “Parable of the Talents,” asks us what do we do with what the “Master,” with what God has given us?

          In our reading this morning from Psalm 123, the psalmist encourages us to “raise” our eyes to him, who rules heaven. The Psalmist discusses how servants serve their master’s, and how we should serve with the same devotion and commitment. The Psalmist says that we should focus on being humble and devoted to God, and that in doing so God will bless us and have mercy on us.

          In the Apostle Paul’s first Epistle or letter to the church in Thessalonica or the Thessalonians, Paul tells the church that the Lord will return soon. He tells the church in Thessalonica, that the “Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.” Due to this, Paul says that whatever “peace and security” that we might feel here on earth, is all just smoke and mirrors. In this way, God is the only constant, as everything else can change in an instant.

          Natural disasters occur, wars begin, houses catch on fire, cars break down, things break at home, and other things happen suddenly. There are no guarantees in this world other than God, and as such, the Apostle Paul calls us “children of light,” and tells us to “stay awake and stay sober.” Paul is saying that God is faithful and he will return one day. On that day, all that will matter is the faith we had, and what we did with what God entrusted us with.

          You see Melissa and I don’t give freely to this church and the other church that I serve just because. We don’t make sacrifices in various areas, to be able to give to other causes, just because, but because God has entrusted us with a responsibility to give freely and joyfully.

          Looking at the text of the gospel lesson from Saint Matthew from this morning, Jesus once again says as he does several times in the gospel, “The kingdom of heaven is like.” In this way, Jesus Christ says, that “The Kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip.” When the man left on this trip, he decided to turn his possessions over to his servants, and entrusted them with them. To one of his servants he gave five valuable coins, another two, and another one. Jesus said that the man gave each servant a sum of money “according to that servant’s ability.” The man then “left on his journey.”

          When the man had left, the servant who was given the five valuable coins did business with them, and “gained five more” valuable coins. The servant that was given two valuable coins did the same, and “gained two more” valuable coins. Yet the servant who was given one valuable coin or talent, buried it in the ground.

          When the Master returned, he was pleased that the servant that he had given five valuable coins or talents to had double that amount. In fact the master said, “Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put in in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.”

          The servant that doubled the Master’s two valuable coins or talents into four valuable coins or talents got a similar response from the master. Yet the last servant told the Master that he “was afraid,” and as such, hid his “valuable coin in the ground.” The master then said, “You evil and lazy servant, you have done nothing with what I have entrusted you with.

          So the master took the servant’s one valuable coin or talent, and then gave it to the servant who had a total now of ten valuable coins or talents. The master then said, “Those who have much will receive more, and they will have more than they need. But as for those who don’t have much, even the little bit they have will be taken away from them.” The master then said, “Now take the worthless servant and throw him outside into the darkness.” People there will be weeping and grinding there teeth.”

          So what does this all mean then? As of one of my Bible commentaries put it, “God has richly endowed his people with gifts. These gifts are not to be ignored or treated as ornaments for display. Instead, we as individuals or congregations must see these gifts as investments to be used to gain the glory for the master. We must put faith into action by taking risks that will lead to fruitfulness.” Well said, I think.

In all of these ways then, everything that God has entrusted us with, time, talent, money, possessions, all come with expectations of us. “What do we do with what God has given us?”

I would like to tell you a story on stewardship, as this is our stewardship season. This story is called Alan Barnhart. This story was taken from “www.generosity.com and Barnhart, “Profit with a Purpose” in The Generous Business. A Guide for Incorporating Giving at Work.”

Here is how it goes: “Alan Barnhart is an American businessman who owns and runs a business valued at $250 million. When he was at University he poured over the teachings of Jesus and was struck by Jesus’ call to generosity and his warnings about wealth. He was determined that when he went into business he would not allow any financial success he might enjoy to become a source of spiritual failure.”

“When he and his brother took over their small family business, Barnhart Crane and Rigging, they set incomes for themselves that would enable them to support their families in a modest middle class lifestyle and agreed that anything the company made beyond that would be given to ministry, particularly ministries in the developing world.”

“In their first year they were able to give away $50,000; in the second year $150,000; and by 2005 they were giving away $1 million a month. They have also placed 99% ownership of the company into a trust that will ensure that when they have departed, all proceeds from the firm will continue to be invested in ministry.”

“Alan doesn’t regret the decision to limit his income. He, his wife and his children have been able to visit the projects they support and see the impact in people’s lives. Alan says that giving is fun!”

“Inspired by the teachings of Jesus on wealth, Alan Barnhart took a simple decision that revolutionized his life and enabled him to practice generosity.”

Imagine brothers and sisters, if we all gave like this. Imagine what the world would look like if more people took what was entrusted to them so seriously, that they toiled to ensure that the master would be pleased with what they have done with what he has given them.

In doing a little research, I went to the website of “Barnhart Crane and Rigging,” I discovered they have thirty business locations nationwide, and one in East Syracuse.

