Sidney UMC - Third Sunday of Advent - 12/12/21 - Sermon - “The Messiah We Expect?" ("A Real Advent and A Real Christmas" Series: Part 3 of 5)

Sunday 12/12/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:                 “The Messiah We Expect?”                                      (“A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Series: Part 3 of 5)          

Old Testament Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20                                       

New Testament Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:7-18

          This morning is the Third Sunday of Advent, and the third week in our sermon series called “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas.” So far in this sermon series, we have talked about how Advent and Christmas this year are and will be real. We are here, we are present, even if everything is not completely back to normal around our COVID-19 Pandemic.

          Whether we were in this pandemic or not however, the memory and the celebration of Jesus’ birth on Christmas Day, will happen. Whether we were in this pandemic or not, we are invited to bring Jesus into our hearts anew daily. Whether we were in this pandemic or not, we also await the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

          After two long years of a global pandemic, and after seeing so many people worship and connect with the church in person and online, we should be excited that we have so many more people connected to us and to Christ through our church. Some people are online only because of the pandemic, some live far away, but some might not want to be physically part of a church. As a result, in this season of Advent, and soon to be Christmas, it is important, as I said last Sunday, to distinguish Jesus from the church. When we live and love like Jesus, the church grows and is strengthened. When the church fails to live and love like Jesus, then many people will not want to be part of the church, at least physically. Let us continue to show people the love of Christ in this season of Advent, and the soon to be season of Christmas. People will come to visit, whether up until Christmas, or on Christmas Eve itself. We get the opportunity then to show people the love of Christ, and we get the opportunity to show people why the Sidney UMC is such a great church to be a part of.

          With all of this being said, what I am talking about this morning, is who is this Jesus that we love so much? Further, is the baby being born soon, and the messiah that will grow up and die on a cross for us, is this who we would expect the messiah to be?

          For example, if you were to look at a broken world like ours, full of suffering, pain, disease, war, poverty, and cruelty, how would you fix it? Do not get me wrong there is great love and hope in this world too, but we cannot deny all the brokenness that is all around us. So, if we were tasked with fixing this world, what would we do about it? More specifically if were going to send a savior, a messiah, Jesus Christ, and if we could determine what this Jesus would be like, how would we create this Jesus who will save the world. What I mean by this, is before we ever knew about Jesus, if we were to be asked what this savior should be, or could be, what would we say?

          I think that some of us would imagine Jesus as a superhero. Jesus would be like one of the many recent movies that depict Spider Man, Superman, and etc. Surely Jesus would be powerful, would fight, and would physically win the day over evil. Or maybe this Jesus, this Messiah, this savior, who we will celebrate the birth of on December 25^th will be a great warrior and general. Maybe when this Jesus is old enough, he will militarily conquer the evil of this world and create peace and harmony. For some maybe this would be “The Messiah We Expect?”

          Yet the scripture says that Jesus is “The Prince of Peace.” The scripture calls Jesus “The Man of Sorrows.” The scripture says that this baby coming to us soon will grow up, live, preach, heal, love, and forgive, but in the end will be abandoned and rejected. The scripture says that he will be tortured, suffer, and die for us on a cross. Jesus does not militarily conquer Rome on Good Friday, nor does he physically fight off the people that harm and kill him. I cannot imagine that most people if they were asked what the Messiah, the Savior, Jesus Christ would be like, that would say that this is “The Messiah We Expect?”

          While we might not have predicted what Jesus would be like, many of us know now who Jesus the messiah actually was and is. Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in a chariot with an army. Jesus came in humble on a donkey. Jesus once he began his ministry did not live in castles or have the best of everything. Jesus came to offer spiritual transformation to the world. Jesus did not come to try to kill and overthrow Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, King Herod, or Caesar. Jesus did not come as a movie superhero, or as conquering warrior. Jesus came in strength, grace, truth, righteousness, mercy, and love.

          I remember hearing John Kerry speak some years ago when he ran for president. At one point he said, “You cannot legislate morality.” What was meant by this, is that we can pass laws, we can use force, we can intimidate, but what truly changes things? While for some, the savior, the messiah that is coming among us soon might not be a movie superhero or a conquering warrior, but I would argue that he is far more powerful than both of them.

          For centuries we have had one conquering empire after another invading and taking over. The way these empires stayed in power was fear, strength, money, and control. If Jesus “The Messiah We Expect” was like this, then many would only follow him because they had they no choice. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and we get to say yes or no to this gospel.

