Sidney UMC - Third Sunday of Advent - 12/17/23 - Sermon - “We Are Called To Prepare The Way!” (“The Eternal Truth” Series: Part 3 of 5)

                                  Sunday 12/17/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “We Are Called To Prepare The Way!”                                         (“The Eternal Truth” Series: Part 3 of 5)   

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 126                                     

New Testament Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Gospel Lesson: John 1:6-8, 19-28

         We are in a season of preparation, or a season of preparing. Some of us are sending cards, making cookies, preparing food, decorating, wrapping gifts, and in general, preparing. We are hanging lights, decorating trees, and covering our lawns with inflatable Santa Clauses and all sorts of other weird and odd stuff! We are making plans, preparing to wear ugly Christmas sweaters, or what we used call that sweater my aunt got me 10-years ago! Maybe we also preparing to drink a little eggnog. Do we drink eggnog in the summer? No, only right now, and why? I have no idea, but we do. It’s eggnog season! We, are not only preparing for Christmas, we might also be preparing to go to more than one place to celebrate. For many of us, we have lists, things to do, things to buy, places to go, and people to see.

          Some of us might wish that we didn’t have to do so much of this preparation, yet life is always full of times of preparation. Even if it is not a busy time, we are always preparing. Perhaps we preparing food, perhaps we are preparing to wash clothes, maybe we are preparing to take out the garbage, or preparing for something else. On a large or a small scale, we are always preparing.

          The question I have for us to think about on this Third Sunday of Advent then, is what is the significance of our preparations? Or to put it another way, do the preparations that we make, have influence over us or others? Can our preparations effect people in both good and bad ways? What sorts of preparations have we made that were good, and what sort of preparations have we made that are bad? If I cook dinner for Melissa, for example, it is probably going to be bad preparations.

          We are in a season of preparation. We are preparing for the birth of Christ, and the return of Christ. We are preparing to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, and as I said, many of us are busy preparing. On that first Christmas when Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary had to prepare for Jesus’ birth by going to Bethlehem to be registered in the population census ordered by the then Roman Emperor Ceaser Augustus. You see, if you know the population and other important information, you know many things, like how much tax you can charge! So, Joseph and Mary, with Mary pregnant with Jesus, had to head to Bethlehem for the census.

          Mary was close to giving birth to Jesus, but Mary and Joseph, once again, had to go to Bethlehem so that Joseph and his family could registered in census. It was prophesied that Jesus or the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, the city of the great King David. As a result, Joseph and Mary had to make the journey to Bethlehem in preparation for Jesus’ birth. Preparing, getting ready, are things that we do all the time. We prepared to come to church this morning, and some of us prepare to go bed at night, and etc., and etc. How do our preparations affect us, and how do our preparations affect others? What are we preparing for? What do we want to prepare for in this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas?

          I ask all of this, because Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist prepared the way for his cousin, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist specifically called people to repentance of their sins in and around Judea, and baptized them, to prepare them for the coming of Jesus Christ. Advent is a season of waiting and preparation. We are waiting for the birth and the return of Jesus Christ, but we can also prepare our hearts, our souls, and we can conform our lives to be like Jesus Christ.

          We are all, as I said, always and constantly preparing. In this season of Advent and to soon to be Christmas though, are we preparing our hearts, our minds, and those around us for the coming of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist in our gospel lesson was solely committed to this task. Those people who repented of their sins and we baptized by John the Baptist realized that John the Baptist was preparing them for the messiah, the savior. John the Baptist’s efforts in preparation helped to till the spiritual soil of many hearts to be ready for Jesus Christ. Some even thought that John the Baptist was the messiah, but he was very clear that it wasn’t him. John the Baptist even said that he wasn’t even worthy to untie the messiah’s sandals.

          Amidst all that this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas is, while we are all preparing many things, may we be preparing the way for Jesus Christ. Or as my sermon for this morning is called “We Are Called To Prepare The Way!” We even have a short hymn in our United Methodist Church Hymnal called “Prepare the Way of the Lord” #207. This hymn tells us to “Prepare the way of the Lord”. This is exactly what John the Baptist does in our gospel of John reading for this morning, and we are invited to do the same.

In our reading from Psalm 126 for this morning, we hear in 126:3:

³ The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced (Ps. 126:3, NRSV).