Here is what their website said for what there “Purpose Statement” is: “The Purpose of Barnhart Crane and Rigging Co. is to glorify God by providing an opportunity for His people to use their skills and gifts in His service through constructive work, personal witness and ministry funding.”

Brothers and sisters, we are in the midst of our stewardship season. We are looking at our church giving, and how we give in general. The question we all need to ask ourselves, is “What do we do with what God has given us?”

So here is what I am going to ask you to do this week, and I will agree to do the same thing. Go home, look at your finances, pray, and see where God is leading you to be more generous and more giving. Praise be to God, and Amen! 

Freeville/Homer Ave. UMC's - Veteran's Day Sunday/Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost - 11/09/14 Sermon - “Keep alert, because you don't know the day or the hour"

Sunday 11/09/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 78:1-7

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:1-13

          Brothers and sisters, friends, welcome once again on this the Twenty-Second Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost, this Veteran’s Day Sunday, and this Sunday of considering our pledges and our commitments to our church.

          While Pentecost occurred nearly two-thousand years ago, when the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way during the Feast of Pentecost, giving birth to the Christian Church, Veteran’s Day in the United States got its start in only in 1919. In fact, on November 11, 1919 the then President Woodrow Wilson declared that November 11^th, would be known “Armistice Day.” This Armistice, was the Armistice or “cease fire” that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. While the treaty after the war was not signed until late June of 1919, the Armistice or “cease fire” to end World War I or the “Great War” is how Veteran’s Day originally got its start. In 1938, the United States Congress then officially made “Armistice Day” a federal holiday, which would occur every year on November 11^th.

          When World War II ended in 1945 however, the thought quickly came up to expand “Armistice Day” to honor all men and women who have served in all wars, and in general. As a result, on June 1, 1954 the United States Congress officially changed the name of the national holiday of “Armistice Day” to “Veteran’s Day.” This Tuesday then, is our national holiday to honor, to remember, and to respect our men and women who have and will serve our country. This Tuesday, government institutions, public schools, and other institutions will be closed to honor those men and women who served our country.

          This holiday also happens to fall right in the middle of our stewardship season. You know the season where you get given those pieces of paper to decide how much to give to the church. This church that is or easily could be your new spiritual home. A church that perhaps you were married in, baptized in, raised a family in, found Jesus in, or perhaps is the place where you have invested much of your time, your talent, and your resources. Yet, what has this church done for this area over the many years it has existed? What impact has this church had on your life, on your family’s life, and the lives of many people over its years of existence?

          If the saints that came before us from this church, could speak about this church here today, what would they say? What would they say about how this church has changed this community and even the world?

          Maybe beyond just faith in Jesus Christ as one’s savior, maybe these past saints took that core of Christianity, and went much further in the way of service, charity, and love for others. In this way, I would ask you to think back to when you first came to this church. I want you to think of the loving people that you found here when you first walked in. I want you to think about all of those people that were in this church that are, or that are no longer with us on this earth today. What would they say about this church, its mission, its commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Would these past saints be encouraged and excited about the church? Or would they say, “don’t give to that church! You know the church is just a business right?” Also, how do we know when our time on this earth is up? How do we know when the Lord will return? For today’s gospel of Matthew reading says, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour,” that Jesus will return. We also don’t know the day or the hour that we will leave this earth.

          Much like Armistice Day, which is now Veteran’s Day, our church therefore, is a legacy. Our church speaks to reality of what the power of God has done in this place, and in this area. This church is a lighthouse, where all are welcomed, where we learn to love just a little a more, were lives are changed, and where we are trained to change the world for Jesus Christ.

          So First off, as I said, has the church been a blessing to you and to your family? Has the church made a significant impact on your life? Is the church where you found Jesus Christ, and faith in great abundance?

          I don’t know about you brothers and sisters, but I don’t think that I could ever give the church enough, to return what God has done for me. In fact, as my step-father Mike Therio says often, “you can’t out give God.” That when we give, that when we are faithful, aren’t we blessed abundantly? Doesn’t it feel good to give? For God loves “a cheerful giver.”

          The PPRC committee of this church voted to give me a small raise in pay for 2015. Now this wasn’t something that I expected. When I came home that night and told Melissa though, I began to speak, and she said, “I know, I know Paul, we will increase our tithing to the church.” For I can never “out give God.”

          The real fascinating thing to me is, is that we have nothing that God needs or wants from us, except for one thing. Did you hear what I just said there? We having nothing that God needs or wants from us, except for one-thing. That one thing is our obedience.

          I believe very strongly, that when I stand before almighty God someday, that he will say to me, “What did you do with the bounty that I gave you?” With all that God has given to me, do I give freely, or do I keep it all for myself? I hope that one day that when I stand before God, he will say, “Paul, well done good and faithful servant, the kingdom of heaven is yours.” For the gospel of Luke says in 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is our treasure? Is it with God, or is it elsewhere?