          What was and is Jesus’ power then? Well on earth Jesus was the fullness of man and God, he had the power and the authority to perform miracles and taught with the fullness of grace and truth. Beyond all of this, Jesus’ biggest weapon was love. If you can conquer a person’s heart, then why would ever need to conquer the person’s body? You can control a person with power, fear, intimidation, and force, but what if you could change someone spiritually from the inside out.

          Jesus Christ, while not “The Messiah” that many expected has transformed the world, and he did not need to swing one sword or shoot one arrow to do it. If you can change hearts, if you can restore souls, if you can renew minds, then you can truly change the world. The Roman Empire that held Judea as a colony under Pontius Pilate when Jesus was alive, no longer controls Israel. In fact, the Roman Empire collapses centuries ago, and head of the largest Christian denomination in world, Pope Francis, sits in the Vatican in Rome. Where Roman Caesars, Roman Emperors sat and ruled, now the largest Christian denomination, the Roman Catholic Church is based where the Empire that once colonized Jesus’s homeland was. The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate that condemned Jesus to death, likely has descendants that have been Christian for centuries, as Rome is no longer an empire. Rome is now the headquarters of over 1-billion Christians.

          A Superhero like the movies, a conquering warrior, well that would be fun and interesting, but what if you can transform for the world without all of that. If you can win souls, hearts, and minds, that is the real change that the messiah, Jesus came for. Did he come to die for our sins and rise again? Of course, but also came to change our hearts, our minds, and our souls here on earth. There is nothing stronger and more powerful than soul that has been stored by Christ, a heart that has been changed by Christ, or a mind that has been renewed by Christ.

          In fact, as our reading from the Prophet or Book of Zephaniah for morning says in 3:17-18 once again:

¹⁷ The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing ¹⁸ as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it (Zeph. 3:17-18, NRSV).

          Now if you were a Jew in the time of Jesus’ birth and life, death, and resurrection, I could see why Jesus would not be “The Messiah” you would expect. Jesus is a warrior that gives us victory, but a spiritual warrior that gives us spiritual victory. Jesus was not a military warrior of general. Jesus came to change our hearts, our minds, and restore our souls.

          In looking once again at our reading from the Book of Philippians, we hear once again the Apostle Paul saying:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus       (Phil. 4:4-7, NRSV). 

          In this scripture the Apostle Paul encourages us to rejoice, to be gentle, to trust God, to pray, to be thankful, and to have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. The Apostle Paul then tells us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus might not have been “The Messiah” that some hoped for or predicted, but this spiritual warrior came to conquer hearts, minds, and restore souls.

          How are we changed then, and how do we change the world then? We do this with the love of Jesus Christ. Since we cannot legislate morality, we must change our hearts, our minds, and restore our souls.

          In looking at our gospel of Luke reading for this morning once again, we once again hear again about Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. More specifically we here from John the Baptist himself. Starting once again in Luke 3:7 it says of John the Baptist:

⁷ John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹ Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” ¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ¹¹ In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise” (Lk. 3:7-10, NRSV).  

          John the Baptist is telling the crowds that when Jesus begins his public ministry and starts teaching, loving, healing, and forgiving here on earth, that we must be changed. The change that Jesus desires is a change of mind, heart, and the restoration of our soul.

How then will translate into building a better world? It will translate into a better world, because as disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to live like Jesus. John tells us some of what Jesus will teach us. John says once again, if you have two coats, share. John said if you have extra food share. We can pass laws, and we can create all sort of other things. Some laws, some regulations, and some restrictions are good, but only a changed mind, heart, and restored soul can truly change this world.

After talking to the crowds, the tax collectors then ask John the Baptist what they should do. The scripture picks up once again in Luke 3:12 saying:

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” ¹³ He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” ¹⁵ As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, (Lk. 3:12-15, NRSV).

          John the Baptist tells the tax collectors only to collect from people what is owed, and to not cheat anyone. John the Baptists then tells soldiers to do their duty, take their wages, and do not cheat or extort money. As a result of the way John the Baptist was talking, some thought that John the Baptist himself was the messiah. Further, John is telling the tax collectors and the soldiers, that they know what the laws are, so do not cheat people. You cannot legislate morality. Live right, honestly, upright, and justly. How do we do that? Well, I believe that the best and the only answer that the world has is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ offers us a new heart, a renewed mind, and a restored soul.

