Thoughts from Pastor Stan

SERMON NOTES

January 10, 2010

WHO ARE YOU?

INTRO

As we make our New Year’s Resolutions, one must wonder if they are in harmony with our true identity. sometimes our Resolutions fail because we have chosen a New Year’s Resolution that is out of character to our true being.

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

This week we begin a sermon series on the gospel of John (until Lent, then Les Miserables). In our passage for this week, John the Baptist is being questioned to "who is he?" In this passage the religious clergy take a guess and ask John, are you Elijah?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE (The Testimonial of John the Baptist)

John has been introduced earlier in the chapter in the prologue (John 1:1 - 18); “There was a man who was sent by God, his name was John.”

JUDAISM AND BAPTISM

Not new. Baptism was for gentiles who wanted to become Jews, they were cleansed completely (total cleansing to pass through the threshold into Judaism).

Question: what does it mean when John the Baptist wants to baptize Jews?

There not complete Jews, yet?

John’s baptizing out at the Jordan cultivated the interest of many people who came out to either be baptized or to inquire. One such group was the religious clergy who sent out a group to interrogate John the Baptist. Thus they will inquire to wether or not he is one of three characters: the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet. All connected to the messianic (end) times

SCRIPTURE: John 1: 19 - 23 (John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."

QUESTION: Why would the Pharisees think John the Baptist is the Messiah?

The Messiah was to be a Moses like spiritual and political leader

There was need for a Moses type leader (held in bondage to Rome)

ANSWER: Nope. Not the Messiah.

INTRO TO v. 21

Okay, not the Messiah, how about Elijah (the Herald, the forerunner)

21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"

QUESTION: Why did they ask if he was Elijah? Why Elijah and not someone else?

Answer: Elijah is the herald for the Messiah (relationship between two)

Scripture: Malachi 4:5 (II Kings 2 v 11 - Elijah did not die & return at end times)

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and

dreadful day of the LORD comes.

21b He said, "I am not."
POINT: once again, Nope. Not Elijah

"Are you the Prophet?"

PROPHET: Deuteronomy 18: 15 - 19

15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."

17 The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.

SCRIPTURE: 21c

He answered, "No."

POINT: once again, Nope. Not the Prophet

POINT: John the Baptist knew he was not Elijah, nor a prophet. He knew who he wasn't. Tomorrow we will find out that John the Baptist not only knew who he wasn't but also knew who he was.

QUESTION: Have you ever been asked, "Who are you?"

Do you know who you are not and who you are (like John the Baptist).

QUESTION TO PONDER

What is the first step for self discovery. To know who we truly are, not a being that merely responds the stimuli of our society.Have you ever been asked, "Who are you?"

INTRO TO V 22

As we continue the dialogue of John the Baptist with religious clergy of the day, they are frustrated with John the Baptist not answering the question, "Who are you?" In their frustration they point blank ask him:

22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3

A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.

NOTE: Theme verse claimed for Qumran. John knew who he was,. Because he knew who he was he was able to accomplish his task.

APPLICATION

All of us have a quest, not only to know who we are, but our “mission” in life. For John, he was the herald for Christ/Messiah. His mission (task) was to “Make straight the way for the Lord.”

US

To know our mission, it begins with knowing who we are and who God is. This is the most important journey for each of us.

LENT

Lent begins in about a month, our Lenten Series is on Les Miserable, a powerful story of FORGIVENESS. In the musical, Jean Valjean is confronted by the tension of his own identity. His real identity is Jean Valjean, but for the last decade or so, he has changed his mind to Monseiur Mandeleine (the Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer). During that time, a criminal was arrested and the authority believe that he is Jean Valjean. If Jean Valjean, and "inocent man" will serve a jail sentence in place of Jean Valjean, but if Jean Valjean claims his true identity, he then must stand in place of the innocent man and serve his rightful sentence. If he turns himself in, many will suffer because they rely on Jean Valjean for their financial support. If he does not turn himself in, only one suffers. What shall he do? His answer is easy, when he realizes he must be true to his real identity, to know thyself, to be who he is.

US

When we are true to our true identity, decisions are easier to make. John the Baptist knew what he had to do, because he knew who he was. Jean Valjean knew what he had to do because he knew who he was.

THOUGHT TO PONDER

Once Jean establishes his identity in his decison making process, he does the right thing and in the musical breaks out in song, "Here I am." In our own lives, perhaps we need to break out in song when we are true to who we are and sing "Here I am (Lord).

POINT OF JOHN 1: 19 -

To illustrate that John considered jesus his superior and that John was just preparing the way for Jesus who is to replace him. Thus beginning the ministry of Jesus.

POINT: It’s not about John, it’s not even about us; its about Jesus.

If the purpose of life is relationship; the implication is that the focus is not to be entirely on the self, but how we relate to the other. If the greatest purpose is our relationship with God, then our focus is to love God completely, and that is why we worship. worship is not about us, but conveying how worthy our God is and how our God is to be worshiped.

SERMON NOTES

January 2, 2010

Epiphany

PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Question: Did you make a new year’s Resolution?

Does anyone want to change something? Economy?

SONG: The Times They are a Changin (Bob Dylan)

QUESTION: Are the Times a changin?

was Bob Dylan right?

does Bob Dylan continue to be right?