          Maybe we will get more serious about our faith tomorrow, or maybe next week, or maybe next year. Yet, we don’t know how long we will individually be on this earth do we? We also don’t know when the Lord will return, as the Gospel of Mathew from this morning says, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour,” that Jesus will return.

          So while I think we should take our faith seriously today, as tomorrow is not promised to anyone, I have also struggled in the past, with the fact that the church pays the pastor. I used to say when I was little younger to Melissa, “so let me get this straight, we tithe so that the pastor can drive a Cadillac?” Of course, I still gave, and when I got to seminary, I told the head of the seminary, “I don’t think that pastors should receive a salary!”

          He looked at me sort of perplexed and said, “well why is that?” I then said, “because we could give all that money to the poor.” The head of my seminary then told me a story that astounded. He said, “let me tell you a story Paul.” I then said, “ok.”

          He then said, “In a small town hundreds of years ago, the town had just heard about a savior named Jesus of Nazareth only months earlier. Many of the people in the town learned the scriptures, became followers of Jesus Christ, built a church, and wanted the world to know all about Jesus. In fact, they were so serious and excited about it, that they asked a young man in the town a tough question one day. You see, this young man was very moral, very upright, and now he himself also believed very strongly in God, the scriptures, and following Christ every day. As a result, the people of the town, believing so strongly in Jesus, and so strongly in their faith, asked the young man if he would quit his secular job, and come and lead the new church as the pastor.”

          “The young man said, but I still need to earn a living to feed my family, so maybe I will just work both jobs. The people then said, but we love Jesus Christ and the church so much, that we will pay you to serve God, to pray for us and the world, to visit the sick, to encourage us, to preach the gospel to us, to be strong when we are weak, to be available when we need it, and to make this community better. So we want you to quit your other job, and we will pay you enough to live. The young man so overcome by the honor and the joy of this request that he agreed to become the first pastor of the first church, of this small town. This pastor was very much the glue of this town, and he served God and the people there for years.”

          The head of my seminary then looked at me and said, “Paul, do you understand now why pastors get paid? Do you understand that they leave there secular jobs, many go to school for years, to be fully of service to God, to the church, and to the world? Do you understand that in the Methodist Church, it is like the military, in that our Bishops can send us anywhere in our conference from year to year? Do you see the sacrifice,” he said?

          Well wow I thought! I then told the head of seminary that I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to afford the rent of whatever church parsonage that I lived in. He then began laughing hysterically. I then mentioned it two or three more times, until he was almost crying he was laughing so hard. He then told me, “Paul, if the church can manage it, they will even house you and your family without cost to you, as well.” You know God’s people must love Jesus, the church, and the office of the pastor enough, must believe in the mission of the church enough, that we as a faith are still here nearly two-thousand years later.

          How amazing God is! How amazing the church is to me! How great the church has been to me since I agreed to go to four long years of school, to give up everything to serve God. I give freely, because God has given so much to me. Not only this, my beautiful bride Melissa has agreed to be in ministry with me to. She has answered the call of God in here own way.

While I avoided serving God as a pastor for some time in my life, I soon realized if not now, then when? Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, as Jesus said, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour” that I will return.

          In our Psalm reading from this morning, the Psalm instructs people to listen to the proverbs and the ancient wisdom that we have shared for generations. The Psalm then says that we should teach our children these things, “so that the next generation and children not yet born will know these things, and so they can rise up and tell their children to put their hope in God—never forgetting God’s deeds, but keeping God’s commandments.”

          Then the Apostle Paul tells us in his first Epistle or letter to the church in Thessalonica or the Thessalonians, “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about people who have died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope.” The Apostle Paul then says, “we believe that Jesus died and rose,” and the Apostle Paul then discusses how Jesus will return to earth one day.

          Our Gospel lesson this morning is from the gospel of Matthew 25:1-13. This gospel reading is often known as “The parable of the bridesmaids.” In this parable, ten-young bridesmaids are awaiting at night with lamps for the groom to come and get them for his wedding. Of these ten-young bridesmaids though, five of them didn’t bring oil for their lamps, meaning that they couldn’t see in the dark. The groom in this parable was then late, and at midnight the ten-young bridesmaids heard a “cry” far off in the distance indicating that the groom would be there fairly soon.

Yet, since the five-young bridesmaids had no oil in their lamps, they then asked the other five-young bridesmaids, who not only brought lamps full of oil, but containers of oil, if they could have some of their oil. The five prepared young bridesmaids said however, that they had to keep all of their oil, to ensure that could see the groom in the dark of the night, when he finally strolled up.

The five-prepared bridesmaids then suggested that five unprepared bridesmaids go and buy some oil for their lamps quickly, as to be able to see in the dark. So they did, but when there were gone, the groom arrived. When those five bridesmaids who had finally gotten enough lamp oil arrived at the wedding, they were not allowed in. You see the king said to them, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you. Therefore, keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour.” They missed the boat.