          Balking at the idea that he is the messiah, John the Baptist then once again says of this of the messiah, our savior, his cousin Jesus Christ:

 ¹⁶ John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people                              (Lk. 3:16-18, NRSV).

          I can imagine all the crowds around John the Baptist then discussing and thinking, so what will this messiah be like? Will he be “The Messiah We Expect?” You see the baby Jesus, who is coming amongst us soon is not just our savior who will die for our sins and rise again, he has come to change us all. Jesus did not just come to fulfill a contractual agreement to get us into heaven one day, he came to bring his kingdom here to earth. We cannot legislate morality, but Jesus can change hearts, minds, and restore souls.

          Do you want God to use you to change the world? Well, how can we change anything, until we are changed? When Christmas arrives in about two weeks, may we realize that “The Messiah We Expect?” might actually be much more powerful, more significant, and more life changing than we could ever imagine. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Second Sunday of Advent - 12/05/21 - Sermon - “What's The Problem With Jesus?" ("A Real Advent and A Real Christmas" Series: Part 2 of 5)

                                Sunday 12/05/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:                “What’s The Problem With Jesus?”                          (“A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Series: Part 2 of 5)       

Old Testament Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4                                     

New Testament Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:1-6

          So, in preparing for this the second installment of this sermon series called “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas,” I wanted to compare and contrast Jesus Christ with the Christian Church. Well, what do I mean by this? I mean comparing Jesus, our Lord, with the institution, the physical buildings, and ingathering of God’s people into worshipping congregations like this. Last Sunday, in fact, I talked about Jesus’ coming birth on Christmas, his invitation to be in our hearts every day, and his second coming to earth one day.

          The seasons of Advent and Christmas are all about Jesus. In fact, the word Christmas comes from the combination of “Christ’s Mass.” In some Christian denominations and traditions, the worship services are called “Masses.” The name “Christmas” means then the worship of Christ, or a service of worship for Christ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas). Advent and Christmas, therefore, are about Jesus, the prophets foretelling his birth, his life, his teachings, his miracles, his death on cross, his resurrection, and his return to earth one day.

          With all of this said, my sermon title for this morning is called, “What’s The Problem With Jesus?” The reason that I chose this sermon title is that I have met many people who love Jesus, believe in Jesus, and follow Jesus’ teachings, yet they do not go to church. Not only do some of these folks not go to church, but they also want nothing to do with the church. Why is this? Well, an event or a series of events revealed to this person or persons that the church or churches they were going to were not like Jesus. They began attending church to learn about and to be more like Jesus, yet some of the people in the church seemed nothing at all like Jesus. Sometimes this has also even been the pastor or the priest that was guilty of this.

          Some of these people even lost faith in Christ altogether, and many still love Jesus, they just do not go to church. This means friends that in Sidney we do have some atheists and agnostics, but we have more people who love Jesus, but who do not love the church. In fact, a Barna study that was conducted in November of 2016, and the whole study was published in March, 2017. It said this:

“39-percent of men love Jesus, but not the church. 61-percent of women love Jesus, but not the church” (https://www.barna.com/research/meet-love-jesus-not-church/).

          This means that we have many people in Sidney and near and far that love Jesus but want nothing to do with the church. In my 10-years of ministry, I have had an ongoing ministry that I did not plan for or even know that I would have when I entered ministry. I call this ministry the “wounded sheep” ministry. It is not an official ministry, but it is one where people who have been wounded by the church return to the church. People that love God, love Jesus, but left the church. Sometimes when I have started as the new pastor of a church, a new person begins coming to the church. What I would soon find out sometimes though, is that this was not a new person at all. Instead, a  “wounded sheep” had returned. Sometimes they had not been to the church in 20-30 years!

          There are also people in Sidney and near and far that are what is called “Spiritual, but not religious.” They believe something about something. Many of these people want to believe in Jesus, but before they are “all in” they need to really see the greatness of Jesus. Since the local church is so often the front lines of discipleship, of preaching and living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and loving others, what they see, what they hear, and what they experience of us, sometimes shapes their opinion of who Jesus is. After all, if we are his followers, if we are the church, then these people can connect to Christ through the church.

          There are also Atheists who reject God, and Agnostics who are undecided, but all of which need Jesus whether or not they realize it. All this said then, the problem over the last two-thousand years of the Christian Church has never been Jesus, it has always been the church. When we fail to live, love, and care like Jesus, do not be shocked when we have believers who do not come to church. Or as I heard pastor say jokingly once, “they attend the Bedside Baptist Church, with Rev. Sheets.”