This Psalm is about the restoration of Israel’s fortune. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s kingdom, the hope of the world, our Lord, our savior, and the one in whom John the Baptist prepares the way for.

In looking at our reading for this morning from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, once again, we hear from the Apostle Paul telling the church in Thessalonica or the Thessalonians to have hope in Christ. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 says once again:

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²² abstain from every form of evil. ²³ May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this               (1 Thess. 5:16-24, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul tells us that Christ is coming. He will come on Christmas and one day will return again. Be excited about this, have hope in this, and let us prepare ourselves and others for this. Friends, “We Are Called To Prepare The Way” like the John the Baptist did, for Jesus Christ.

          This leads us to our gospel of John 1:6-8, 19-28 reading for this morning, once again. Let’s hear once again of this account of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. Last Sunday we read an account of John the Baptist from the gospel of Mark, and this morning we have another from the gospel of John. Picking up starting in John 1:6, it says, once again:

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light (Jn. 1:6-8, NRSV).

 

          So, John the Baptist, while a righteous man, was again, was not God. John the Baptist is preparing the way for God. The light of the world is about to introduce himself to the world, and John is preparing the way for him. In this season of advent and soon to be Christmas, “We Are Called To Prepare The Way” for Jesus Christ.

          In continuing in our gospel of John reading it says picking up starting in John 1:19, once again:

¹⁹ This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He confessed and did not deny it, but he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²² Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ”as the prophet Isaiah said. ²⁴ Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵ They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷ the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” ²⁸ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing (Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28, NRSV).

 

          John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus Christ, and in this season of waiting, anticipation, hope, peace, joy, and love, I pray amidst all of our preparations, that we are preparing the way for Christ to.

          I don’t know why, but the Holy Spirit gave me this, but when I was preparing to write this sermon. For some reason I kept thinking of the Iditarod around the topic of preparing the way. Has anyone here ever heard of the Iditarod? The Iditarod is a dog sled race. Specifically, this is what one source I found says about the Iditarod:

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, more commonly known as The Iditarod (/aɪˈdɪtərɒd/), is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March. It travels from Anchorage to Nome, entirely within the US state of Alaska. Mushers and a team of between 12 and 14 dogs, of which at least 5 must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 8–15 days or more. The Iditarod began in 1973 as an event to test the best sled dog mushers and teams but evolved into today's highly competitive race. Teams often race through blizzards causing whiteout conditions, sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds which can cause the wind chill to reach −100 °F (−73 °C). A ceremonial start occurs in the city of Anchorage and is followed by the official restart in Willow, a city 80 miles (129 km) north of Anchorage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race).

          This Iditarod dog sled race is 938 miles, and in order to successfully complete this race, in potentially hazardous conditions, you must be prepared. You have to train; you have to devote time and energy. Yet, the thing that bring the victor over the finish line is not the human by themselves musher themselves, it’s their team of dogs. The dog prepares the way for the master to cross the finish line. John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus Christ. Iditarod dogs prepare and bring forth their masters to the finish, to their great reward.

          In this season of advent and soon to be Christmas, God calls us all, in the midst of preparing for so many other things, “to prepare the way” for Jesus Christ. The path might be long, and it might be filled with hazards, but when we work together, when we “prepare the way” together, we then are making the way for the master, Jesus Christ to enter into the hearts of all people. “We Are Called To Prepare The Way,” so that whole world might cross the finish line into God’s kingdom. When this happens, we all will enter the light, life, and love of Jesus Christ. Let’s prepare the way in this holy and blessed season! Amen.

Sidney UMC - Second Sunday of Advent - 12/10/23 - Sermon - “We Are John The Baptist!” (“The Eternal Truth” Series: Part 2 of 5)

Sunday 12/10/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:            “We Are John The Baptist!”                                                   (“The Eternal Truth” Series: Part 2 of 5)   

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13                                       

New Testament Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:1-8

          Last Sunday I started a five-part sermon series for the season of Advent and Christmas Eve. This series, once again, is called “The Eternal Truth” series. This sermon series is based on the idea of whether or not as Christians we believe in any eternal or unchanging truths. Or to put it another way, are some things just objectively true? On a normal cloudless summer day, is the sky blue? Is ice cold? Are camp fires hot? Is killing people for no reason, ok? Is it ok to cheat on your taxes? Is it ok to steal the possessions of others?