          What if we don’t worry about the church, or God, or helping others? What if we don’t fill our lamps as to be able to give and bless others? What if we just rush out later in life and get a bunch of lamp oil? What if we just give to the church later in life? What if we invest in our faith “down the road,” or “when things slow down?” Yet Jesus tell us this morning, “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour,” or the day or hour we are going to leave this earth.

Let me tell you a quick and funny story called “He Will,” by an author unknown. Here is how it goes: “The telephone rings in the pastor’s office. “Hello, is this Pastor Johns?” the caller asks. “Yes it is.” “This is the tax department. We wonder if you can help us” The pastor feels butterflies in his tummy. Why is the tax department ringing him? Nervously he replies “I’ll do the best I can.” “Do you know a Bruce Parker?” asks the tax agent. “Why yes” replies the pastor. “He’s a member of my congregation.” “Did he donate $10,000 to the church building fund?” A smile comes across the Pastor’s face. “He will.”

          So brothers and sisters, let us give abundantly to God, to the church, and to others this week, this coming year, and until we leave this earth, because “keep alert, because you don’t know the day or the hour.” Praise be the risen Christ. Amen.

         

         

Freeville/Homer Ave. UMC's - All Saints Sunday/Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost - 11/02/14 Sermon - “A Sermon from the Savior"

Sunday 11/02/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “A Sermon from the Savior”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 34:1-10, 22

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 John 3:1-3

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this our All Saints Sunday, and this the Twenty-First Sunday after the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was that day so long ago that the Holy Spirit moved like a might wind, and the Christian Church was born. That day, Jesus’ disciples and the early followers of Christ went forth preaching the gospel far and wide. The apostles and these early followers of Christ, and all of us today, comprise the followers of Jesus Christ. They, along with us, hold the title Christian, as all of us come together this morning in our faith in Jesus Christ.

          Those who have served Christ then, both then, throughout history, and even now, are the people that God has called to serve him, to serve his people, and to serve his church. This morning then, we pause to take stock of the saints that have went before us. The saints from this church, saints we knew on this earth, and the saints of old. All of these men and women worked, toiled, and sacrificed, so that people would know Jesus Christ. So that people would know the transforming power that is found in Jesus Christ. That through Jesus Christ, we can have life eternal, and can do all things.

          You see the saints, both past and present, speak of the power of God, and transforming power of the risen Christ. This transformational power is why we gather for worship here today, is why we have church, and is why we do all that we do. In giving himself up on a cross for us, Jesus has offered us new life. This Sunday morning then, we honor and we remember all those persons who have helped to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who have helped to further bring peace, love, harmony, and justice into a world that knows very little of this.

          In this morning’s reading from the gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus is true Jewish tradition sits down and teaches his listeners. In this teaching lesson, or sermon, Christ gives us yet another part of his gospel teachings. In fact, in this section of the gospel, Jesus Christ is communicating to his disciples, his followers, and even to us today, certain truths about God, about who he is as the Messiah, and about how we are supposed to live in his image every day. This sermon that Christ gives this morning is sometimes called the “Sermon on the Mount,” or is sometimes called the “Sermon on the Plain,” or the “Beatitudes.” The Latin word beātitūdō, translates in English to roughly mean “Happiness.”   

          The gospel narrative of the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” also shows up in Luke’s gospel, and of course in Matthew’s gospel that I just read this morning. In Luke’s gospel, Luke cited four beatitudes that Christ spoke, yet in Matthew’s gospel this morning, we are given a list of eight beatitudes. Why the difference you might ask? There are many theories to this discrepancy, such as that Matthew added more “Beatitudes” that were missing from Luke’s version, that Mathew created them, that Matthew took them from the Psalms or Book of Proverbs, and etc.

          Before getting into the meat of this morning’s gospel reading though, I just want to make light of the Psalm 34 reading from this morning, that encourages us to “bless the LORD at all times,” as Jesus will say that certain types of people are “blessed,” or “happy,” in his “Sermon on the Mount,” this morning.

          In our reading from 1 John this morning, John says, “See what kind of love the Father has given us in that we should be called God’s children.” God loves all of his children, and he asks us to love all of his children to.    So onto the gospel reading for this morning then. Matthew writes in 5:1-2 that, “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:.”

          Now some translations say what Jesus then says are “Blessed are,” but the translation our church provides this morning, says “Happy are,” in line with the Latin translation to English.

          Christ then tells us in Matthew 5:3, “Happy are the hopeless, because the kingdom of heaving in theirs.” He then tell us in 5:4, “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.” In 5:5 Christ says, “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.” In 5:6 Jesus says, “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will fed until they are full.” Christ goes on to say in 5:7, “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.” In 5:8 Jesus says, “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.”