          This means then, as my sermon series is titled, we can have “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas” even during COVID. Why? The reason is that people’s yearning for hope, for peace, for love, and for joy has not gone away. People’s need for Christ and a great community of faith like this has not gone away. As Christians we are the bearers of life, light, and love. Or as pastor I heard once said, “you might be the only bible that someone ever reads.”

          The great liberator of the country of India from the British Empire, Mahatma Gandhi, commented on the Christian faith of the British and the British soldiers. This what he said:

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” (https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/22155-i-like-your-christ-i-do-not-like-your-christians).

            So as Christians, as the church, should we be filled with shame and guilt? No. Instead we should be filled with the love and the hope of Jesus Christ. For most Christian Churches in fact, one of the biggest evangelistic days of the year is Christmas Eve. Often many more people come to church, and some of them whether they realize or not are coming and searching for something. So as my sermon title says, “What’s The Problem With Jesus?” Nothing.

          This reality is my friends, COVID-19 Pandemic, or no pandemic we can still have “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas”. Whether we have a deadly virus all over the world and whether we wear masks or not, people still need Jesus, and we still need each other. This is why people should be part of a church like this one. A place of love, hope, family, and Christ.

          We hear encouraging words from the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible prophet Malachi for this morning once again. Malachi tells us a glimpse of the savior who is coming among us soon. Not just a savior that just died to set us free, but also a savior that will teach us to live differently. This reading begins once again in 3:1 saying:

3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; ³ he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. ⁴ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years (Mal. 3:1-4, NRSV).

          Jesus has and will come, but he expects us to live, and love like him.

          In our reading from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians for this morning, the Apostle Paul is thanking and encouraging the Christians, the church in Philippi. Once again, the Apostle Paul writes starting in 1:3:

³ I thank my God every time I remember you, ⁴ constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, ⁵ because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel                 (Phil. 1:3-7, NRSV). 

          Look at the love that the Apostle Paul has for the church in Philippi and look at the love that the church in Philippi has for Paul. This is a church I would want to be a part of. In fact, the Apostle Paul missed the Christians in Philippi and wanted to be with them. The reading from the Book of Philippians concludes for this morning saying:

⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight ¹⁰ to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, ¹¹ having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God (Phil. 3:8-11, NRSV).

          Be holy, be loving, be like Jesus.

          In looking briefly at our gospel lesson for this morning, we hear that the son of Zechariah, John, or John the Baptist, was proclaiming a baptism of repentance, was baptizing many, and proclaim that the Messiah, the savior, Jesus is coming. This coming will be great and good news to a broken and a hurting world (Lk. 3:1-6, NRSV).

          An alternative gospel of Luke reading for this morning is Luke 1:68-79. It says this about the coming of Christ.

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹ He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹ that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. ⁷² Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³ the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴ that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. ⁷⁸ By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lk. 1:68-79, NRSV).

          As we hear this gospel lesson from Luke 1:68-79, we hear of Jesus, the Messiah, the savior. The church, the season of Advent, the season of Christmas, is all about Jesus. When we live for him, like him, and because of him, the church will grow and thrive. It will not grow and thrive because people are forced to be in church or forced to endure a church experience that is harmful. Instead, the church will flourish because Christ is flourishing in us. The church is place we should want to go to. The church is hospital for a broken and ill world. The church is lifeboat next to the sinking ship. The church is a place for us all to encounter Christ and to be transformed. So “What’s The Problem With Jesus?” Nothing. Amen.

Sidney UMC - First Sunday of Advent/UMC Student Sunday - 11/28/21 - Sermon - “Birth and Return!" ("A Real Advent and A Real Christmas" Series: Part 1 of 5)

Sunday 11/28/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:                       “Birth and Return!”     

                  (“A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Series: Part 1 of 5)          

Old Testament Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16                                     

New Testament Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Gospel Lesson: Luke 21:25-36

          I remember hearing for the first time when I was a little boy, “Paul, don’t put the cart before horse.” Or as my mom used to say of me about the future, “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Have any of you ever said or heard the phrases, “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” These are statements people say when we are getting ahead of ourselves, or when we are thinking about and considering things that are far off. Sometimes we might consider or think about things that are not vital right now, or that can wait. Or maybe we are thinking about things as far as the end result goes but have not planned for or prepared to get to the end result.

