Sidney UMC - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 09/03/23 - Sermon - “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” (“Why are some churches shrinking and closing?” Series: Part 1 of 6)

                                Sunday 09/03/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:        “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!”               (“Why are some churches shrinking and closing?” Series: Part 1 of 6)                     

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c                            

 New Testament Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 16:21-28

          So, I recently read a great little book that was published back in 2014, called “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer. Maybe you have heard of Tom S. Rainer, as he has written many influential books about Christianity, The church, church growth, etc.

          To be honest though, I was really struck by the title of this little book “Autopsy of a Deceased Church.” At first, I thought, “Well this is a morbid book title!” Especially since there is literally a picture of scalpel on the cover of this book. When someone dies and there is an autopsy of the body, there is sometimes things like cutting with a scalpel.

          Why then would Thom S. Rainer compare a church that died or closed to a person that died and got an autopsy? Well, the reason for this is when a person dies and gets an autopsy, you can discover the cause of death. Sometimes a family just wants to know how the person died, or sometimes the autopsy is done due to potential foul play.

          In a similar way, when a church dies or closes, if we did an autopsy on the closed church, we could probably determine some good reasons why the church closed. I have rarely heard of a church just waking up one day, having a meeting, and for no good reason saying, “We should close our doors forever!” Most churches that die or close in fact, are churches that have been declining for years or even multiple decades.

          Why then am I discussing this book with you “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer? Well, for the next week 6-weeks I am preaching a sermon series partially inspired by this book called the “Why are some churches shrinking and closing?” series, and today is part-1 of this 6-week sermon series. I am sure if we think about it, we all know of churches that have closed in recent years, or maybe even years and years ago.

          We all know for example, the painful closing of the Congregational Church here in Sidney, which had been open for over 200-years. How is it that there are churches, some of which have been open for hundreds of years, that are declining and or closing? I will admit that the answer to this question is multi-faceted. It is far more than just sports on Sundays, and it is far more than just young families and young people that don’t come to church anymore.

          In next six weeks I am going to go through some of the common reasons for church decline and church closure, knowing at the same time that we have a church that is growing. Given this, I want our church to keep growing and flourishing, but at the same time, I want us to understand why some other churches are not growing and flourishing. By us understanding how churches grow, and how churches close, this sermon series will hopefully better equip us all to continue to further grow and flourish as a church.

          As a disclaimer, as well, I am not saying that any of the things that I will be preaching on in the next 6-weeks apply to a specific church that has declined and or closed. Instead, we can think about why churches are shrinking and or closing, and why some churches we may know shrunk and or closed. Further, we can be better equipped to reverse the trend of decline and closure. Before getting into my first part of this 6-week sermon series though, I want to give an example of statistics on church closures.

          According to an article I found online from NPR or National Public Radio, from May 17, 2023, it says this:

Estimate: In 2019, the year before the pandemic, more Protestant churches closed than opened in the U.S.

2014: 4,000 churches opened and 3,700 churches closed. 2019: 3,000 churches opened and 4,500 churches closed.

Churches opened Churches closed 2014

4,000

3,700

2019

3,000

4,500

NotesLifeway Research's analysis is based on data from 34 denominations and groups representing 60% of Protestant churches in the United States, extrapolated out to estimate openings and closures across all Protestant churches in the country.

Source: Lifeway ResearchCredit: NPR

(https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation#:~:text=Estimate%3A%20In%202019%2C%20the%20year,opened%20and%204%2C500%20churches%20closed).

          So, when we do the math, in the 2019 before the pandemic 4,500 churches closed, while 3,000 opened, meaning that the United States lost 1,500 churches in 2019. For some churches that were already struggling, some closed during the pandemic. Most churches that I know in this area and in general are getting smaller and smaller. We also, in general, have a shortage of pastors and priests. This is one of the many reasons that I have been helping some of our Sidney area United Methodist Churches, as some of them have no appointed pastors. Recruiting called people to ministry is also a continual challenge, as well. We also have a preaching circuit of Lay Speakers and some clergy preaching at these churches every Sunday, for which we are immeasurably grateful.