          Then in 5:9, Jesus Christ says, “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. In 5:10 Christ tells us the last of the eight “Beatitudes.” He says, “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Christ then reminds us all in 5:11, “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me.” Jesus tells us when this happens to “Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven.”

          So, powerful words from the Messiah this morning, wouldn’t you say? A powerful “Sermon from the Savior.”

          Yet, I have to admit I never quite got the “Beatitudes” up until recently. I mean after all, do all of those things that Christ said in this “Sermon on the Mount,” actually happen in our world every day? By this, I mean do the hopeless always feel better? Do those who grieve always receive joy and blessing? Do people always receive mercy when they give mercy? Do peace makers really inherit the earth? And etc.

          You see, I think that for me and for many others, we have read the “Beatitudes” and thought, “Well that’s nice.” Maybe we then thought, but the world we live in doesn’t work like that, so this more just wishful thinking then. Anyone here ever thought this about the Beatitudes?

          Here is the thing though, and I didn’t know this until recently, when Jesus gave the “Sermon on the Mount,” he was telling his disciples and early followers of his, the privileges and also the demands of their position. Jesus wasn’t just speaking the “Beatitudes” just into being, he was telling the disciples, his early followers, and us, that God will bless all of these people in all of the ways that God has promised, but, we have a role in this to. We have an obligation to protect the weak, the defenseless, the widow, and the person who feels hopeless. You see God’s promises are as solid and rock, but Jesus wants us to help those promises be magnified and stronger.

          In this way, we are building the Kingdom of God here on earth, as we await the kingdom to come. As we await Christ’s return. Until then, we are called to honor, protect, feed, and pray for the “hopeless,” those who “grieve,” the “humble,” those who are physically and spiritually “hungry,” those who show “mercy,” those who have “pure hearts,” those who “make peace, and those who are “harassed” and oppressed for God’s sake.

          So this morning my brothers and sisters, Jesus the risen Christ gave a sermon. This “Sermon from the Savior,” is not only who are “blessed,” but it is how we are supposed to safeguard, protect, and uphold those and all of God’s children.

          In this way, I challenge us all to have an attitude of being God’s love for others. On this day, let Christ’s “Beatitudes” fill us, so that we can “Be” all of the things that Jesus Christ has called us to be. Praise be God. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Ave. UMC's - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 10/12/14 Sermon - “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen"

Sunday 10/12/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: Philippians 4:1-9

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this Eighteenth Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost, was that day so long ago that the Holy Spirit moved through the early church, filling them, causing them to speak in tongues, and it was day that the early church was born.

          In moving forward in our church calendar to All Saint’s Day, and All Saint’s Sunday, we have been given many good parables or stories that Jesus told. Jesus told various parables in the gospels, speaking to the disciples, other followers of his, to crowds, to high priests, to Pharisees, and sometimes to anyone who would listen.

          A parable can be defined as, “a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson,” and these parables or stories, were told by Jesus to communicate certain truths, ideas, and elements of faith. In this way, the idea of a parable, at least in ancient Israel, was something that was not meant to be a fairy tale or mythology. Rather, it housed truths within its context.

          In fact, telling stories was very common place in many ancient cultures, and storytelling in general, is something that is common in many cultures and places on the earth, even today.

          In Jesus coming to earth, in Jesus being a first century Jewish man, Jesus, it would seem from the gospel accounts, knew well the customs, beliefs, and the ways of communication of his day. In this way, Jesus knew that parables were a tradition in ancient Jewish culture that went back to the days of the Old Testaments writings.

          So in this way, Jesus was trying to communicate to his audience in a way that they could understand. Yet today, we are quite a different audience, culturally, perhaps ethnically, and perhaps we are different as far as many other factors are concerned as well. So we then seek to understand the parables of Jesus Christ and the scriptures, through our own lenses of understanding.

          So when Jesus Christ said for example, in the gospel according to John 13:34-35, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I think that Jesus meant this, and I take it to mean that we are to love all people, without exception. Even Buffalo Bills fans. Jesus said, by our love people will know that we are one of his followers. Our love for each other and for everyone, is how many will come to know us and to know our faith.

          In the parable or the story that Jesus tells us this morning, Jesus talks about a wedding party, or what we would commonly call today a wedding reception. How many of you like to go to wedding receptions? I know that I love to go to wedding receptions, and aside the call from God to serve as a pastor, and to preach the gospel, I like to officiate weddings.

          In fact, I remember one of the first weddings I officiated. I didn’t know the couple before meeting them to plan for the wedding, but they said, “We would really like you to come to the wedding reception afterwards.” I then said, “Are you sure?” They then replied, “we insist.” Well the actual wedding ceremony took about 10-15-minutes, then the wedding party had various pictures that were taken of the wedding party and the family. There were also people greeting the newlyweds and the rest of the wedding party, and many people congratulated them. After this, I got ready quickly, I then went to this very impressive reception hall.