          For example, if you were to say before you studied for a test, “I hope that I get an A on that test.” You might hear in response, “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse? After all, you have not even studied yet, shouldn’t you study first and then expect to get an A.” Or if you said before you have studied, “What if I fail the test.” In response you might say “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?”

          Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves, and sometimes we can forget to be present in the moment, as we are so focused on the future. I know some Christians in fact that are so focused on the return of Jesus Christ that they seem to have forgotten about living for Jesus now, telling people about Jesus now, and loving their neighbors today. Are we present here and now, or are we putting “the cart before the horse,” or  hearing someone say to us “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?”

          It is interesting that today is the First Sunday of Advent, this season of preparation leading to Christmas morning, and the return of Jesus Christ. We await the memory of the birth of Christ on Christmas, as he has already been born over 2,000 years ago. Every Christmas we celebrate his birth, that he grew up, that he loved, healed, forgave, died for us, rose again, and as we hear in today’s gospel of Luke lesson once again, will return one day in glory.

          As I mentioned last Sunday, I was originally going to plan for us to decorate the sanctuary and the church for last Sunday after church, but then I was reminded that we cannot talk about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I realized that I had “put the cart before the horse,” and as a result we will be decorating the church sanctuary and the church after worship today. We can now do this, because that we are through Thanksgiving, I know that I have not “put the cart before the horse.” Sometimes we have to be patient and wait, or as our choir anthem for this morning is titled “Like a child, I wait.”

          Now after those who are able to stay and decorate after church today, I could shout “Merry Christmas” to everyone. Again though, I would be “putting the cart before the horse,” as it is the season of Advent, not Christmas. We know that around the holidays and other times we try to pace ourselves, and that we do not want to get ahead of ourselves. This is why we may have said, and have likely heard, “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?”

          In fact, the sermon series that I am starting this morning is called “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas.” I often prayerfully pick my scriptures, my sermon titles, and create sermon series months in advance. Even so, the Holy Spirit and the events of the week or month seem to change and alter what I have planned. Specifically, four months ago when I planned this Advent through Christmas Day sermon series, I hoped that we would be in a much better place with the COVID-19 Pandemic than we are now. As some of us have heard in fact, we now have a new strain or variant of COVID-19, and the idea of a “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas” is not what we have at this point.

          As I prayed about this sermon series and how to approach the topic of a “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas,” what God revealed to me is that we can have a “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas.” By “Real,” we are all here in person or online. This is real, but not fully the “Real” that we had a couple of years ago. Even so, we can still have “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas,” although it might not exactly be what we are used to. “Real” is “Real,” whether it is the “Real” we are used to, or not. It would appear that when I planned this sermon series about four months ago, I was so hopeful and optimistic about this pandemic improving that I had “put the cart before the horse.”

          This brings me to my sermon title for this morning, and the first of five sermons in the “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas” series called “Birth and Return!” As I have said some of us have said or heard the phrases like “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” It can can easy to make this same mistake with the scripture if are not careful, as well. We are in a season of preparing for Jesus’ birth, but our gospel of Luke lesson for this morning, once again, talks about Jesus’s return to earth.

          In looking at our reading for this morning from the Book of Jeremiah, it says once again:

¹⁴ The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵ In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness” (Jer. 33:14-16, NRSV).

          In this very prophetic reading, the prophet Jeremiah is telling us that a person in the lineage or the line of the great King David, King of Israel, will be born, and this person will be the savior, messiah, Lord, and the king of all kings. It may have been challenging waiting for Jesus Christ to be born, as we celebrate the memory of Jesus’ birth on Christmas morning every year. We already know that Jesus is coming, as he was already born, but maybe it might have been hard to wait for Jesus to come before he was born. Maybe some people “put the cart before the horse,” thinking Jesus would be born earlier than he was.

          Many of us have celebrated many Advent and Christmas Seasons. We know the story, we know that Jesus was born, and did all the things that he did, that he lived, died, and rose again. Despite our supply chain issues with goods and services, nothing is going to stop Christmas from happening this year. We await the birth of Christ then, even though it has already happened. What has not happened yet though is the return of Christ.

          We are once again given our reading from the First Book of Thessalonians or the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica for this morning. The Apostle Paul begins by thanking God, for the church in Thessalonica. The Apostle Paul says once again in 3:9-11:

⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? ¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. ¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you (1 Thess. 3:9-11, NRSV).

 

          A few verses before this reading from 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul’s young friend Timothy has just returned from the church in Thessalonica. Timothy no doubt spoke to the Apostle Paul and his scribe Silas about the great faith of the church in Thessalonica. The Apostle Paul and Silas were well aware that the church in Thessalonica had great faith, but it is always good to hear good news. The Apostle Paul tells the church in this is his first letter to the church in Thessalonica that he and the other church members where he is in Athens are thankful for there faith and dedication to Christ. Further, the Apostle Paul says that he hopes to be with them again soon.

          The Apostle Paul then closes this reading from 1 Thessalonians starting from 3:9, saying once again:

¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. ¹³ And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints (1 Thess. 3:9-13, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul, Timothy, Silas, and all the others clearly miss the church in Thessalonica. They want to see the Thessalonians again, although they do not know when. The Apostle Paul also encourages the Thessalonians and prays that they would increase and abound in love for one another. The Apostle Paul also prays that the Thessalonians would grow in holiness and blamelessness when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

          In my first couple of years of ministry, I used to think it odd that on the First Sunday of Advent that we have a scripture about the return of Jesus Christ. We have this scripture, generally every year, to show that Christ is indeed coming on Christmas. He was born, and we celebrate his birth every year. The season of Advent prepares us for the birth of Christ, but it also points us to the return of Christ. Christ was born, Christ died for us, and he will come again in glory.

          This is again how I got my sermon title for this morning, once again, is called “Birth and Return!” In our reading from Luke 21:25-36 for this morning once again, Jesus tells us what it will be like around the time of his return. Jesus says once again starting Luke 21:25:

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk. 21:25-28, NRSV).

 

          This morning once again, we begin the season of Advent, and hear about the coming birth of Christ and his eventual return to earth. We, therefore, emphasize the “Birth and Return!” Jesus then emphasizes his return with the parable of the Fig Tree. Jesus says once again that when a fig tree is ready to sprout leaves that summer is near. In the same way a fig tree prepares for spring, Jesus tells us to watch for and to notice the signs of his return to earth. Jesus says that generation, or an era of time will not pass away until these signs have occurred. Jesus then reminds us that heaven and earth will pass away, but his words and his kingdom will never pass away (Lk. 21:29-33, NRSV).

          Lastly, Jesus tells us in Luke 21:34-36 this:

³⁴ “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk. 21:34-36, NRSV).

          So, we are called to be present, to serve and love this day, and not to only be focused on the end. Or as I heard when I was a kid “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” People have asked me before if I think Christ will return soon. The best response I can give to this question is a quote from a Methodist Pastor that has since passed on to glory. This pastor said, “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you are useless here on earth.” Once again, “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you are useless here on earth.”

          Given all of this, friends, brothers and sisters, Melissa and I realize increasingly, especially through this pandemic that this life is fleeting. We have had many deaths this year, and we know that the scripture says that tomorrow is not promised to any of us. The faith we have now, and how we live it will continue on this earth, after we have gone on to be with God in glory. If Christ returns while we are still on this earth, then we have served him faithfully while we were here.

          Since this year has reminded Melissa and I all the more how life can change, how people pass away unexpectedly, and how the world can change around us, we are driven as much as ever to give. God has blessed us richly, and in response to these great blessings, we give to God through this church. We give because God has given so much to us, and every year that I have been in ministry, we try to increase our giving. We give because we believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we believe in the need to share the good news of Christ and equip people to transform the world. We believe this so much in fact, which give as much as we can to God through this church that we can.

          On this First Sunday of Advent, this UM Student Sunday, and this Consecration Sunday, I would ask you to prayerfully consider your giving to God through this church. It is no secret that our church has been running a budget deficit for a long time now. If I had to guess, at the rate we are going, this church will likely be closed in about 10-years. I cannot control the future of this church, only God can, but I believe in this church, what God is doing in and through us, and I want to see this church have a bright and a vibrant future.

          So, on this First Sunday of Advent, this UM Student Sunday, and this Consecration Sunday, I would ask you to prayerfully consider your giving to God through this church. We have pledge cards in our bulletins. You are welcome to fill them out and drop them in the wooden “Joash” box on the pedestal in the middle of the church. This way the church Finance Committee can have an idea of how we can plan to fun our ministries and the mission of our church in 2022 and beyond. Melissa and I friends, give once again, because we love Jesus, we love this church, and we believe in what God is doing here and beyond.

          So again, even though on Christmas we celebrate the memory of Jesus’ birth, may we not dwell solely on when he will return. May we not dwell only on the future of the church, forgetting our ministry in the here and the now. Let us give and love generously today, so that we “don’t put the cart before the horse,” or “we’ll cross that bridge when come to it?” May we give and love generously so that we “Don’t become so heavenly minded that you are useless here on earth.” Amen.

Sidney UMC - Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday - 11/21/21 - Sermon - “Did Pilate Really Know Who Jesus Was?”

Sunday 11/21/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:  “Did Pilate Really Know Who Jesus Was?”                     

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 132:1-12                                         

New Testament Scripture: Revelation 1:4b-8

Gospel Lesson: John 18:33-37

          When I was kid, and yes, I said kid. Some of you might think of me as a kid, but Spence Gridley told me when I turned 40 last month that I am now a young man. So, as I was saying, when I was kid, one of the games that some of my friends like to play in the winter was “King of the Hill.” We would go on the top of a large snow mound, or a snowy hill and wrestle to be on the top of the hill. Sometimes we would go sliding down, and sometimes we would take the hill. We usually did not keep the hill very long, but the point of the game is who is the “King of the Hill.” While it was only a game, when you became “King of the Hill” you were in charge, for a minute at least. Being a “King” is what I want to talk about in part this morning, on this our Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday.

          You will notice this morning that the paraments on the pulpit, the lectern, and the altar are all white this Sunday. The color white represents purity, righteousness, and holiness. This Sunday we celebrate the King of all, and the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ. To define Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday, let me read you a definition of what today is:

“The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a relatively recent addition to the Western liturgical calendar, instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI for the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. In 1970 its Roman Rite observance was moved to the final Sunday of Ordinary Time. The earliest date on which it can occur is 20 November and the latest is 26 November. The Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian, Methodist, Reformed and United Protestant churches also celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, which is contained in the Revised Common Lectionary; the Methodist, Anglican and Presbyterian Churches often observe this as part of the liturgical season of Kingdomtide, which runs between the Fourth Sunday before Advent and the Feast of Christ the King” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Christ_the_King).

          All of this said, this Sunday we are celebrating specially and specifically that Jesus is Lord and King of all. In doing a little checking I found out that there are 44 Monarchies, or kings and queens, or something similar, in the world today. Many of these countries claim their queen to be Queen Elizabeth II from England. The current Queen of England is the head of state, but not the head of government. Some kings and queens are both the official face of a country, and also the ruler of a country. Some kings and queens still hold a lot of power.

          At some points in history for example, kings or queens ruled their country or realms with great power and authority. To call Christ “King” then, is no small thing. To say that Christ is the king of all, is to say that Christ is above all rulers both past and present. For example, it says in 1 Timothy 6:14-15:

¹⁴ to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords                                (1 Tim. 6:14-15, NRSV).

          The scripture says that Jesus is supreme and above all earthly rulers. I laughed about a month ago when Melissa and I stopped by a Burger King on our way to where we were going. When I went into the men’s room there was a wall sticker by the sink. The sticker said, “All employees must wash their hands, by the order of the king.” This king is of course the Burger King, but it made me think of the idea of a king.

          In Revelation 19:16 it says of Jesus’ Lordship:

¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16, NRSV).

          Since Jesus is the king of kings, the lord of lords, and the name above all names, we have this special “Christ the King Sunday,” that celebrates King Jesus. What is funny to me is that every time we go through a major election cycle, voters vote, but the candidate that some voters really want to win is Jesus. We are so often let down when the person we voted for turns out to not be Jesus. All politicians running for office want to look holy, just, and righteous, and some of them would love to be portrayed like Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate ruler, our king, our standard, our hope. I would hope that every politician and elected official would strive to be like Jesus.

          In our reading for this morning from Psalm 132 once again, God promises that a descendant from the great King David in the Old Testament of the Bible will rule for eternity. Most Christians believe that this descendent is Jesus Christ. Jesus was related to King David, and born in Bethlehem, the same city that King David was born in. In our reading from Psalm 132 it says in 132:11-12 once again:

¹¹ The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. ¹² If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, forevermore, shall sit on your throne” (Ps. 132:11-12, NRSV).

          The throne of David is occupied forevermore, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Christ the King.

          We also hear this echoed in our reading for this morning from the Book of Revelation. Once again, it says in Revelation 1:5:

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, (Rev. 1:5, NRSV).