HERACLITUS (PreSocratic)

World is in constant flux

question: Who Here likes change?

Answer: we like change as long as we are the one’s implementing it

LET’S TEST IT:

Bob Dylan’s song was somewhat of a theme song for the 60’s

Those who were attempting to change the establishment (let’s call hippies)

Then there were those who were the establishment

QUESTION: Who liked the change more: the establishment or the hippies?

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man. (fragment 12)

Examples of Change: technology/economics/politics/etc.

change alone is unchanging.

QUESTION: Do you like change?

Do you like it when you implement change?

Do you like it when others implement change on you?

Intro to Scripture

This Wednesday is Epiphany

Epiphany was more important than Christmas in the early church

It represented that “The Times They Are a Changin”

Magi representing Gentiles were the ones that honored Christ

and not the religious clergy of the day.

Matthew 2 is the traditional Scripture for Epiphany

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem

MAGI

POINT: They are not the religious clergy. They are Gentiles, unclean.

2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[c] was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[d]"

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

IN A SENSE THIS STORY FORESHADOWS JESUS’ PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD FOR ALL (it plants the seed)

SCRIPTURE: Acts 10 (Cornelius and Peter)

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"

4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius' House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."

27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

30Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

PROBLEM

We are tempted to fall back into the trap of Peter prior to the vision.

Question: Who do you want in the church (people like us)?

IMPLICATION:

1. There are some Christians who believe you have to have the same political party as they do, vote for the same people they do.
2. There are some Christians who believe you have to fight for the same causes, or the same missions, etc.
3. There are some Christians who believe you have to look like them, act like them, dress like them, think like them.

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

Jesus did not say, go to people like you, Jesus said go to all people

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:19 (Great Commission)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

PROBLEM

This is new. Gentiles being grafted onto the tree of faith (Romans 11)

Which helps us to understand the controversies of Matthew 9

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE (controversies are a critique of religion)

Matthew 9: 1 - 8 (the FORGIVENESS controversy)

Matthew 9: 9 - 13) (the FELLOWSHIP controversy)

- one’s company determines one’s character

Matthew 9: 14 - 17 (it is about with WHOM to eat).

This story is about WHEN to eat or HOW OFTEN to eat (FASTING controversy)

- one’s diet influences one’s character

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9: 14 - 17 (New Wine Skins)

14Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not FAST?"

FAST

Question: Why fast?

Answer: (I have no idea) symbolizes subjection of the body to the spirit

Implication: not to fast, seems to indicate that one is not serious about spirituality

POINT: How can Jesus be taken seriously a a spiritual person, if he will eat with anybody and eat anything and eat at any time.

15Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?

QUESTION: Have you ever fasted or were on a diet at someone’s wedding?

to fast at the wedding would be UNNATURAL and RUDE and SELFISH

Especially when one considers that a wedding lasted a whole week

Eat, drink and be merry God’s way

POINT: Jesus is alive and bringing the Kingdom of God, don’t be dour

QUESTION: Then why is it that churches and denominations make so many rules about what we eat and drink?

15b The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

NOTE: Passion/burial/resurrection (Holy week)

16"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

OBSERVATION

Old and New do not mix well. Putting Old into the New causes destruction

A new message must find a new vehicle

LESSON

be open to the new, do not abolish the old

POINT

Jesus is saying there is a new Kingdom of God, NOW! Not just in the afterlife, but NOW the Kingdom of God is different than the the relgious clergy of Jesus’ day. It’s now, you live it now.

PROBLEM

We want different results, but we want to do it our way (meaning we don’t want to change to get different results)

TEST IT:

Question: How many New Year’s Resolution have you kept?

Why? or Why not?

Do we have to not only want it but also change our behavior?

question: what will you do this year that will help you keep that Resolution?

Who here wants to loose weight, but doesn’t want to change their eating habits?

HEALTH CLUB

Which month is it always the most crowded?

Answer: January

Why? New year’s resolution

PROBLEM: We want to lose weight, but we don’t want to do what is necessary

SPIRITUALITY

Who wants to be more spiritual/holier?

Who wants to know how far you can go and still be spiritual?

WHAT IS INSANITY?

Insanity is defined as repeating the same behavior and expecting a different result". (allegedly Albert Enstein)

Hoping for new results burt doing it the same old way

POINT:

Sometimes our New Year’;s REsolution fail because we put New Wine into Old Wineskins

I want to loose weight (new wine) but I want to keep eating the same old way (old wineskins)

I want to read the bible from cover to cover, but I don’t want to spend any time reading.

New Wineskins (join a class that is reading the Bible)

Start an exercise routine

Change the attitude Is coupled with the above for success

SERMON NOTES

4TH Sunday of Advent

Born in a Stable

Passing Of the Peace

QUESTION: Which holiday is more important to you: Christmas or Easter?

Question

If there is no Easter, then is there no Christmas?

If there is no christmas, then is there is no Easter?

POINT

Christmas is meaningless without Easter

In fact, even though some may consider Christmas as the holiest day of the year

Christmas in the past was a low holiday

Easter is suppose to be the BIG one.

But in our society, which one is bigger Christmas or Easter?

Advent Theme Verse

Luke 2:10a “Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy...” Christmas is coming!

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

Question: When was Jesus born?

Answer: Many different opinions, but this morning, the Biblical Answer:

Let’s once again take a look at this important story of the birth of Jesus.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2: 1 - 7

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first CENSUS that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to REGISTER.

CAESAR

The most important person in the Roman Empire at the time of the birth of Jesus is Caesar. Caesar has no clue; “There’s a new kid on the block.”

Question: It does not matter how important we are,

what matters is if we have a clue.

Even today, in the midst of the battle of “merry Christmas” vs “Happy Holidays”

there are people who have no clue.

REGISTER

Citizens of the Roman Empire went to be registered.

From this moment, citizens of the Kingdom of God have been registering because of what took place at this Roman registration. It was at this “register” that all other people from hence forward will be given an opportunity to “register” and follow after the King of Kings.

CENSUS

A census was taken by the Roman Empire, typically every 14 years (after the birth of Christ), so it is assumed that possibly it was previous as well. The purpose was for taxation and compulsory military service (except for Judea, only taxes). At this time, Judea was part of the province of Syria.

ANSWER: Jesus was born on Tax Day, April 15

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

The Jewish mindset (like all others within the Roman Empire) was to “give unto Caesar

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER: Matthew 22: 15 - 21

15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

21"Caesar's," they replied.

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

QUESTION TO PONDER

What does it mean to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God”during the Christmas season?”

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

BETHLEHEM

Question: What do we know about Bethlehem?

Bethlehem means “house of bread”

(Jesus is the bread of life; john)

Rachel is born there

Ruth met Boaz there (line of David)

Bethlehem to Nazareth is about 80 miles.

It was a difficult trip.

Travelers brought their own food.

Inn keepers provided a fire to cook the food and fodder for the animals.

5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,

CLOTHS

(According to Barclay) “Swaddling cloths consisted of a square of cloth with a long bandage-like strip coming diagonally off from one corner. The child was first wrapped in the square of cloth and then the long strip was wound round and round about him.”

He was wrapped in cloths and not purple cloth of royalty, but cloth of the ordinary.

MANGER

Manger can be the feeding trough or the stable where the feeding trough was located.

Question: Was the stable first cleaned out for the King of Kings?

because there was no room for them in the inn.

NO ROOM

Why? Why was there “no room for them in the inn?”

Historical answer: too many people returned to Bethlehem for the census

Biblical answer: the world was not prepared to receive her King

Does it sound like they were prepared?

No room at the inn. Animals in the birthing room. No midwife

The accouterments of royalty were not present at his birth.

POINT

The reason we may not be prepared at Christmas is because we did not “give unto Christ what is Christ” at Christmas.

READY OR NOT: Christmas is coming (whether we are prepared or not)

POINT

The birth of Jesus is the dawn of a new age. Jesus is both the message and messenger of a new WORD. The word that was with (John 1:1)??? Within him is the presence of the Kingdom of God; where all are invited: magi, shepherds, the lowly; those born in a stable or born in a palace; all are innvited into the kngdom of god to experience a new way to live. a kingdom where the purpose is relationship with god and others.

INTRO TO CLIP

Three weeks ago - Always Winter, but never Christmas (curse)

Two weeks ago - Edmund’s temptation (Turkish Delight)

Last week - Edmund’s betrayal of brother and sisters (broken rule of relationship)

This week - Aslan, the Lion takes the place of Edmund and dies on the stone table

NARNIA CLIP: 1:52:35 - 1:54:12 (the Resurrection)

Question: What does this have to do with Christmas?

Sermon Notes

We Need Christmas because of Turkish Delight

Because of Turkish Delight we need Atonement

OR

Without Christmas there is no Easter

Without Easter there is no Christmas

HANDEL’S MESSIAH “For Unto Us”

(Words from Isaiah 9:6)

For unto us a child is born,

Unto us a son is given

Unto us a son is given.

and the government shall be upon His shoulders;

QUESTION: Who is “US”?

ISAIAH

“US” would have been the Hebrew (Jewish) people.

HANDEL most likely would have considered all of us

INTRO

Christmas can be a scary time of the year. It has things that can break.

QUESTION: What are some of the things that can break.

It has to do with those decorations. The ones you put on the tree. There are some you can break and others you can’t. There are some that you should know where they came from, whom they came from, and what significance they have.

Then there is the Nativity sets. We have lots. we like nativity sets. some i remember where they came from and others i don’t. an interesting phenomenon with nativity sets.

they have animals. so, at the birth “room” of Jesus where animals. Now when Aaron and Rachel where born, the last thing i wanted to have in the birth room where animals. Get that cow or sheep out of here.

Yet, our nativity sets have sheep and cows; but we also have some that have camels. Why camels? Was there a camel there? Mary rode a donkey not a camel, the shepherds did not ride camels, why camels? Oh yes, the magi rode camels.

Did I mention Christmas is a scary time of year. and we’re not suppose to break things. Well, here goes, you all know, camels weren’t there because the wise men weren’t at the birth of Christ. Did you hear, crack went the sound of broken tradition.

THUS, if you want a historically accurate nativity set, put the wise men in the next room. And oh yeah, we have a couple of sets with pigs.....wrong!

The breaking of tradition is like Scrooge and his response to christmas, “Bah-humbug”

an, oh yeah,

INTRO

Christmas can be a scary time of year.

CHRISTMAS IS NOT A “HIGH HOLIDAY” (“BAH HUMBUG!”)

EPIPHANY (January 6) is “more” important (High Holiday)

The Church in the West celebrated Epiphany (Jan 6) before Christmas

The Methodist Church began on December 25 (not today! - it’s closed)

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF CHRISTMAS: RELATIONSHIPS

INTRO

Purpose of life: relationship

Greatest purpose: Relationship with God (Love)

2nd Greatest purpose: Relationship with others (Love)

SITUATION

Relationships can deteriorate due to the breaking of the rules of relationship.

QUESTION: What are the rules of relationship?

(each of us is different)

It is imperative within the relationship to agree upon the rules.

SUGGESTION: Don’t ask the other what are the rules of relationship

They might think you odd.

PROBLEM: Violate one of the rules: you’re dead meat

IMPLICATION: If we have rules for our relationship with each other,

Are there rules for relationship with God?

We certainly have rules for God: Theodicy

(how can let that happen?)

PROBLEM

How to restore/reconcile the relationship?

What is required (given that each of us is different)?

RESTITUTION?

If we break a rule, is there restitution?

ANSWER: That’s why God made flowers

Two Weeks Ago (1st Sunday of Advent)

Theme: Luke 2:10 “The Angel said, Behold I bring you good news of a great joy?” What is this good news of a great joy” Why is a baby born and placed in a manger, “good news of a great joy”?

Last Week (2nd Sunday of Advent)

“Turkish Delight” (temptation: the first step in breaking the rules of relationship)

Question: Why do we really need Christmas?

This Week

FOCUS: Edmund breaks the rules of relationship: betrayal (willing to hand over (sacrifice) his brother and sisters for more Turkish Delight and a shot at the throne)

the purpose of Christmas - we need a Savior

NARNIA

LAST WEEK

Lucy while playing Hide n’ Seek enters into a new land called Narnia by attempting to hide in the back of a wardrobe closet that miraculously becomes a portal to a new land called Narnia. She meets a new creature named Mr. Tumnus that informs her that in Narnia, “it is always winter, never christmas” because of the curse of the witch of Narnia.

THIS WEEK

The LION Aslan (Turkish for Lion)(Christ)

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 4 (description of Heaven)

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagleI

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 5:6

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

Intro to Clip

Edmund was captured by the Queen. His foolishness and his attempt caused him to be captured by the Queen. He was later rescued. and in this clip, the Queen enters Aslan’s (Christ) camp for what is rightfully hers, Edmund.

NOTE: It is easier to understand this moment with the concept of we are slave to sin

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6: 5 - 7

5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Or, Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody.”

In this scene, imagine that you are Edmund and this whole scene is unfolding because you betrayed your brother and sisters.

CLIP (1:31:46 - 1:33:48)

Edmund breaks the rule of relationship (betrayal: Turkish Delight)

Witch cuts deal with Aslan

Aslan surrenders himself

QUESTION: What does this have to do with Christmas?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

This story only appears in Matthew. Ch 1 is genealogy (gentiles included)

There are three characters: Jesus; Magi; and Herod

Listen for important words/events

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2

1 AFTER Jesus was born in BETHLEHEM in Judea,

AFTER (not during, or when)

Thus say Scrooge, “Humbug.” That’s how I feel every Christmas when i remind us that the Wise men did not appear at the stable on the night of the birth of Jesus. Oh well. I still like the imagery.

BETHLEHEM

a small village south of Jerusalem

Rachel buried

Ruth met Boaz (line of David)

Anticipated birth place of the Messiah

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."

John 7:42 others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?"

during the time of King Herod, MAGI from the EAST came to Jerusalem

MAGI

Not Kings or wise men, but magi.

Not three (3 gifts), an unknown number.

What is a magi?

Magi is the root for magi(cian). Astrologers? Zoroastrian? Persian?

POINT: They are gentiles, they represent pagans

In other words, they are “new agers from Ojai.”

EAST

Iraq (Babylon/Persia)

QUESTION: How far are people willing to travel to worship Jesus?

2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

NOTE: Magi’s only line

STAR (messenger/angel)

The wise men followed the star (comet, jupiter and Saturn, UFO, Numbers 24 (Magi may have received info):17; etc.)

Whatever it was, it was spectacular enough for them to follow a great distance. They were willing to “give-up” to follow the star and where it will take them.

QUESTION: Do you know anybody who is willing to “give-up” and follow a “star” no matter where it will take them?

OBSERVATION: lots of folks follow a “star” be it a movie star, fad, or some kind of thing that promises them a “new life” and identity.

HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM

This is their goal. They know their goal at “christmas.”

QUESTION: What is our goal this Christmas?

EAST

Babylon (Persia/Iraq)

3 When KING HEROD heard this he was DISTURBED, and all Jerusalem with him.

KING HEROD (reign 37 - 4 B.C.)

Herod the Great known for (positive and negative): a descendant of the Edomites (Esau). Ruthless. Building Projects (some for the benefit of the people). Rebuilt the temple (Herod’s Temple).

DISTURBED

Herod saw Jesus as a threat

QUESTION: Is Herod alone? Do others see Jesus as a threat?

4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

NOTE: Scribes, etc. Knew where Jesus was going to be born and yet did not go. These folks missed Christmas

5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."

OBSERVATION

Magi followed the Star to Jerusalem (creation)

From Jerusalem, Magi followed Scripture to Bethlehem (Scripture)

POINT

an example of how far natural revelation/theology can take someone, and then revealed (biblical) revelation/theology takes them to Jesus (Aquinas, etc.)

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

WORSHIP HIM

QUESTION: Do you believe, Herod intends on “worship him”?

(Duplicity of Herod) (others?)

POINT: King Herod is king, there is only room for one king

Same way in our lives, there is only room for one king/Lord

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:24

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

TENSION (between Jesus and the World)

SCRIPTURE: (v9)

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the STAR,

STAR

The wise men were obedient to a star.

10b they were OVERJOYED. 11 On coming to the HOUSE,

HOUSE (this is Greek for stable; just kidding) not stable

Break goes another tradition of Christmas

Herod will order not infants, but under 2 to be killed.

b they SAW THE CHILD with his mother MARY,

SAW THE CHILD

There eyes perceived a child; their minds perceived a king

MARY

QUESTION: Where’s Joseph?

c and they BOWED DOWN and WORSHIPPED him.

BOWED DOWN

Eastern custom of obeisance (signifying homage/submission/worship)

WORSHIPPED

QUESTION: Magi worshipped Jesus, who we worship; is it essential?

OBSERVATION

Magi had Faith; Herod did not

Magi were outsiders; Herod was an insider

Herod represents the present state of sin

Magi represent the state of grace (our potential)

Magi coming with worship in their heart;

Herod coming with murder in his heart

Magi with faith

Herod with rebellion

Magi “overjoyed/rejoiced”

Herod “disturbed”

POINT

There’s a little Herod in us and there’s hopefully more Magi in us.

Examples: someone is threatening to take our job

someone is attempting to reduce our power

IRONY

Magi (only in Matthew) look like the good guys; even though they would be considered the bad guys in the historical context. They represent gentiles.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:19 - 20

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

POINT

LUKE 20:10 “...good news of great joy...” is FOR UNTO US (all).

“Jesus then was manifested neither to the learned nor the righteous; for ignorance belongeth to the shepherds (Luke); impiety to the idolatrous Magi (Matthew) Augustine

Notice what their gifts convey

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

GIFTS (several places in OT - the King shall receive gifts from representatives of other countries)

POINT: The king is the king of all the world (gentiles included)

Blessing for all nations and not just Israel

Psalm 72: 10 - 11

May the king of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him...May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

GOLD and of INCENSE and of MYRRH

I sometimes wonder what I would have brought to the baby Jesus?

QUESTION: What gift would you have brought then and today?

CHRISTMAS HYMN: WE THREE KINGS (traditional symbols)

(V2) GOLD (king)

(V3) (FRANK)INCENSE (deity)

(V4) MYYRPH (suffering)

What is Myrrh?

It is an herb that is used for medicinal purposes as well as for embalming purposes.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 19:39

He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of MYRRH and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

POINT: That’s some baby gift

FOR UNTO US ALL (MAGI REPRESENT THE GENTILES)

Handel’s Messiah is a musical way of illustrates the gospel

C.S. Lewis Narnia is a fairy tale way of illustrating the gospel

Interesting both have the same message

NEXT WEEK: Walk to Bethlehem

WRAP YOUR OFFERING

CLOSING (David Downing; “Into the Wardrobe)

1. S. Lewis in (Narnia) The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, at the end of the story; Lucy is heartbroken because she needs to return to earth and leave Aslan behind. Refering to earth, she said “It isn’t Narnia, you know,” she sobs. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”” Aslan responds that she can meet him in her own world under another name: “This was very reason you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”

What is the “other name”?

C.S. Lewis received a letter from a little girl named Hila who asked about Aslan’s other name; he replied that he wanted her to guess:

“Has there ever been anyone in this world who:

1. Arrived at the same time as Father Christmas
2. Said hew was the son of the Great emperor
3. Gave himself up for someone else’s fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people
4. Came to life again
5. is sometimes spoken of as a lamb

SERMON NOTES

NARNIA

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

“Turkish Delight”

PASSING OF THE PEACE

QUESTION: Do we really need Christmas? or (What’s the purpose of Christmas?)

FAVORITE HYMN?

Joy to the World

(v3) No more sins and sorrows grow

O Little Town of Bethlehem

(v3) But in this world of sin

(v4) Cast out our sin and enter in

HARK THE HERALD ANGEL SING

(vs 1) “God and sinner reconciled”

QUESTION: What does sin have to do with Christmas?

QUESTION: Is there sin today? Narnia? Bible Times?

QUESTION: Why?

Rules of Relationship broken? (purpose of life; relationship)(NEWS?)

QUESTION: What do you need?

CHRISTMAS EVE (Call to Worship)(place in order of need)

If our greatest need was for information,

God would have sent a teacher

If our greatest need was for technology

God would have sent a scientist

If our greatest need was for money

God would have sent a banker

If our greatest need was for entertainment

God would have sent an entertainer

But our greatest need was for forgiveness

So, God sent us the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ

LAST WEEK - ADVENT 1 (Christmas is Coming)

Luke 2:10, the angel said, “Behold! I bring you good news of a great joy..” Narnia says, Christmas is coming.

LAST WEEK NARNIA

Lucy playing hide in seek, hid inthe wardrobe closet and then traveled to a new land called Narnia, where is is always winter and never christmas (because of a curse)

THERE’S SOMETHING MORE TO CHRISTMAS

Than presents

Than a baby lying in a manger

QUESTION: What makes a baby lying in a manger special?

Why would magi, or 3 kings, or wise men bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh because a child is born

INTRO TO NARNIA

to answer that question, let us once again crack the wardrobe and enter Narnia

LAST WEEK (in Narnia)

Lucy, the youngest of four children entered a new and strange land of Narnia, while playing hide n seek and entering a wardrobe closet, thinking it an excellent place to hide. she met a new creature named Mr. Tumnaus and she learned that Narnia was a land under curse: “Always winter, never Christmas.” It is a cold land of snow and cold feelings, but it is also a land anticipating the advent of Aslan.

PUPPET MESSAGE

Will do anything for Turkish Delight?

Is there anything you would do for your “Turkish Delight”?

INTRO FOR THIS WEEK

QUESTION: Favorite thing to eat/Candy?

Intro to clip

Edmund follows Lucy through the wardrobe closet into Narnia. She is unaware that Edmund is in Narnia. He then encounters the witch of Narnia who is responsible for making it always winter but never Christmas.

CLIP: 29:42 - 34:16 (Edmund Encounters Witch)

She offers Edmund anything in the world that he would like to eat, he chooses Turkish Delight. And the first step of betrayal begins. He is willing to “sacrifice” his brother and sisters for Turkish Delight and a chance to rule

The Witch knows how to tempt Edmund, when she asks, “What would you like best to eat?” (p. 31)

REMEMBER: We always have a choice on how to respond to temptation

TURKISH DELIGHT - “the sweet poison of the false infinite”

Highly Overrated Sweet (the name promises more than it delivers)

Treat given at Christmas (but us, we have no idea)

Essay, “The First and Second Things” “By valuing too highly a real but subordinate good, we... come near to losing that good itself.” (similar to Augustine’s concept of sin). I.e. is there anything wrong with Turkish Delight?

“...thought only of trying to shovel down as much turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted to eat...”(p. 32)

“At last the turkish Delight was all finished and Edmund was looking very hard at the empty box and wishing that she would ask him whether he would like some more....this was enchanted Turkish Delight and that anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it, and would even, if they were allowed, go on eating it till they killed themselves. (p. 33)

“Edmund was already feeling uncomfortable from having eaten too many sweets, and when he heard that the Lady he had made friends with was a dangerous witch he felt even more uncomfortable. But he still wanted to taste that Turkish Delight again more than he wanted anything else.” (p 38)

“I say,” said Lucy, “you do look awful, Edmund. Don’t you feel well?”

“I’m all right,” said Edmund, but this was not true. He was feeling very sick.” (p. 39)

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6:23

3For the wages of sin is death,

Note: Edmund is in denial (sin impacts our ability to know ourselves)

Note: Sin is fun. If it wasn’t, there would be a problem with it.

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 9: 17 & 18

17 "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!"

18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave.

NOTE: the taboo tantalizes

LET’S CUT EDMUND SOME SLACK - maybe he didn’t know ...

QUESTION: Would we sin, if we knew it was a sin?

POINT: Edmund is about to break the rules of relationship: betrayal

QUESTION: Have you ever known anyone to break the rules of relationship.

Has anyone ever betrayed you?

How do you feel and what do you do?

OR: Have you ever betrayed?

Have you ever tossed your values away because of something?

Have you ever arose to a position and then once there felt yucky?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

Question: Why do we really need Christmas?

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE: ROMANS

Theme: righteousness of God

People are made right with God by faith alone, apart from human effort, salvation is available to all. Theme: 1:16 all people whether Jew or Gentile are sinful

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7 (Oklahoma - “I am Just a Girl who Can’t say ‘No’”)

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

QUESTION: Why is there an inner struggle?

Because sin is fun?

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 20: 17

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

POINT: Turkish Delight

Each of us has that one thing in our life that compels us more than any other thing.

In Narnia, Edmund’s favorite thing in the whole world is Turkish Delight. The White Witch entices Edmund by giving him his most favorite thing in the whole world...turkish Delight

IN THE REAL WORLD, we are enticed by our most favorite thing, our Turkish Delight. When we say “yes” to our Turkish Delight too much, give it power over us, then we are held as a slave to Turkish Delight

QUESTION: What helps to say “no”?

What about Faust?

HOW IS THIS LIKE FAUST?

The Turkish Delight for Faust was knowledge

POINT

So, the purpose of Christmas is because of Turkish Delight

QUESTION: What does the bible say?

LUKE 2:10

The Angel said, “Do not be afrad. I bring you good news (Gospel) of a great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Jesus was born to be our Savior

(lot of Christmas songs about that)

but why do we need a savior?

Next week will find out

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Sermon Notes

Advent 2009

Narnia

The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe

What if it was always winter, and never Christmas

QUESTION

What is your favorite season? Fall? Winter? Spring? Summer? Why?

Lighting of the First Candle of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent

From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.

Arise, shine: for your light has come,

And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you and also with you. As we light the First Advent Candle we are reminded that the people had to WAIT for the Messiah

Note: This is the typical Advent Lighting Concept: WAIT

Advent focuses on the first Advent of Jesus, and the first Sunday typically focuses on the people and how they had to WAIT.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Christmas is almost here

We can’t wait.

In the dead of winter Christmas came,

Praise the Lord!

QUESTION: What if you were waiting for Christmas, and it never came?

*Opening Prayer

Lord, Shepherds were the first to hear the Good News. They heard the Angels sing: ―Glory to God in the Highest. When the Angels departed , the shepherds responded, ‖Let’s go to Bethlehem.‖ This morning help us to go to Bethlehem to experience the ―Good News of Great Joy.‖ Amen

Passing of the Peace (then the WAITing was over)

Scripture: Luke 2:10 & 11

The Angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of Bethlehem, a child is born to you, He is the Messiah, the Lord.

Question: What if it were always winter and never Christmas.

Examples: No Church, No Dr. Martin Luther KIng, Jr., No (Med) art,

No (Christian) ethics (i.e. Nietzsche), No Bach, No Salvation Army

No Good Will, No (etc.)

Question: Have you ever had a dismal Christmas? (1967)

PURPOSE OF LIFE: RELATIONSHIP

1. God
2. Others

QUESTION: What word describes the lack of relationship? would you use to describe when we are not in relationship with God:

darkness? desert? loneliness? winter? separation?

INTRO TO NARNIA

C.S. Lewis, uses the concept of winter (snow) as depicting what it is like when we are not in relationship with God.

INTRO TO CLIP

The children (like many children during WWII) were sent to the country side to avoid the bombings. Four children were sent to their uncles home in the country. They are bored one winter day, and as it rained outside, they played hide in seek inside. Lucy the youngest is searching for a hiding place and she enters the spare room for the first time and discovers a wardrobe closet.

CLIP #1 - NARIA (11:17 - 17:44)

1. First Encounter with the Wardrobe
2. Wardrobe is a portal to the land of Narnia
3. The lam post is the beginning of the land of Narnia
4. First encounter with Mr. Tumnus (fawn)

POST CLIP

While preparing tea, Mr. Tumnus informs Lucy, “Always winter, and never Christmas...” (p. 16)

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

OT (always winter, prophesy of Christmas (Messiah)

Genesis 49:10 (Messiah from the tribe of Judah)

Jeremiah 23:5 (Messiah descendant of King David)

Isaiah 40: 1-5 (& 9) (Messiah would be preceded by messenger (Elijah)

(Passover Meal & empty place setting or cup of wine for Elijah)

NARNIA: Prophecy of Aslan (and Christmas)

Intro to scripture: Ephesians 2

Paul’s word for separation from god is: Dead

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2

1 As for you, you were DEAD in your transgressions and sins,

Note: in the OT, sin (breaking the rules of the relationship) separates or destroys the relationship with the sinner and God.

The OT is a long story of broken rules of the relationship between humanity and God

In our lives, “sin” (the breaking of the rules of the relationship) destroy (erode away) at the relationship.

Question: What do you do when the rules of relationship are broken in your relationship (by you and by the other)?

POINT: There are several words that describe the relationship when the rules are broken: DEAD, winter, etc.

NEED: restoration of the relationship

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:5

5 made us ALIVE with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

GOD’S PLAN: CHRIST

Easter (Christmas is required to have Easter)

NARNIA: Edmund (betrayed) his brothers and sisters

(broke the rule of relationships

RESTORATION PLAN IMPLEMENTED: began with CHRIST(mas)

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:10 & 11

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

POINT

BEHOLD! I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS...CHRISTMAS IS A COMING!

Both here and in Narnia

The restoration of the relationship is coming

CHALLENGE/(Question Next Week): Why do we really need CHRISTMAS?

Sermon Notes

Good and the Bad II

November 8, 2009

PASSING OF THE PEACE

Scripture: Matthew 26:11a “the poor you shall have with you always”

When you drove here this morning.

You probably didn’t see any hungry people, or maybe you did.

But think about this week.

Did you see people who were hungry?

Did you see them on the sides of the street with signs?

Did you see them on bus or park benches sitting?

Did you see them sleeping on the lawn in public places?

Question: why are there so many hungry people?

PUPPETS

QUESTION: Do we know hunger? Have we ever been hungry?

Do we know being weak? Have we ever been weak?

CALL TO WORSHIP (John Wesley)

"Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as you can.”

INTRO TO MATTHEW

Matthew is the “Do” gospel. It is the gospel that aligns with the Letter of James (“faith without works is dead” James 2:20) more than any other gospel.

INTRO TO MATTHEW 25

This chapter is the last words (metaphor) of the last discourse of Jesus. These words follow six parables about living ethical. This section contains a description of the Parousia (Second Coming of Christ). This section assumes the deity of Christ. The focus is on actions of the follower and not merely the words. The scene is heaven, the act is judgement.

QUESTION: Do you believe in Divine Final Judgement?

If so, what then shall judgement be on?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25: 31

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his GLORY, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly GLORY.

GLORY

When Jesus returns, it is not as a little baby, or a humble carpenter; it as the king with power who judges at the final judgement in his GLORY.

QUESTION

1. How do you see God? When you envision God, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Is it “glory”? Or, is it something else? Do you see majesty, or awesomeness? Loving? Compassionate? Merciful? Shepherd? Friend? How about fear, as in “fear the Lord”? or Judge?

Ric, Bill and I have been meeting and discussing a book called Crazy Love. In that book, there is an excellent question, “What would be the first words out of your mouth if you encountered God?”

QUESTION

What would be the first words out if your mouth if God appeared right NOW in your life?

SOME POSSIBLE ANSWERS:

“Lord, I want to be a sheep.”

“We are not worthy”

“Woe is me I am a man of unclean lips”

THOUGHT

Whatever the answer, Worship is a time of experiencing God right NOW in our lives. Worship is not about us and being worthy, but about God and God being worthy of worship.

2. The above verse begins a passage where Jesus shares what will happen on Judgement Day. Not a very popular topic. At the end of his life, in the last discourse, Jesus who is about to approach his own judgement day tells the disciples what is like on Judgement Day.

In a couple of weeks, a long awaited movie is to be release: 2012. I haven’t seen it, but I remember back in the early 70’s talking about this “future” event. Back then we were into those kinds of ideas. Things haven’t changed much. It seems like there is always that future date: 1984, 2000 and now 2012 that can be the topic of conversation.

3. So, back again to our original question: How do you see God? There are many ways we see and experience God. What is important is to be active in that relationship with God, driven by love.

MORE IMPORTANTLY: How does God see you?

Because God not only sees us now, but will see us in the future (v32)

SCRIPTURE: 25:32

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

NATIONS

There are two basic interpretations of NATIONS

1. Literally nations, as all people of the world

2. Followers of Jesus only

II Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

SEPARATES (judging)

The shepherd separates the sheep from the goats at the end of the day (night). Some folks say: the sheep would be out in the open, and others say they would be in the sheep fold for protection.

The goats would be gather together to keep them warm.

Sheep were more valuable than goats.

POINT:

At the “end of the day” the GOOD SHEPHERD separates the sheep from the goats.

IMPLICATION

Not an exciting prospect. To be separated at the “end of the day” by an all powerful Shepherd (God). Judgement is coming, not an exciting prospect at any time.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:33

33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:34 - 36

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

QUESTION: What is the criteria of judgement?

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

OBSERVATION

The righteous (sheep) are surprised by the King’s response.

QUESTION: Is there being surprised important?

Where they surprised because they did not see their acts

in response to serve him, but as a way of serving others?

Does this imply what drove their decision to serve others?

NOTE: The criteria of judgement

ANSWER: How one responds to the weak.

PROBLEM: What happened to the assumption of judgement based on grace?

OBSERVATION: This is the first time I have ever heard of this criteria.

Let’s test it and count how many times this phrase appears.

SCRIPTURE: 25:37 - 40

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you DID for me.'

DID

Jesus demands our personal involvement in loving and caring for others.

NOTE

Mother Teresa saw Jesus in the eyes of everyone she encountered. Especially the weak.

QUESTION

What do you see when you see the weak?

THOUGHT

We are the hands and feet of Jesus

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25: 41 - 46

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

NOTE: This is the fourth time this list was repeated.

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

QUESTION: Who wants to be a sheep now?

NOTE: There are two kingdoms. a kingdom prepared by God for the righteous. And a second kingdom of eternal fire.

The first kingdom is where everybody wants to go, thought just not yet. It is a kingdom that the common concept for criteria is grace. Can’t make it by our works. Yet, this passage turns that concept upside down. Where is grace, when it looks like works. Notice that the works aren’t even the typical concept of moral character, but the works is our response to the weak. Once again, whatever happened to grace?

If one truly loves god, and experiences the grace of god and that love, then as we grow in that love and grace we will begin to love others. If we truly love others, then we shall respond to the weak. In other words, it is love (Greatest and 2nd Greatest commandment) that is the criteria for entering the kingdom of God. The works reflect that love. In other words, you can’t fake love. You either love or don’t. Fake, unauthentic love, no matter how poetic the words are, if the actions don’t mesh with the words, the words are meaningless. James (faith without works is dead); and love without action is not love.

QUESTION: What’s the Second Greatest Commandment?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:39

love your neighbor as yourself

QUESTION: WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR?

SCRIPTURE: Luke 20: 27 - 37

Summary: (v 27 - 29) 2nd Greatest Commandmet

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins^[e^] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

QUESTION: Who is our neighbor?

ANSWER: Anyone who is in need?

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

I CORINTHIANS 13:13...THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

QUESTION

To love or not to love, that is the question.

THOUGHT

The rule for all of us is fairly simple: do not waste time bother whether you “love” your neighbor, act as if you did. C.S. Lewis

REFLECT

This is a good week to reflect on our need to help others.

Who do you help? Do you only help those worthy of your help? How about the folks who are unworthy?

When you reflect on the people you have helped over the years, does it say anything about who you are? Do you find yourself gravitating toward a certain type of environment when it’s time to help? Do you find yourself only helping when it is convenient to you?

This Sunday a dozen people are walking for others. I am so grateful for their willingness to walk as well as the willingness of others to sponsor them. CROP is an organization that feeds people locally and globally.