          When I got to the reception hall, I made sure that I had freshened up a little bit, that my tie was on straight, and that I looked decent for the party or wedding reception. Then after more and more people arrived, the groom’s father said, “Pastor Paul would you bless this meal for us?” I then said, “sure I will,” and I proceeded to offer a prayer of thanksgiving over this young newly married couple, their families’, and the food that we were about to partake of. You see I was invited by the Father and the Son, but they still had expectations of me once I arrived at the wedding feast.

          After this, the groom’s father insisted that I go to the front of the line, right behind the newly married couple. I then said, “No, no, I can wait.” The groom’s father then said, “I insist.” Well, what an amazing dinner! Perhaps even magical! I might have seen the face of the very face of Jesus Christ at this dinner! Then as I was eating, I thought, “This is amazing! I wonder if I can officiate a wedding every weekend!”

          With this said, let us consider this morning, the question of why would a person deny an invitation to such a blessed and a great event as I was invited to? Why would someone not come and be so honored as I was, to such a great wedding reception?

          When looking at the reading from this morning from Psalm 106, the Psalm starts with 106:1 saying, “Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” Now in the parable that Jesus tells this morning, a king invited many people to come to a wedding reception or party, out of the great love that he had for his people. Do we accept God’s “steadfast love,” which “endures forever?”

Psalm 106:4 goes on to say, “Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them;” yet the people whom the king chose and invited to this party or wedding feast in the parable that Jesus tells this morning will refuse his invitation. Despite the favor and the love of the king, the invitees, or those “chosen” by the king, will refuse his generous and loving initiation.

          In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the church in Philippi or the Philippians from this morning, Paul tells the church members in Philippi, “stand firm in the Lord.”

          The Apostle Paul then says, “The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything,” to ask God to give us peace “that exceeds all understanding.” The Apostle Paul then encourages the church to focus things that are excellent, admirable, true, holy, just, and pure. If calls us, invites us, do we answer that call? Or do we ignore it altogether?

          In our Gospel reading from this morning, Jesus tells us about a King who invites many people to a great wedding party, or wedding reception. Jesus begins this parable by saying, as he did in many of his parables, “The kingdom of heaven is like.” Meaning this is how it will be in God’s heaven, or this is how it is in God’s kingdom.

          In this parable for this morning though, Jesus continues on, saying that a king prepared what was likely a great wedding feast for his son who was just married. The king had his servants go out to tell all those whom he had invited to the wedding feast, that the time for the party and the feast had come. Yet none of the chosen invitees wanted to come, as it seemed they just had better things to do. You see they denied the loving invitation of their king.

          So the king then sends his servants out a second time, and tells the servants, “Tell those who have been invited, “Look the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready.” Yet even with this second call for the chosen invitees to come to this elaborate wedding feast, the Gospel says that they “paid no attention and went away.” The Gospel says further, that some went “to their fields, others to their businesses.” Yet some of the chosen invitees even went one step further, and “grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them.”

          Well as you can imagine, the king was enraged by this second rejection of his invitation and this killing of his servants. As a result, the king “sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire.” After this, the king then said to his servants, well we still have all of this food and all of these seats at these tables. The king decided therefore, to tell his servants that since “those who were invited weren’t worthy,” the servants should go and invite everyone then could find on “the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.”

          Well wouldn’t you know it, the new, but not originally chosen or invited people poured into the banquet hall of the king for this wedding reception. In fact, the servants according to the gospel, gathered people whom were “both evil and good,” and they were all together feasting and laughing. You see the king was content to invite all people, regardless of who or what they were to this great wedding reception or party.

Amidst all of this though, the king noticed that a man that wasn’t wearing “wedding clothes,” or clothes that would be suitable for a wedding. The king then asked this newly invited man, “Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?” The man was speechless, and then the king ordered his servants to tie up the man’s hands and feet and throw him outside “into the farthest darkness.” Then Jesus said, the “People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.”

          Jesus then concludes this parable by saying, “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.”   

          Well, I think it is interesting, like the parable of the vineyard owner from last Sunday, that Jesus speaks of a landowner or in this case a King, sending servants to his people. In each instance, the first group of servants are rejected, and then in each instance a second group of servants are rejected.

          Now in this parable the king did not send his son to his people, as his son was the guest of honor with his bride at the wedding feast. In the parable of the landowner however, the landowner did send his son, who was killed.

          So two sets of servants, then a focus on the son, whether as a messenger, or the one to be celebrated like in today’s parable.

          So what does this all mean then? Well the Old Testament of our Christian Bible, or what our Jewish brothers and sister would call the Hebrew Bible, or the Torah and Tanakh, can be broken up into five categories. Here are the categories: The Pentateuch or the Torah, the History, Poetry or Writings, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets.

          Now we don’t have time this morning to unpack all of the categories of the Old Testament, but I would draw your attention to the two last of the five sections of the Old Testament, which are the “Major Prophets,” and the “Minor Prophets.” You see Old Testament Prophets, people like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and etc. were broken into two categories, “Major Prophets,” and “Minor Prophets.”