          It is true that we have had some decline here at the Sidney UMC, as well, but we have also had some growth too. Given this, friends, our churches can grow and can thrive, and in the next 6-weeks of this sermon series called “Why are some churches shrinking and closing?” based on the book “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer, we will look at ways for churches to grow and to flourish. I think, once again that our church is doing well. Do I think we could be doing better? Of course. I believe that God has called me to help this church to grow and even to thrive, despite living in era of strong church decline and church closures.

          All of this said, my first sermon in this series for this morning is called “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” What this title means, is that we are called daily to give our lives to Christ and to follow him. Churches that are growing and even thriving are rooted in deep faith in Jesus Christ. Churches that growing and even thriving have people in them that are deeply committed to following Jesus, to his gospel, to serving Jesus, and to sharing Jesus. Growing and thriving churches are ones where our Christian faith is very much part of the identity of who we are. We want to share with people about Jesus. We want them to know Jesus, and we want them to be part of community of faith in Jesus. We are the church, we are followers of Jesus Christ, and we want the world to know this.

          You see, even if a church had Rev. Billy Graham as the pastor, without the faith and lived gifts and graces of the people within the church, the church can only grow so big. A pastor alone, especially in 2023, cannot grow a church on their own. For some of us, we have sometimes had sadness and worry about the future of our churches, as some churches have slowly declined and declined some more. Thom. S. Rainer calls this “Slow Erosion”. Many of our churches, like Sidney UMC were huge at one time, yet we are not as huge now. Are we growing? Praise be to God we are, but can we really grow and thrive like we haven’t in a long time? We can, but it requires us to be very intentional. In the second chapter of the book “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer he talks about how “The Past Is the Hero.” Many of us went to church and Sunday School, and many of us didn’t have a choice. I know I didn’t have a choice. If we could go back to how church was when we were younger, would we change anything, or would we keep it exactly the way it was?

          The reality then my friends, is the growth and the ability of a church to thrive is more than just whether we sing hymns or have a rock band with modern and Contemporary Christian music. The church is us, and in the next six weeks I hope to further help equip us all to reach further and climb higher. I have a God sized vision for this church, and the book “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer explains this vision well.

          We all know that many churches like ours do not have the number of young people and young families we would like to see. What can we do about this though? I think we are seeing some of good things here at Sidney UMC, and in connecting this to our scriptures for this morning, I believe that this can continue.

          In looking at our scriptures for this morning, we hear in the Psalm 105 reading in 105:1-2, once again:

¹ O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. ² Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works                                  (Ps. 105:1-2, NRSV).

          If this is true and good, which I think it is, how do we get this message to Sidney and the world? How do we live it? Further, if someone does repent of their sin and then come to Christ as Savior and Lord, then what do we do next? Is the church an extension of our families. Are we loving each other like Jesus loves us?

What if our faith was so strong and such a part of us that the world saw this and were changed by this? What if out witness to Christ and what he has done in and through us was shared in a variety of ways, and lives where changed? When we “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” we can truly be changed, and truly change others. If we “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” people will see this. They will see our love, our care, and desire to be in community with one another.

          Some of the people that have started attending this church regularly or who have even joined this church have told me that this church is loving and welcoming. Some people have told me that getting welcomed by people, called or visited from the pastor of the church and or others was not something that they had experienced much of. Yet, this lived faith of “Taking Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” connects up with people in such a way that they felt our love and care. Since they felt our love and care, they felt the love and care of our whole church. Some people that I have talked to did not always have the best experiences in one or more churches in the past. Some people have old me that they attended a church when they were young, because they had too, but now they don’t have to, so they don’t go. Churches in 2023 must be the best we have ever been. Not fake or pretend, but we need to love each other. People don’t want to be in an unfriendly, unkind, and unwelcoming church. Brothers and sisters, well done on doing this well! Even so let’s keeping doing it even better. Make sure a visitor gets a greeting, a visitor bag if we still have then, make sure people feel loved, and make sure that “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” so that everyone knows the love of Jesus Christ in us.