          Jesus, the ruler of the kings of earth. There is a contemporary Christian band called the Casting Crowns. This band has this name, because as the scripture says the kings of this world will cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus when he returns, to acknowledge that he is indeed the king of all.

          Our scripture from the Book of Revelation continues on discussing the return of Christ to earth, as the scripture finishes with 1:7-8 saying:

⁷ Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. ⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:7-8, NRSV).

          This all leads me to my sermon title for this morning called “Did Pilate Really Know Who Jesus Was?” In our Book of John reading for this morning, Jesus is on trial. Jesus stands trial before King Herod, before the religious leaders, and of course before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. Our gospel reading for this morning discusses once again, Jesus before Pontius Pilate. Pilate seems to be wrestling in this reading, with trying to figure out who Jesus is. Let us look at our gospel of John reading for this morning once again. Starting in John 18:33 it says:

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice”     (Jn. 18:33-37, NRSV).

          It would appear that Pilate does not really understand or accept who Jesus is. Pilate clearly believes that in order to be a king, you must have land, money, castles, soldiers, and power. Jesus has none of these things on earth, as he stands before Pilate. Jesus tries to explain that his kingdom is much bigger and beyond the mere kingdoms of this earth. This scripture then ends with Jesus saying he is the truth and those who belong to the truth listen to Jesus’ voice. In the next verse of scripture, John 18:38 Pilate replies to Jesus asking:

What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38, NRSV).

          At this point in the gospel narrative, Pilate then finds no fault in Jesus, and offers the crowd the opportunity for Jesus or the robber Barabbas to be freed, as it was a Passover custom to release one prisoner. The crowd asks for the robber Barabbas to be freed, and for Jesus to stay imprisoned. This is what happened. I wonder though if Pilate really knew who Jesus was? Did he have any idea who was standing in front of him? Did Pilate realize that Jesus was not just a king, but that he was the king of kings and lord of lords. Pilate may have realized this but fought these feelings to protect his job and his power. Maybe Pilate had no idea who Jesus was, or maybe he just knew that he was someone special. What is true though, is that by Pilate’s order a little later, his soldiers scourged, mocked, and beat Jesus, made him carry his own cross, and then nailed him to the cross. Pilate ordered Jesus’ torture and execution. As a result of this, I have always been fascinated with Pilate, and have always wondered if he knew who Jesus really was.

          The other question regarding Pilate that has always in intrigued me is when Jesus tells Pilate that he himself and his words are the truth. Jesus said those are in truth listen to him. Pilate then replies by saying once again,

“What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38, NRSV).

          Pilate’s question was just as relevant two-thousand years ago, as it is today. What is true, and what is not? Is humanity by its nature broken and sinful? I would say so. Have you watched the news lately? Is humanity capable to living morally, ethically, and spiritually upright on our own? Well, if could, after thousands of years, wouldn’t we have done it by now?

          If as a people and as a species we cannot get it right and build a perfect world, then what do we do? We can descend into chaos, or God can come to us. God’s son Jesus Christ came to be among us, to die for us, and to teach us a new way to live, to love, and to care for each other. One could then ask, “Well if this is true, why is the world still so screwed up”? The best answer I can give, is that Christianity is a resistant movement to brokenness of the world. Will we win this battle? Only when Jesus returns. Until we die and go to be with Christ, or until he returns, we are tasked here on earth to bearers of his light, his life, and his love. We can make this world so much better than it is right now.

          The only king and the only ruler that has never let us down, that has never lied, that has never forsaken us, is Jesus Christ. It is no shock then that when some people vote they want to vote for Jesus, and they are always let down every time.

          Through Jesus Christ, our lord, our king, our hope, we are offered forgiveness, life, salvation, and eternity. If we turn from our sin and darkness, Jesus will forgive us. We can then live every day, living like and following Christ the King. For without Christ, what hope do we have? He came, he lived, and he died for us. We get to spend our lives here on earth and in eternity living for him. So, the crown I have this morning is a toy, but the true king and the eternal king ins Christ the King.

          We live in a world today where so many people say that there is no absolute truth. A friend of my family, Rev. Bob Pinto, who has since gone to glory, debated absolute truth with someone once. This dug in atheist looked as Pastor Bob and said, “there is no such thing as absolute truth!” Pastor Bob then grinned and asked the person, “are you absolutely sure about that?” Everyday I try to live like and for Jesus Christ, Christ the King, because I believe the best and only hope that this world has is gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.