          In some of Jesus’s parables he talks about a king or a landowner sending not one group of servants, but two groups of servants. There are two categories or groups of servants or prophets in the Old Testament. In these parables, Jesus then draws attention to the landowner of king’s son, who in the story line, would come after the two groups of servants that had been flatly rejected.

          You see God’s people had largely rejected the “Major Prophets,” then God’s people had largely rejected the second group of “Minor Prophets,” and now many of God’s people are even rejecting God’s very own son. Yet if the people that God has directly invited or called to be in his presence, to be with him and his son, reject the offer, he then will invite all people.

          So if the people of Israel rejected God, and both categories of his prophets, and if then even further, if they then reject his own son, then everyone will be invited. So the son of God has come for all people, not just some.

          So you see, God calls some, but invites many. If we answer that call or that invitation though, God expects us to come as we are, but not stay that way. If God has called us into his grace and into his gracious presence, God expects us to make an effort. God expects us to not necessarily literally change our wedding clothes, but he expects us to be spiritually and mentally changed. That our new clothes will be that of righteousness, of love, of justice, and of mercy. That people will know who we are, by our love and by our actions. That when people come into this church, they will feel love and joy, and feel it in great abundance. For this is why God sent his son.

          So my challenges to all of us this week, is do we do this? Do we really make an effort to love all people, despite ourselves? Do we really make an effort to welcome all people to God’s house, to God’s family, to the banquet feast of God’s son? I challenge us all to be a little nicer and little kinder this week to the people we meet and interact with, not just because it is a nice thing to do, but because Jesus Christ himself told us all, this is how you need to act and treat one another. Jesus instructs us directly to love and care for one another. Do we accept this invitation from God, from Jesus Christ? For “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.” Amen.

Freeville/Homer Ave. UMC's - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost/World Communion Sunday - 10/05/14 Sermon - “The Cornerstone"

Sunday 10/05/14 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “The Cornerstone”

Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 19

                                            

New Testament Scripture Lesson: Philippians 3:4b-14

Gospel Lesson: Mathew 21:33-46

          Brothers and sisters, welcome on this the Seventeenth Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost was a powerful day indeed. For on the day of this Christian holiday, nearly two-thousand years ago, the Holy Spirit moved mightily through the disciples and the members of the early church. This movement of the Holy Spirit caused the disciples and the members of the early church to speak in tongues, and propelled them to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ far and wide. The day of Pentecost is the official day that the Christian Church was born.

          This Sunday is also World Communion Sunday, were millions upon millions of Christians this day, partake of Holy Communion, the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, in a spirit of Ecumenism. On this World Communion Sunday, we with millions of other Christians worldwide, will “taste and see that the Lord is good,” and we come together in the common unity of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

           With all of that said, I have a question for all of you here this morning. How many of you like to take walks in the woods? How many of you like to spend time in the woods, in general?

          For me, there is something that I have always found soothing about nature and God’s creation. When we go in the woods though, whether it be for a hike, for camping, and etc., we sometimes see remnants of days gone by, don’t we? Sometimes we might see an old structure, that seems like that it was eaten away slowly by the foliage of the earth, as the person who owned that structure no longer lives on that land.

          Sometimes in the woods we can stumble across an old cemetery. Maybe the cemetery is kept up by someone, or maybe it isn’t. You see at one time there was human life and activity there, but today the life and the activity that was present, is now just woods, or is now just over grown land.

          I remember some of my childhood down in Orange County, NY spending time in the woods with my friends. We would camp, play paintball, and do other fun stuff. I remember one time that I was in the woods, I was walking alone, and then suddenly I saw what appeared to be the remnants of an old stone fence. You know the kind of fence that is literally a straight row of carefully stacked rocks?

          As I was walking, and as this stone fence came more into my view, I also saw the edge of what appeared to be an old stone foundation. As I got closer, I noticed that it was in fact, an old stone foundation. Once I got to it, I looked it over carefully. What was immediately obvious to me, was that the house that was there, was gone, the people who lived in that former house were gone to, and their possessions were also gone. The fact that this land was vital and being used by humans at one time, was now no longer the case. You see what was, was no longer, yet the foundation was still present. My guess is, is that if I went into those same woods down in Orange County, NY today that the foundation of that house would still be there.

As I looked at the foundation, and as I walked around it, the parts I could see, as it was largely overgrown, were revealing. I then thought to myself, “the only thing that might be left of these people, their lives, their home, could very well be, this foundation.”

Now I’m no builder, but this foundation seemed well built to me. Sure there was crumbling in some places, but in the corners of the foundation, I noticed much larger stones. As if these bigger rocks were picked just for the corners, or the foundation of the home.