          In fact, we hear in our reading for this morning from Romans 12:9-21, starting in 12:9, once again:

⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰ love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ ²⁰ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:9-21, NRSV).

          This is quite a list from the Apostle Paul about how we are to behave and to treat each other. What is sad though, is that I have been to a couple of churches that were not welcoming, loving, and that seemed generally unfriendly. I have been in churches were no one talked to me, and it was as if I wasn’t even there. Churches in 2023 that are growing must “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” For if we do not, for this reason and for others, some churches will continue to decline.

          In fact, when I went to seminary, especially my second seminary that I graduated from in Ohio, United Theological Seminary, it specialized in Church Revitalization. We were told from day one, that churches in our culture were, in general, declining. As a result, we were trained differently to address and help reverse this trend.

          My sermon title for this morning comes from Matthew 16:21-28, where Jesus tells us what kind of faith we need in his time, 2023, or anytime. Looking at Matthew 16:21-28 for this morning, it says starting in 16:21, once again:

²¹ From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things’ (Mt. 16:21-23, NRSV).

          Knowing that this was the gospel reading for this morning, and knowing that I misspoke last Sunday, as I said that Jesus only got angry when he cleansed the temple of the money changers, Pastor George had a chuckle. So yes, Peter getting called Satan by Jesus, for reference, is not a good thing, and it would seem that Jesus was not too happy with the Apostle Peter this morning when Peter told Jesus that he not be crucified! As Sarah Pressler would say, Jesus told Peter “Where the cow eats the cabbage”.

          Instead of contradicting Jesus however, Jesus instead encourages the disciples and us to trust him. Picking up in Matthew 16:24 it says, once again:

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? (Mt. 16:24-26, NRSV).

 

          How deep is our faith in Christ, and how much of it is central to who we are. Are we all, myself included, daily, “Taking Up Our Cross and Following Jesus!”

          Our gospel lesson then ends for this morning with Matthew 16:27-28, with Jesus’ eluding to his second coming to earth. It says, ending with Matthew 16:27-28, once again,

²⁷ ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. ²⁸ Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom’ (Mt. 16:27-28, NRSV).

          So, my sermon series called “Why are some churches shrinking and closing?” is not always an easy question to answer, but a good place to start and to continue is for us all to “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” When we do this, we love more boldly, act more like Jesus, and we become more welcoming, more loving, and more like Jesus. This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about in Romans 12:9-21 for this morning, once again. We will pick up next Sunday, with discussing “The Culture Of The Church!” Until then though, may we this day and always “Take Up Our Cross and Follow Jesus!” Amen.

Sidney UMC - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - 08/27/23 - Sermon - "Who Are We Better Than?"

Sunday 08/27/23 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title: “Who Are We Better Than?”                                  

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 124                                       

New Testament Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 16:13-20

          Have you ever been in a situation where someone just snapped at you, or verbally “jumped all over you,” and it was completely, I mean completely unexpected? Maybe you were just talking in a group of people, or just talking to one person, and suddenly someone just blew up at you? Maybe you just said hello to someone, and that hello was met with a rude and or mean response?

          I am sure that we have all had situations like this happen. When it does happen sometimes though, we are often shocked and caught completely off guard. We might ask, “why did the person in grocery store shout at me?” We might ask, “why did my friend unexpectedly snap at me for no reason?” We can go on and on with other examples, but we all have experienced these realities at one time or another.  

          I remember watching a couple of commercials for Snickers candy bars a few years ago, and the theme of these commercials were “you’re not you when you’re hungry.” In these hilarious commercials a person is acting strange and not like themselves, due to being hungry. At the end of the commercial they eat a Snickers bar and they are instantly themselves again.

          Maybe someone has snapped at us because they were hungry, tired, in pain, or some other reason. What is it that causes others or even us to lose our cool? Have you ever lost your cool on someone? Why did you lose your cool? Were you tired, hungry, in pain, the Yankees are in last place, or some other reason? I guess if we ourselves have snapped on someone else, we can understand why we did it, but sometimes when we are the recipient of this, we may be shocked and or taken aback.

          Sometimes these things happen, and sometimes we are the giver and or receiver. Most of us know how we are supposed to act and treat people, but I guess we all have our moments, don’t we? I have in fact, had people say things to me like, “Pastor Paul I was so mad that I could just scream!” Or “after the day I had at work, I didn’t want to talk to anyone!” Or maybe you remember Ralph Kramden in the television show the “Honeymooners,” saying “To the moon Alice!” Maybe you walked into church today saying to yourself this morning, “Pastor Paul better be nice, or I’ll give him a piece of my mind!”

          Further, when we have snapped at someone, do we then apologize to the other person, and do they apologize to us? When we do this, maybe we feel like a bad person, or maybe we think that the person that snapped at us is a bad person. Sometimes we feel mistreated therefore, and sometimes we might make others feel mistreated.

          We all know that as Christians, and as people, we are called to love and care for all people, and yet we are so human sometimes. Nevertheless, we hear in our reading from Romans 12:1-8 for this morning, in Romans 12:3, once again:

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned (Rom. 12:3, NRSV).

Sometimes when we or others are not ourselves, we can lose sight of what the Apostle Paul just said. In our busyness and in our haste, we sometimes forget how reliant we are on each other. We are reliant on truck drivers to deliver, grocery store workers to stock shelves. Lineman to fix power lines and keep our electricity on, water and sewer workers, and dare I say Amazon trucks. I can go on and on.

          We are all made special in God’s image, or in Latin “Imago Dei,” but we are all part of the greater whole, as well. In our case, we are the church, are we are no better than anyone else. We have different gifts, abilities, and graces, but “Who Are We Better Than?”

          We are reminded in our reading from Psalm 124 this morning, in 124:8, once again, that:

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth                       (Ps. 124:8, NRSV).

We all have moments that maybe we feel more important, and have a bigger ego than we should. Or maybe we have moments where our anger or emotions get the best of us. We sometimes take our focus off of Christ, and as a result, sometimes we do the wrong thing.

          The Apostle Paul speaks about this morning, and gives us some good guidance to be more like Jesus. Looking again at Romans 12:1-8 for this morning, it says starting in 12:1, once again:

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12:1-2, NRSV). 

          The Apostle Paul is telling us that with our lives, our hearts, our souls, and our bodies, to be a living sacrifice, that is acceptable to God. We are called in every way to be like Jesus, even though we have our moments. Offering ourselves sacrificially to others, is an act of spiritual worship, and we are called to love each other. We are not called to blow up or lose our cool with each other, although we have all probably done this at some point. Even so, the Apostle Paul tells us to not pursue worldly things and things that aren’t like Jesus. Instead, we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and to be discerning of God’s will in our lives. Living God’s will in our lives is what is good, acceptable and perfect. Yet, we all have our moments, don’t we?

          In continuing on in reading from Romans 12:1-8 for this morning, the Apostle Paul picks up in 12:3, saying once again:

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,              (Rom. 12:3-4, NRSV).

          While we have our moments, we should not think too highly of ourselves, and we are to act with sober judgement. We should act this way according to the measure of faith that God has assigned or given us. Further, as the Apostle Paul says, that as the church, we are one body of Christ, with many members, and yet we don’t all have the same function in life, and or in the body of Christ. Even though we have different functions, different roles, and different gifts, we are all important to God, and should be important to others. As my sermon title for this morning says then, “Who Are We Better Than?”

          If we were to act to superior to others in church or in general, we really need to ask ourselves what makes us better and more superior. For as the Apostle Paul tells us this morning in Romans 12:3, once again:

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned (Rom. 12:3, NRSV).

          Getting more specific, the Apostle Paul picks up in Romans 12:5 saying:

⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. ⁶ We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ⁷ ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; ⁸ the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Rom. 12:5-8, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul says that we are one in the body of Christ, and that individually we are members one of another. Yet, we have gifts that differ in the body of Christ, and in general. For example, the Apostle Paul says there is the gift prophecy, in proportion to faith, ministry, in ministering, teaching, exhortation or encouraging, giving generously, leading diligently, compassion, and cheerfulness.

          So as per my sermon title, “Who Are We Better Than?” The answer is no one, but we do have different gifts, abilities, and gifts and graces. Even so, we should not think higher of ourselves than others, even though we are not all the same in our gifts, abilities, and graces. We are equal, but not necessarily the same in every way. Given this, “Who Are We Better Than?”

          In looking at our gospel of Matthew 16:13-20 reading for this morning, there were differing beliefs being discussed over who Jesus was. All of these ideas of who Jesus might be where all positive and good, but not all equal. In fact, in looking at our gospel reading from Matthew 16:13-20, it says once again, starting in Matthew 16:13:

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ ¹⁴ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ¹⁵ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Mt. 16:13-15, NRSV).

 

          So, when Jesus is coming into the district of Caesarea Philippi this morning, he once again asks his disciples who people are saying he is. Some of the disciples say that some people claim that Jesus is John the Baptist, that some say Elijah, that some say Jeremiah, and some say that Jesus is one of the prophets. Yet, Simon Peter told Jesus that he is the savior, the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Simon Peter claimed that Jesus was God on earth, and the other disciples said for some people that the jury is still on who Jesus is. While some people were debating who Jesus is, Peter got it right.

          Jesus though, was not offended when some thought his role or status was lower. In fact, in the Book of Philippians the Apostle Paul said in 2:5-8:

⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, ⁷ but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, ⁸ he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross                        (Phil 2:5-8, NRSV).

          So even though people were debating who Jesus was, and many still are even today, the Apostle Paul said that Jesus was God in the flesh. Even so, Jesus did not act proud, or like he was better than anyone else. Instead, God in the flesh, Jesus went among all manner of humanity, and humbled himself to the point of death, even on a cross. He didn’t think he was better, and saw various gifts, graces, and talents in others.

          Since Peter was correct in saying that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, the gospel picks up in Matthew 16:17, saying:

¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ ²⁰ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah (Mt. 16:17-20, NRSV).

          So, Jesus was not ready to announce that he was fully God and fully human to the world yet, as this would get him crucified, he also blessed Simon Peter for declaring who he really is. Jesus then tells Peter that on the rock he will build his church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. Jesus gives us the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and power to bind or loosen. The church is founded on the rock of faith in Christ. Our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters would say however, that Jesus made Peter the first Pope or leader of the church, but many argue that Jesus was founding the church on the rock of faith in Christ, not Peter directly. Thus, we don’t necessarily need one central leader to govern the entire Universal Christian Church. Much of the separations and schisms in the history of the Universal Christian Church have been over who the rightful head or bishop of the church. Today there is still a debate over who is the true head of the Christian Church.

          Even though Jesus did not get angry when people where wrong over who he was, he still humbled himself to the point of death on the cross. Even though we have different identities, different gifts, graces, and abilities, we are still all made in God’s image. Even though we might lose our cool on others, or them on us sometimes, “Who Are We Better Than?” The answer is that we are different, but we are no better than anyone else! Amen.

Sidney UMC - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost - 08/20/23 - Sermon - “Physical Food Vs. Spiritual Food!”

                                    Sunday 08/20/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Physical Food Vs. Spiritual Food!”                                  

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 133                                      

New Testament Scripture: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 15:10-28

          I have a question for us all this morning. How many people here have been to a buffet? I know I asked a question like this in a recent sermon, but I am going in a little bit of a different direction this morning. Some of us that are familiar with the Club 55 restaurant here in Sidney, might not know that they advertise their buffet dinners every Friday night. They also have buffet dinners at other times too. I have never been to a Club 55 buffet dinner. Have any of you?

          Have of us ever been to the Golden Corral Buffet? I remember going to the biggest buffet I had ever been to, when I was in Pennsylvania about 6-8 years ago. I went on a church trip to the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, County Pennsylvania. It is an amazing theater if you have never been to it. The productions portray biblical characters and stories, with live animals, and all sort of other amazing things.

          As part of this trip, which I think was the first time Melissa and I went with a group to the Sight and Sound theater, we saw the production of “Moses.” We also went to a little village to shop, and we also got brought to the Shady Maple Smorgasbord, which as I said, was the biggest buffet that I had ever seen in my life. I still remember walking in the first of a couple times I went. I stood in awe for a few seconds. When then got our tables and ordered our ice teas, sodas, coffee, water, and etc.

          Everyone else in the church group had gotten up to head to get their food, but I lingered a little behind. You see, I was writing on a table napkin. One of my parishioners at the time said, “Pastor Paul what are you doing?” I said, “I’m creating a buffet strategy!” The parishioner said, “What does that mean?” I then responded, “Does any great general lead an army into battle without a strategy?” The parishioner said, “well no, I don’t think so.” I then said, “And you expect me to attack the biggest buffet I have ever seen in my life without a strategy?”

          This drew a lot laughter, but I had a strategy, and it didn’t involve me missing out on trying different all things at the buffet! At a buffet like this you don’t waste time on salads, or rice, there are bigger things to go after friends!

          Stories and examples like this got me thinking though, and as I thought and prepared for this sermon, I asked myself “what if buffets had chaplains?” I mean don’t get me wrong, on the church trip we prayed before we ate, and I generally do the same whenever I go out to eat with friends. Imagine though, if you went to the Club 55 Friday night buffet, and after you were seated and ordered your drinks, Pastor Paul approaches your table. I then say, “welcome to the buffet, my name is Pastor Paul, and I will be your chaplain for this evening”. Imagine if the Golden Coral Buffet had a chaplain, or the Shady Maple Smorgasbord Buffet near Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster County Pennsylvania had a chaplain?

          What would be different about a meal, a buffet, or feeding others, if a spiritual component was added in? You know, as I have said before, so many churches are good at putting on a spread. Buffet dinners, fund raiser dinners, etc., yet if we don’t tell them about Jesus, if we don’t invite them to church, and if we don’t befriend them, then how will their experience be any different than going to a buffet or a restaurant? If we only offer people “Physical Food,” how are they supposed to find “Spiritual Food?”

          Suppose that the Golden Corral Buffet and the Shady Maple Smorgasbord had a weekly community prayer meeting that met in their restaurants, but it was not advertised? How would we know about it? If I attend a church dinner, and I have no idea who goes to the church, who the pastor is, or what they are all about, why would I go to the church on Sunday? Is because the good lasagna that they served made me find Jesus? Or perhaps on the way into the church, or when I was exiting the church, Jesus would just pop up in the hedgerow and introduce himself to me? I mean, if we are not going to tell anyone that attends the dinner about Jesus, the church, who we are, or why we are here, then are we really shocked when no one comes to the church until we have another dinner.

          A great pastor from the 1800’s, Charles Spurgeon said this:

“If you have to give a carnival to get people to come to church, then you will have to keep giving carnivals to keep them coming back.” (https://quotefancy.com/quote/786352/Charles-H-Spurgeon-If-you-have-to-give-a-carnival-to-get-people-to-come-to-church-then?

 

          If a church has a dinner, an event, or a fundraiser over and over, and you continue to get crowds, but if no one is coming to the church on Sunday, are we really offering “Spiritual Food?” This is why my sermon title for today is called “Physical Food Vs. Spiritual Food!”

          Now on the other end of the spectrum we have what James talked about in the Book of James. In fact, in James 2:15-16, it says:

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? (Jas. 2:15-16, NRSV).

          So, we can feed people’s bodies, and tell them nothing about our faith, about Jesus, and or our church. Or we could do all of those things, and yet ignore the persons physical needs. To me, a strong and a growing church, is one that offers both “Physical Food” and “Spiritual Food”.

          I remember in a church that used to serve for example, that I could not attend a Thanksgiving Dinner one year. One of the members of this church found out and approached me angrily and asked me, “Well if you are not here, what will happen if someone wants to know about Jesus?” I then looked at that person and asked, “Well since you know him too, I was under the impression that you could let that person know who Jesus is.”

          One of the realities that all churches need to combat now and into the future, is not seeing the pastor or the priest as the only person in ministry. We are all called by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be witnesses to his love, and spreaders of his gospel. We won’t all do this in the same way, but if people come to dinner after dinner, and event after event, and they never connect with the church, then what?

          Friends we can feed, we can clothe, we can love, we can heal, and we can help people in countless ways, but why would we feed someone “Physical Food” and not offer them “Spiritual Food?” In this way, a great ministry at this church and at the Mount Upton UMC is Sauce and Cross. I did not create the Sidney Area Sauce and Cross, as it was created by former District Superintendent Rev. Everett Bassett, and his wife Sharon Basset. What was and is brilliant about this ministry? We start the ministry every month by sharing a free meal together. We all eat together, fellowship together, get to know each other together, and we all love each other.

          Then, after we have received this “Physical Food,” we have a worship service in the church sanctuary. In this service, we are feed spiritually. The “Physical Food” is the “Sauce” and the “Spiritual Food” is the “Cross.” This is why this ministry is called “Sauce and Cross” and this is why we are “feeding the body and the soul.” Some of us struggle though to share and to tell people about our faith and our church. We do not all have the same gifts, but if we all love Jesus, if we all love our church, and if we all want the mission of our church to be strengthened, then we need to offer people “Physical Food,” and “Spiritual Food.”

          One of the breakaway Christian denominations that broke away from the original Methodist Movement in the 1800’s is the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army preaches the gospel, and is hyper-concerned with people’s spiritual well-beings. What the Salvation Army does so well is it offers people “Physical Food,” and “Spiritual Food.”

          If we are being honest then, do we do both? If we are being honest, we can probably say that some of us might do more of one and not the other, that we do both well, or that it depends on the circumstances. In our recent VBS, we fed kids and families “Physical Food” in the beginning each night, but then we feed the kids and families “Spiritual Food”. You see, the Last Supper with Jesus and his friends on that first Maundy or Holy Thursday, started as a normal Passover Sedar Dinner. Everyone was fed physically, but by the end of the night, the disciples were given Holy Communion, Foot Washing, and the Mandate to love each other. I can say very confidentially that the Last Supper was a night where the disciples were fed “Physical Food,” and “Spiritual Food.”

          We hear in the first verse of our reading from Psalm 133 for this morning, once again:

¹ How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!                 (Ps. 133:1, NRSV).

          Unity though, is more than just sharing food at a church dinner. Unity is sharing our lives, our faith, our hurts, our joys, and our experiences with each other. This is the fullness of the church, as we offer people “Physical Food,” and “Spiritual Food.”

          We hear in our reading for this morning from Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 in 11:2a once again:

² God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew (Rom. 11:2a, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul then says in 11:29-31, once again:

²⁹ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy (Rom. 11:29-31, NRSV).

          God has not rejected us, and the gifts and the calling we have from God are not changed. If we turn to Christ, we are forgiven. If we have been disobedient and hard of heart, Christ offers us love and mercy if we turn to him. As beautiful as this is my friends, how will people know about this if we never tell them? It could be the best church dinner in community history, and we will have offered great “Physical Food,” but did well tell them how much God loves them? What if they left the church with a full stomach and a broken heart? What if we offer “Physical Food” and “Spiritual Food?”

          This leads us to our gospel of Matthew 15:10-28 reading for this morning. Jesus is challenged and accused of eating while unclean. Jesus did not wash his hands before eating, and therefore, according to Jewish Law was ritually unclean. This then therefore made Jesus’ food ritually unclean, and spiritually harmful.

          When I was kid, we always washed our hands before sitting at grandmas table on Sunday, but not because we were ritually unclean. We did this so that the linens and other things would stay clean. In the same way, Jesus accuses his accusers of attacking him for eating with unclean hands, while they have unclean hearts and souls.  

          Instead of being focused on rituals and strict traditions, Jesus tells the Pharisees and the religious leaders this morning, that clean hands are not the issue. The bigger issue my friends is having a dirty heart and a dirty soul. If we have a church dinner and everyone has clean hands, but if they hurt and have pain in their hearts and souls, then we didn’t offer them “Spiritual Food.”

          Starting in Matthew 15:10, Jesus reinforces this saying:

¹⁰ Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: ¹¹ it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ ¹² Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ ¹³ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit’  (Mt. 15:10-14, NRSV).  

 

          Jesus is basically telling the Pharisees and religious leaders that you so focused on clean hands and the “Physical Food,” but what about the heart and soul of the person? We eat food, it is digested, but what about what comes out of our mouths and hearts. In other words, Jesus is telling the religious leaders that they are putting on dinners and are focused on the food and the ritual, but are they focused on the heart and the soul?

          Initially being a little confused by what Jesus said in Matthew 15:10-14, the gospel lesson picks up in Matthew 10:15 saying, once again:

¹⁵ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ ¹⁶ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile’ (Mt. 15:15-20, NRSV).

 

          It’s not that having clean hands before eating is a bad thing, but it we had to choose between dirty hands and a dirty soul, I don’t know about you, but I chose a clean soul and dirty hands. This is why my friends; it is important that we offer people “Physical Food” and “Spiritual Food.” For as the great Pastor Charles Spurgeon said:

“If you have to give a carnival to get people to come to church, then you will have to keep giving carnivals to keep them coming back.” (https://quotefancy.com/quote/786352/Charles-H-Spurgeon-If-you-have-to-give-a-carnival-to-get-people-to-come-to-church-then?

 

          The rest of our gospel of Matthew reading from 15:21-28 shows us the expansiveness of Christ’s love and the gospel. The first followers of Jesus were all Jews and were called “The Way,” or “The Way of Christ,” but quickly all manner of people would begin to become followers of Christ. We see a glimpse of the expansiveness of the followers of Jesus Christ being both Jew and gentile, in Matthew 15:21-28.

          In this final portion of our gospel reading, a Canaanite woman shouts to Jesus to rid her daughter from being tormented by a demon. Jesus at first does not answer her, for she is of a different culture, tribe, and religion. This woman who wants to help her daughter however, persisted. Jesus then says he came to save and restore the Jews. Yet the Canaanite woman will not take no for an answer. She came and knelt before Jesus. To challenge her Jesus says stating in Matthew 15:26, once again:

²⁶ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ ²⁷ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly (Mt. 15:26-28, NRSV).

 

          Some people in the time of Jesus, considered the Canaanite people to be like dogs compared to them. Jesus then says to lovingly challenge the Canaanite woman, why take food from children and throw it to the dogs? Or to put it another way, why should Jesus help the Canaanite woman when she doesn’t believe in the God of Israel, and knows nothing about him. Even though some Jews considered the Canaanites no better than dogs for their rejection of the God of Israel and for being of a different culture, the woman says to Jesus:

‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table’   (Mt. 15:27, NRSV).

          After Jesus lovingly challenges the Canaanite woman with the stereo-type of being no better than a dog, she says, but even dogs can receive the crumbs of what Jesus is teaching. Essentially, that anyone, Jew or not, can receiving the grace of God in Jesus Christ. This is made evident, when our gospel of Matthew 15:10-28 lesson, ends once again with Jesus speaking to the Canaanite woman in 15:28 saying:

²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly (Mt. 15:28, NRSV).

 

          Jesus was not talking to the Canaanite woman about “Physical Food,” but rather “Spiritual Food.” Jew, Gentile, Greek, Roman, etc., all need “Physical Food,” and “Spiritual Food.” As a church then, and as Christians we need to offer all people “Physical Food” and “Spiritual Food,” for both the body and the soul need to be fed. Amen.