          It seems that more and more in our culture, some things that were once objectively true, or absolutely true, might not be as universally true anymore. Some false truths that have been largely dispelled are a good thing, but as a society, as culture, as a country, and as a world, do we have principals and objective truths that unite us. I sure hope so.

          Organizations, like the United Nations were created so that the member countries could create a framework of such truths and beliefs and then expect them to be followed. Genocide or the murder of innocent people is something that the United Nations opposes. The Geneva Convention Laws, which are international humanitarian laws, discuss humanitarian treatment during a war.

          What are some of these laws, for example:

The Geneva Conventions extensively define the basic rights of wartime prisoners, civilians and military personnel; establish protections for the wounded and sick; and provide protections for the civilians in and around a war-zone. The Geneva Conventions define the rights and protections afforded to non-combatants who fulfill the criteria of being protected persons. The treaties of 1949 were ratified, in their entirety or with reservations, by 196 countries. The Geneva Conventions concern only protected non-combatants in war. The use of wartime conventional weapons is addressed by the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 and the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, while the biological and chemical warfare in international armed conflicts is addressed by the 1925 Geneva Protocol (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventions).

          So much of the world-wide community has decided through organizations like the United Nation and the Geneva Conventions what our values and our human beliefs are. Have these been violated by some countries and groups? Yes.

          As people of faith, as Christians, we historically have believed in “Eternal Truths”. I believe in “Eternal Truth,” because without objective truth, how we can say that anything is fully true or untrue? What is our basis for truth? Can we decide that it is ok to torture someone in one instance, but not in another? Do we have “Eternal” or Absolute truths, or do we not have any? Do some people obey the laws because it is right to do so, or more because they do not want to receive the consequences of violating certain laws? Do we as Christians have standards and beliefs around how we are supposed to treat and love each other? Yes, I would say so.

          Some might ask then, “Well Pastor Paul if this is true, then why have some people of faith done terrible and horrific things?” My answer is, often when we take our eyes off of Jesus, when we feel that we have no other choice, and or we justify our behavior somehow around our Christian faith, bad things can happen. For example, I have talked to people that are very antisemitic or anti-Jewish that have told me that Jesus was not in fact a Jew. They have told me that the “Jews killed Jesus,” which is not true. Jesus was a Jew and Jesus was killed by the order of Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, and the sentence was carried out by Roman soldiers. Yet, if we want a version of Christianity that justifies the hatred and persecution of Jews, you have to find reasons to defend your position. These reasons are not historic and quite frankly don’t make sense.

          During the years of slavery, many slave owners in this country used scripture to defend the ownership of another human being, and yet it was many Christians that led the charge of abolition or the end of slavery in this country.

          Where I am going with all of this, is this, if we are Christians, I believe that we need to believe something. What do we believe? I believe that we have to have faith rooted in Christ as our Lord and Savior, and that we must try everyday to live as Jesus did. We all fail to do this sometimes, which is why I have never yet sat out from saying a prayer of confession before partaking of Holy Communion. It could happen though!

          In a world and in a culture then, that often rejects universal or absolute truths, I believe that the church needs to teach, live, and boldly stand on “Eternal Truths”. Some would say that we should relax our theological beliefs, who we say Jesus Christ is, etc. This is sometimes done to be “relevant” some people say, or out of the belief that if we want to reach a society has largely subjective or non-absolute truths, that the church must lessen absolute or “Eternal Truths” in order to meet those people where they are at.

What has always made the gospel of Jesus Christ, our faith, and the community of believers so powerful however, is our “Eternal Truths,” and how we live them out. In a society that often has nothing solid to cling to, historically as Christians, we cling to the unshakable and eternal hope of Jesus Christ, and may we be proud to stand with Christ! We believe as Christians historically that Jesus Christ, came to earth as fully-God and fully-human, that he lived a sinless life, transformed the world, taught love, peace, and hope, performed miracles, died for our sins, rose again, ascended, and will return in glory. No matter what is happening in Sidney and the world then, Jesus is our risen Lord and Savior, and historically we believe that this is “Eternally True”. We believe that it is “Eternally True,” and that evil, violence, and wickedness will be destroyed in the end, while righteousness, mercy, and love will be rewarded.

          We live in a community that has seen far too many drug overdose deaths, violence, homeless, etc. I believe that our community, our world needs “Eternal Truths,” and in this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas, I believe that we must preach the truth. Not my truth, but the “Eternal Truth” of Jesus Christ. Is just believing in the birth and the return of Christ that I preached about last Sunday going to fix all of the problems we have? No. Is us getting saved, and coming Christ as Lord and Savior in and off itself going to fix all the problems in this world? Probably not, but when the church is united in mission, vision, and truth, we can do amazing things in Sidney and in the world. The fuel that runs the mission, vision, and values of the church, is Jesus Christ. We are called to live and love like Jesus Christ. We are made new creations through Jesus Christ, and in a culture that seems to be losing “Eternal Truths,” we are called to firmly put our faith and trust in Christ.

          Being part of a loving and a growing church like ours, that looks out for and takes care of each other is a part of the solution to many of the problems that our community and world has. Further, I believe that this has always been the case. When some Christians and some churches have failed to be all we can be for Christ, “Eternal Truth” doesn’t change, but our positive impact might.

          In this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas, it is vital for me as your pastor, your friend, and as a Christian to proclaim the Eternal hope and truth that we have in Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus can and does transform our lives, that transformation, that continued growth and development, in concert with the community of faith is how we change Sidney and the world. For if I don’t proclaim this, then I am doing harm to the community and the world. For “Eternal Truth,” is what Sidney and the world needs.

          When we are changed, then we can better change others. Further, having true hope, having “Eternal Hope,” through addiction, suffering, disease, loss, etc., is so much better than believing that there is no “Eternal Truth”, and that there is no true hope. On this Sunday of Peace, in this season of Advent, do we believe in “Eternal Truth”? If we do, how has that “Eternal Truth” changed us and shaped our lives? Does it strengthen us, does it empower us, and does it give us hope to change Sidney and the world?

          This morning in our gospel of Mark reading, we have one of the narratives of Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist, or the baptizer. John the Baptist called people to repentance, baptized them, and told them that the savior or the messiah was coming soon. So strongly did John the Baptist believe in the “Eternal Truth” that was and is Jesus Christ that he put his whole life, being, and everything that he was on the line to prepare the way for Jesus. John the Baptist would even eventually be beheaded for his faith in Christ. John the Baptist believed and still believes in “Eternal Truth”.

          When I look at our reading from Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 for this morning the last verse really reminds me of John the Baptist in our Mark 1:1-8 reading for this morning. In fact, Psalm 85:13 says:

¹³ Righteousness will go before him and will make a path for his steps                  (Ps. 85:13, NRSV). 

          The righteousness of God in John the Baptist, prepares the way for Jesus Christ, and gives Jesus an even clearer path to walk. Jesus will go forth in righteousness, mercy, and love.

          In this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas, with so much good and beauty in the world, along with so much struggle, how can the “Eternal Truth” of Jesus Christ work in and through us? How can we find the joy of Christ, and share the love and hope of Christ with the world?

While I will elaborate on the person of John the Baptist more next Sunday, how can we be more like John the Baptist? How can we let people know of this Jesus, and how can help to bring people to Christ?

          In looking at our New Testament reading from 2 Peter 3:8-15a for this morning, we hear of the “Eternal Truth” of our faith. We hear of God’s presence, the love of Christ, and what being with God is and will be like. Our reading from 2 Peter 3:8-15a begins once again, with the Apostle Peter saying:

⁸ But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed (2 Pet., 3:8-10, NRSV).

 

          The Apostle Peter tells us how eternity with God will be, and that one-day Jesus will return. We are called to live, love, hope, serve, and put our trust in Christ. Continuing on our 2 Peter 3:8-15a reading, the Apostle Peter picks up in 3:11, saying once again:

¹¹ Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? ¹³ But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish, ¹⁵ and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation (2 Pet. 3:11-15, NRSV).

 

          In this being the season of Advent, the season where we await Christ’s birth and return, the Apostle Peter tells us live holy and Godly lives, waiting for when Christ returns. On this day, the Apostle Peter us that righteousness will be at home with Christ, and evil will be destroyed. Until then may we have peace, and strive to live holy and righteous lives.

          In our gospel of Mark 1:1-8 reading for this morning, we once again here a narrative of John the Baptist, as we will also hear it in the gospel of John next Sunday. Once again, this is what our gospel of Mark 1:1-8 say for this morning

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. ² As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, ³ the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,’ ” ⁴ so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 1:1-8, NRSV).

          My sermon title for this morning, once again, is called “We Are John The Baptist,” because if we believe in “Eternal Truth,” then we should be eager to point people to Christ. In this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas, where very often more people visit and attend churches, beyond just the decorations and the joy of the season, may we offer people “Eternal Truth”. John the Baptist came to call people to repentance and baptism, and to point them to Jesus Christ. May we be “John The Baptist” in this season of Advent and soon to be Christmas, pointing people to the “Eternal Truth” of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sidney UMC - First Sunday of Advent - 12/03/23 - Sermon - “Birth and Return!” (“The Eternal Truth” Series: Part 1 of 5)

Sunday 12/03/23 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:                 “Birth and Return!”                                                          (“The Eternal Truth” Series: Part 1 of 5)   

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19                                   

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Gospel Lesson: Mark 13:24-37

          A few years ago, a good friend of my family and a retired United Methodist Church pastor, Rev. Bob Pinto passed on to glory. Pastor Bob had a good sense of humor and had a deep Christian faith. In fact, when Pastor Bob was in college, he had a professor who was a hardened atheist. This professor was determined to break his student’s faith and or spiritual beliefs. In fact, on the first day Bob’s class, this professor expressed to his whole class, including Bob, “that there is no such thing as absolute truth”. Or to put it another way, there is no such thing as a universal truth. This professor was positive that all truth was subjective and not objective.

          Since this professor said that there is no absolute truth, Bob decided to raise his hand to challenge him. In response to the claim of this professor, Bob raised his hand, and said “professor can I ask you a question?” The professor said, “sure what is your question?” Bob then said to the professor, “there is no such thing as absolute truth, right?” The professor than said, “yes, that is correct.” Bob then responded to the professor and asked, “Are you absolutely sure about that?”

          This occurred many years ago, probably in the 1950’s or the 1960’s, as the culture was moving into a “post truth” world. This means that truth is subjective, and that everything is up for interpretation. On some level this might sound good, but can a society or a culture cannot exist and flourish without at least some basic universal truths. For example, is murder wrong, or is it only wrong because the law says it’s wrong? What can we agree on? Or is everything up for debate?

          I ask all of this, because in the Christian faith, the Bible that we read, that I preach out of, and that we draw inspiration from, makes binding claims on our lives. If the scripture has any truth, should we follow any of these truths, or is it all just subjective? If there are no objective and universal truths, then why be a Christian at all? To be a Christian historically, means that a person believes in some very central, objective, and universal truths. This of course is challenge in a culture that so often says there is “no such thing as absolute truth”

          As a Christian, I believe in our faith, and I believe in “Eternal Truths”. During this season of Advent, and Christmas, I am going to be preaching on, not subjective truths, or your truth and my truth, but “Eternal Truths”. I would argue that if God did not send his son Jesus Christ to earth to die for humanity, to rise again, and to offer us forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, and hope, then why be a Christian?

          Should we remake the Christian faith into some sort of feelgood social club, or does our faith teach “Eternal Truths?” Historically, on Christmas Eve, Christians are not just celebrating the birth of a baby that will grow up to be a nice guy and a prophet of God. Instead, we a celebrating Emmanuel, that God in the flesh has come among us. How can anything short this “Eternal Truth” ever really offer any hope to humanity? Yet for some people to declare a universal truth is a sign of arrogance.

          So, the question I have for us all, including myself to consider this morning, are there absolute or “Eternal Truths”? If so, what are these truths? What are not these truths? As people, as Christians, do we believe that anything is fully or absolutely true? I do. I believe that Jesus Christ came into the world as the savior of the world, and I believe that Jesus will return to earth one day in glory. I don’t believe this in a harsh or a judgmental way, but as a Christian, rooted in the historic Christian faith, I believe that as people, we all need to be redeemed. This said, we have a loving and an accepting church, that seeks to love all people, bring people together, and to live more like Jesus Christ. I am just saying who say Jesus is, is important.

          In our reading this morning from Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, we hear in Psalm 80:19:

¹⁹ Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved     (Ps. 80:19, NRSV). 

          If we want to be restored by God, and if we want God to restore the world, it would probably be a good thing for us to believe in this, right? To be a Christian historically, is to believe that Jesus has come to redeem and restore us all. Some people throughout our history bearing the name Christian have sometimes done some pretty terrible things, but something is not untrue simple because someone claims a belief and does not live that belief out well. Just because some people claiming be Christian historically have done some cruel and harmful things, this does not mean that Jesus is not Lord and Savior.

          As we enter into this forty-day season, as Advent itself is not technically 40-days, but historically it has often been a 40-day season, where we await the memory of the birth of Jesus, and we await his triumphant return to earth. For this reason, my sermon for this morning is called, “Birth and Return”. The season of the Advent and the coming season of Christmas, are both seasons that developed out of the worshipping tradition of the Christian Church, and in this season, we are invited to prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ, and we are invited to await and anticipate Jesus’ triumphant return.

          This is a season where we are invited to grow closer to Christ, closer to each other, practice generosity, prayer, reading of scripture, kindness, and prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. May we prepare for both the “Birth and Return” of Christ.

          In looking at our reading from 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 for this morning we hear the Apostle Paul begin by greeting the church in Corinth or the Corinthians. We hear starting in 1:3, once again, the Apostle Paul say

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ               (1 Cor. 1:3, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul is greeting the church in Corinth, or the Corinthians, a church that he helped found.

          The scripture continues on picking up in 1 Corinthians 1:4, saying:

⁴ I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— ⁶ just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:4-7, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul is thankful that the Corinthians have received the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and that they have been enriched greatly by this. The church in Corinth, according to the Apostle Paul has grown in speech and knowledge of every kind, and the testimony of Christ has grown in the church in Corinth. The church is not lacking in any gifts, and they await the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Or to put it another way, growing closer to Christ, and living more like Christ. 

          The Apostle Paul then shifts, closing this scripture by discuss the return of Christ, as Advent is about awaiting both the birth and the return of Christ. Our reading from 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 ends for this morning with 1:8-9 saying, once again:

⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

          The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians that God will strengthen the church in Jesus Christ to the end, so that they may be blameless when Christ returns. The Apostle Paul lastly tells the church that God is faithful, and we are called live, love, and be like Jesus Christ.

          In looking at our gospel of Mark reading for this morning, it can seem like an ominous scripture, as it begins not discussing the birth of Christ, but rather the return of Christ. Remember the season of Advent is about both the birth and the return of Christ. I say ominous, because in our gospel of Mark reading it discusses in the first part of the reading, quite literally the end of days, or the end of the world. Happy Advent, right!

In looking at the gospel reading from Mark 13:24-37 for this morning, once again, the gospel reading starts in 13:24, saying:

²⁴ “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. ²⁷ Then he will send out the angels and gather the elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven (Mk.13:24-27, NRSV).

 

          Mark 13:24-27 is about the return of Jesus Christ. This very apocalyptic and scary, yet amazing moment Christ returns. For Advent is about preparing for “Birth and Return” of Jesus Christ.

          The gospel of Mark continues in 13:28-31, once again, giving another example of Christ’s return. The short passage is commonly called “The Lesson of the Fig Tree,” says once again:

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away (Mk. 13:28-31, NRSV).

 

          “The Lesson of the Fig Tree,” given to us by Jesus, tells to be awake and ready for Jesus. “This generation” comment though, is about the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, that happened around 70AD, about forty-years, give or take, after Jesus’s death and resurrection. Jesus is saying, that the center of Jewish worship will be destroyed, but Jesus’s words won’t be destroyed. The generation that Jesus was living in, would include many that would live to see the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

          Jesus gives us “The Lesson of the Fig Tree,” to first tell us that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed, and that eventually, one day, Jesus himself would return. To this end, Jesus tells us, starting Mark 13:32, once again:

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵ Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, ³⁶ or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

 

          Jesus is saying that the great temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed, then one day he will return, be ready, “keep awake” spiritually Jesus tells us. For Advent my friends, is about the “Birth and Return” of Jesus Christ.

As we continue this journey of looking at “Eternal Truths,” the Christian Church has long believed that Jesus was born, and that one day he will return. It is for these reasons that our communion liturgy says, as we will say his morning: “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again”. “Eternal Truths,” beliefs that have sustained us for centuries, that give us hope, joy, peace, and love, knowing this, God is real, Jesus is Lord, and not only will he be born on Christmas, but he will return one day. Or as my sermon about Advent, which explains what Advent is, Advent is about the “Birth and Return” of Jesus Christ. Happy Advent! Amen.

Sidney UMC - UMC Student Sunday/Christ The King Sunday - 11/26/23 - Sermon - “Does Christ Reign In You?”

                                  Sunday 11/26/23 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title: “Does Christ Reign In You?”

Old Testament Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24                                   

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46

          On this our UMC Student Sunday, and on this our Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday, I have a question for all of us, including myself, to consider. This question is “Does Christ Reign In You?” Christ the  King or Reign of Christ Sunday is a tradition of some churches and some Christian denominations. It is not a Sunday in the life of the church that is required of us by holy scripture, but is a Sunday where we emphasize the kingship of Jesus Christ. Jesus, king of our hearts, king of earth, and king of the universe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Christ_the_King). All things affirmed by scripture, and as such, some churches like us, celebrate Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday.

          I still remember, and some of you might remember, as well, when King Charles III was crowned the king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms still connected to the United Kingdom. This of course was after the passing of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. It was quite a fancy and an ornate service, as I remember. It involved the crown jewels and various other things. Since the rule of King Henry VIII in the first half of the 1500’s, the Church of England, or the Anglican Church, or the Episcopal Church, has been ruled by the sitting king or queen of the United Kingdom. For the last 500-years then, the head the Church of England, or the Anglican Church, or the Episcopal Church, once again, has been the current king or queen of the United Kingdom. Pope Francis is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations have various types of governance.

          While King Charles III is the head of the Church of England, the real head of the church, the real king of the church is Jesus Christ. King Charles III and Pope Francis head different churches, but Jesus is the head of King Charles III and is the head of Pope Francis. This isn’t my opinion either; King Charles III and Pope Francis would tell you this themselves. Jesus is the King of us all.

          So often and in many churches, we invite people to turn from sin and darkness and to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We invite them to receive the gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit, and eternity. We tell people that Jesus was God in the flesh and that he died for our sins. Yet he was and is also a king, as the crown of thorns was disrespectfully put on his head on Good Friday to show that he was and is a king. In fact, above Jesus’ head on his cross, and in different languages, it said in the Latin initials “INRI”, which in English translates to "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus,_King_of_the_Jews).

          What’s my point on this Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday? The point is this, not only did Jesus die for us, rise again, ascend to heaven, and one day will return in glory, not only are we all offered salvation and eternity through Christ, but Christ is indeed a king (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus,_King_of_the_Jews). Is Jesus the King of the Jews? Well Roman Governor Pontius Pilate thought he was on that first Good Friday. Christianity did start in its first 10-20 years as mostly a movement within Judaism, but then it became worldwide, as it is today. Jesus is Lord, savior, and yes, king of all. In fact, in the Book of Revelation 19:16, we hear about the return of Christ to earth. Revelation 19:16 says this about Jesus:

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

          On this Christ the King or Reign or Christ Sunday, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is “King of kings and Lord of lords”. Jesus is the king of our hearts, king of this world, and Lord of the universe. Jesus came to reconcile the whole world unto himself through his cross. As such, some churches and some Chirstian denominations, as I said, have a special Sunday every year where we emphasize that Jesus is a king. In some parts of the world kings and queens are more than just a thing of the past, but the idea of Jesus still being our high and powerful ruler is still a strong image.

          With all of this said though, if Jesus is all of these things that I said he is, and that the scripture says he is, what should we do with all of this? The answer on this Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday, is to allow the love of Christ to boldly live within us. Or as my sermon title asks, “Does Christ Reign In You?” A very popular contemporary Christian band is called “For King and Country,” but the “King” in this title, in not Charles III, but instead is Jesus Christ.  For us as Americans, the idea of a king is not often a welcome idea, as we fought our revolutionary war for independence against the British and King George III. Many Americans are against kings and queens ruling over us, as am I, yet Christ is the most virtuous, loving, fair, truth-filled, holy, righteous, and mercy filled king that there ever was or ever will be.

          The imagery of sitting on the throne in heaven, is all indications of a king. I can imagine in Medieval times that people living under kings and queens in Europe, Africa, and many other places could relate to Jesus being a king more than many do today, but on this Christ The King or Reign of Christ Sunday, the question I have for us all, including me, is “Does Christ Reign In You?”

          Further, do you know that if you know and love Jesus, that if you serve him as lord and savior, then you are royalty? By this I mean, we have a promise from Jesus Christ that we inherit his kingdom. The kingdom of God that we are not only building here and now, but the kingdom that Jesus will usher in when he returns. If Christ is a king, and if we are children of God than we are all princes and princes, for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is a king. As such, some Christian Churches and Christian denominations have this special Sunday every year. For as it says of Jesus once again, in Revelation 19:16:

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

          In Philippians 2:9-11, this what the Apostle Paul says about Jesus Christ our King:

⁹ Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11, NRSV).

          People bend the knee to a king, and since Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords”, one day every knee we will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is our king and our Lord.

          In fact, the prophet Ezekiel talks in our Old Testament reading for this morning, once again, about shepherding and saving the people of Israel. In closing this scripture, the prophet Ezekiel says in 34:23-34, once again:

²³ I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them; he shall feed them and be their shepherd. ²⁴ And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken            (Ezek. 34:23-24, NRSV).

          Jesus, as foretold in the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible needed to be a decedent of the great King David, which he was and is. Ezekiel speaks of King David, but also speaks of the kingdom to come in the Book of Ezekiel. God’s kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

          In looking at our reading for this morning from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus or the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul is telling the Ephesians that he thanks God for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul also praises the Ephesians for the love that have for each other. The Apostle Paul tells the Ephesians that he remembers them in his prayers, and that he prays that the Ephesians would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Christ more (Eph. 1:15-18, NRSV). The Apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians of the power of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the father. Further, the Apostle Paul closes our reading for this morning from Ephesians 1:15-23, saying in 1:21-23 of Jesus, once again, that he is:

²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²² And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all          (Eph. 1:21-23, NRSV).

          For Jesus Christ is “King of kings and Lord of lords”.  If this is all is true then, once again, “Does Christ Reign In You?”

          Some of you may know that six-years ago I was blessed to go on a mission trip to the Central American country of Nicaragua. While there, we learned a lot, we served a lot, and we helped to fix part of a maternity building or birthing center for woman who were largely in the middle of know where, to have a safe place to give birth. On one of the buildings of one of the mission sites, part of gospel of Matthew scripture for this morning was posted. Let’s look once at our gospel of Matthew 25:31-46 scripture for this morning, to see just what type of king we have in Jesus Christ. In looking our gospel of Matthew 25:31-46 reading, it begins, once again, saying:

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, (Mt. 25:31-34, NRSV).

          Jesus Christ, the “King of kings and Lord of lords” on his throne of glory sorting out the righteous from the unrighteous. The righteous, as Jesus says will inherit the kingdom of God, as we are all royalty as children of God, because Jesus is our king. The next part of this gospel of Matthew 25:31-36 reading for this morning is what was written in Spanish on one of the mission building entrances in Nicaragua that I saw. It said, picking up in Matthew 25:35, once again:

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me’                    (Mt. 25:35-40, NRSV). 

          You will notice that this section of our gospel of Matthew reading refers to Jesus Christ as the king. Jesus, our king, is rewarding those who have faith and trust in him, but also is acknowledging that they lived and loved like him. Our faith in Christ alone saves us, but Jesus is saying that the fact that they loved and served people is exactly what he taught us and how he lived here on earth. 

While the sheep or the righteous are rewarded by King Jesus for their faith, and while they are affirmed for how the lived, the goats, or the unrighteous did not live like Jesus. It’s not that works save us, because they do not. Yet if we truly know Jesus Christ, the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” how can we not try live and love like him? How can we not serve, feed, and cloth. These works don’t save us, but Jesus is saying that the goats or the unrighteous, if you knew me, why didn’t you live and love like me? Faith in Christ is what saves us, but we are called to live and love like Jesus Christ.

          Whenever I read this gospel lesson of Jesus on judgement day, separating the righteous from the unrighteous, I always think of the third verse of the hymn “The Battle Hymn of Republic,” which number 717 in our United Methodist Church hymnal. In the third verse, the verse says in part:

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat (UMH, 717).

          On this Sunday my dear friends, as many churches, and as many Christian denominations celebrate Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday, I ask us all, myself included, “Does Christ Reign In You?” For Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is truly the “King of kings and Lord of lords”. He is sovereign, and we who love him, will inherit his kingdom. Between now and then however, let us live and love like Jesus. Let us serve, feed, cloth, and do all of the things that Jesus did. May we share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world that desperately needs hope. Let us also remember that we are royalty, for our Lord and savior is a king. So, princes and princesses of Christ, “Does Christ Reign In You?” Happy Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday. Amen.