In our gospel reading for this morning, Jesus, speaking of himself, said to the chief priests and the Pharisees, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

When I was preparing for this sermon then, I thought of that old foundation that I saw in the woods in Orange County, NY when I was younger. When I read the gospel reading for this morning therefore, I then wanted to be clear on just what was meant by a “cornerstone.” Well, I then looked up the definition in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The definition said that a cornerstone is, “a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall; specifically: such a stone laid at a formal ceremony. Or, a basic element. Here is a definition from WWW.Wikipedia.Com. “The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, and it is important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.”

So this is what a cornerstone is historically and literally. In the Apostle Paul’s epistle or letter to the church in Ephesus, or the Ephesians, he says in 2:19-22, ^“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.”

So if one views Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and if one views Christ as the means by which we obtain salvation, it is pretty easy to see how Jesus being seen as the “cornerstone” places great significance on him both as a person, and in his full identity in God itself.

It is undeniable to me then, that we cannot have a full and a robust Christian faith, if we do not have a strong foundation in Jesus Christ. If we do not have a strong foundation built upon a solid “cornerstone,” on a solid rock.

Scripture says, to not build your house on the sand, but rather to build it upon what? To build your house upon the rock, upon the cornerstone.

The reading from Psalm 19 from this morning says in 19:1, “Heaven is declaring God’s glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.” What is at the bottom of the foundation of our handiwork, of our faith?

This Psalm goes on to say that God is faithful, powerful, and that in him we can find truth, power, and a foundation made of solid rock.

This Psalm ends with 19:14 saying, “Let the words of my mouth and the mediations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and redeemer.” My friend Pastor John Aukema who pastors the Scott UMC and the Mid Lakes UMC, begins every sermon he preaches by reciting Psalm 19:14 in the form of prayer. It is interesting that it is said in this verse that God is our “rock.” That God is solid and sturdy, a rock.

In the reading this morning from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, or the Philippians, the Apostle Paul said that all the things that make him righteous, are nothing without Jesus Christ. In fact, the Apostle Paul said, “I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” The Apostle Paul then says, he has given up his worldly goods and treasures to serve Christ. The reason that the Apostle Paul serves Christ is, “The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings.”

The Apostle Paul then concludes this portion of his letter by saying, “The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.”

In the gospel reading from the gospel according to Matthew from this morning, Jesus tells yet another parable or story. This parable or story is about a landowner who took his land and “put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower,” and then rented the land to tenant farmers. This was a sort of cash cropping agreement then.

After renting this land, the gospel then says that the land owner “took a trip.” When the time of harvest came, in order to make sure that the fruit of this harvest was collected, the landowner “sent his servants to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit.” When these servants arrived, they were grabbed by the tenant farmers who rented the land, “They beat some of them, and some of them they killed. Some of them they stoned to death.”

The landowner then sent a second group of servants to collect the fruit of the harvest, and again they were treated the same as the first group. In trying to figure out how to get the fruit that belonged to him, the landowner then finally sent his son. The landowner said, “They will respect my son,” and when the tenants saw the son they “threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.” They thought by doing so that they could claim the son’s inheritance.

Jesus then asks his listeners, including the chief priests and the Pharisees, “When the land owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenant farmers?”

They answer was that the landowner would kill and destroy those tenant farmers and replace them with good and loyal tenant farmers.

Jesus then said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the scriptures, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The Lord has done this, and it’s amazing in our eyes?” Now the specific scripture that Jesus was citing was Psalm 118:22 that says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Jesus then tells the people of Israel that God’s kingdom will be taken from them, and given to people who will produce fruit. That if we reject Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, we will lose our very lives.

That the landowner is God, and that the people of Israel, the tenant farmers have rejected the servants, or all of the Old Testament prophets, and now they are rejecting the landowner’s, God’s son, Jesus Christ. So, what is the foundation of our lives built upon? What is our cornerstone?

I would like to close this morning with a very short story called “Two Cups.” Here is how it goes, “History has preserved for us two magnificent silver cups from the boggy marshes of Ireland. The first is known as the Gundestrup Cauldron and comes from a century or two before Christ, at the time when the Irish worshiped violent pagan gods. It is adorned with pictures of gods and warriors. One panel shows a gigantic cook-god holding squirming humans and dropping them into a vat of oil. These gods demand human sacrifice to appease their appetite.”

“The second cup is called the Ardagh Chalice and comes from the seventh or eighth centuries after Christ, a time when the Irish had turned to Christianity. Like the first it is a work of magnificent craftsmanship, but the God it depicts is radically different. It has a simple but intricate patterning. But this is a cup of peace, designed to be used in communion. As the worshiper lifts it to her lips she is reminded that this God does not demand human sacrifice, but instead sacrifices himself for us.”

 Brothers and sisters, this day, this week, consider the houses of your souls. On what do our spiritual homes rest? What is our “cornerstone?” If our souls are truly built upon the truth and graces of God, of Jesus Christ, do people see this in our actions, our deeds, and how we live our very lives? Amen, and praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ.